Burnout: Recovery Strategies?

[HakuroDK]

Hey there! So there are plenty of strategies on how to avoid burnout. Like, say... watching Netflix while farming Atmas or listening to music.

But what if we are currently suffering from Burnout? What are some good ways to recover from that?

I would play this game for, maybe, 8-10 hours per day on average. I wouldn't rush anything and I would genuinely have fun. Then the first Token weapons game out, like the Dual Haken and the Hellish Claws. I really wanted the Dual Haken especially, and so I grinded. I don't belong to a static or a raiding FC, so I had to PUG all of my EX Primal kills. It took me about six months of serious grinding (and a lot of wipes, a lot of failures, a lot of ragequits, and a lot of drama) to actually get it done, but I succeeded. But in doing so, I feel like I lost a lot of motivation to play the game.

Then I decided to try to get my Atma farming done. I put on some music and restricted myself to two hours of atma farming per day. I managed to get it done, but in the end, I just lost my motivation to play the game at all. I have to force myself to login now, and I hate that feeling because I love the game so very much and my FC is filled with a ton of wonderful people.

Does anyone have any good ideas on how to recover from MMO burnout?

[Cluebilly]

I usually put the MMO down for a short while. That way when I return, things feel more 'fresh'. Or just wait until the next patch when a bunch of new things are implemented.

[TouchandFeel]

The answer for this and any "how to avoid burnout" question is simple, do something else too.
If you are playing 8-10 hours everyday, try playing less. Go play something else for a bit, watch TV, read a book, hang out with friends, go play a sport, do a craft project.
Too much of anything, even a good thing or something you love can cause burnout and soon that thing you once loved to do has become a chore.

[Lollie]

Fighting games, lots and lots of fighting games.
Atma doesnt drop? Punch something in the face.
Titan Ex group fails? Mercilously kick someone in the shin till they fall over.
Df member goes brb for 30 minutes? Training mode + 50 hit combo = instant gratification against punchingbags.
Catch 126 nq fish in a row? Unleash hellfire on your foe and send their eternal soul to hell.

Seriously ageession is the best cure for burnout, it beats staring at a screen blankly for an hour suddenly realizing you didnt accomplish anything nor were you entertained.

[Teryaani]

I feel you on the burnout thing. I hope you're able to enjoy the game. This is going to be a bit stream of consciousness, apologies in advance.

Do you belong to a chatty FC? One with an active TS server? That helped me a lot.

Log on, but spend less time on the game. Use the other time you played to take a walk, catch a movie, play cards against humanity with friends, that sort of thing.

Find a greenleaf and help them with quests or dungeons or whatever for a half hour or so (it's random stuff you haven't done in a while and may be a good change of pace)

Avoid doing grindy (hunts/atma) things for longer than an hour.

[Gralna]

Release the clutch while you begin to step on the accelerator, if you hold them both down you'll get a burnout when you release the clutch.

[Altijacek]

Dude, just play something else, watch tv, read, exercise, socialize, study (but actually study and learn something, it's fun), travel (if you can afford this, traveling is a brilliant way to disconnect and then come back to things you love), and listen to music too, but ACTIVELY LISTEN. Don't just play it on the background. Put on headphones or fire up a nice sound system and do nothing but listen to the music you love.

All of these things actually augment my love for my passions, hobbies, and pastimes. I can always listen to my favorite band, Rush, because I'm always exploring new musical avenues, for example. So if you're feeling burnout it's really simple. Put the game down and explore other things.

[Destinova]

I go to work :-(

[Yumi_umi]

1) wait till sub finishes
Lol if u did bulk month subs
* better to do month by month to avoid wasting money if ur close to burning out
2) stop playing after sub ends
3) do anything else that isn't playing ff14arr.
4) keep up to date on whats happening in the game via forums, youtube, friends etc.
5) come back to the game when you are ready/ have seen some new things get added in, tht interest u.
6) log in and surprise ur buds in the fc with a " im backkkkkk" message and wait for the " welcome back " messages.
7) proceed to pick up where u last left off.
* bonus points if they nerfed things u were planning to do
I.e atma grind, boss requirements.

[Risvertasashi]

Best strategies vary from person to person...

But usually, simply stepping away and taking a break is a good idea. You don't even have to go completely cold turkey: ...just, maybe log in once a week to socialize if you want.

But like others have said... focus on some other hobbies or pasttimes for a while. When you're ready, the game will still be here. Just because you're not among the first to complete the new shinies in patch 2.whatever, doesn't mean you've missed out. It will still be here.