Burnout: how to prevent it and how to deal with it

What the talk is about

Maks Kaliuzhnyi explains why burnout became a much-discussed topic in 2020 and how to recognize and contain it. Using aggregated data from an online therapy platform, he shows that stress and anxiety are the top reasons people seek help, apathy is rising, and clients from game companies look similar. He describes how the pandemic and remote work add load: uncertainty, a lost sense of belonging, less movement, no eye contact. He walks through the stages of burnout, from excess enthusiasm to breakdown, its signs, and personality types prone to it. His advice has no magic pills: admit you are tired, ease the pressure on yourself, rest more, move and change your surroundings, and talk to a psychologist if needed. The Q&A covers apathy, fear of changing jobs, and support from colleagues. Useful for anyone in game development and for team leads.