Taking a break

Geertjan Wielenga: Have you encountered burnout? How do you know that you're on the verge of it and what are some ways to deal with it?

Tim Berglund: I don't know how to define it. My pace hasn't really changed over the years, so if I have flirted with burnout, it hasn't taken me down. Everybody needs to recognize that there are walls, though. That can be in terms of physical health or even emotional health. Anybody can be preoccupied with thinking, "I'm not sure if this is right for me," but burnout is different.

What you need to look out for is thinking, "I actually can't do this now. My body is preventing me and my mind is preventing me. I'm unable to do the work." That's burnout. That hasn't happened to me, which is something I'm very thankful for.

You need to take time to rest. I have for the past eight or nine years tried to build in a no-travel December. I make small exceptions...