Feeling Burnt out with your website(s)...

[DudeThatsErin]

I'm feeling like I am burnt out with my forum and other sites. I've had this feeling before but I really want to move past it this time rather than quitting like I have in the past.

Has anyone else here (possibly the owners of FP) ever felt like burnt out? How did you get past it?

What I mean by burnt out, basically I feel like my sites will never succeed. I am a pessimist so negativity is something that I am pulled to. I love it when I get the "Someone has joined your forum" email but usually they don't post.
I'm planning to take a few days off (possibly up to a week) of working on my websites to see if it will help but I'm not sure that it will. At this point I feel like I am wasting money on hosting with things that just will not succeed. I keep asking myself "Why am I doing this?" My answer is always "because I love teaching people to code." but now I am starting to think that is not enough anymore.

I guess I just need another perspective. I'm hoping someone here can help me find another perspective to bring back my motivation and the spirit I had when I started this forum 6 months ago.

I posted this over at TAZ as well because I am hoping to get as much inspiration to continue as I can.

 

[Gamer Outpost]

I've felt the same way (with my first two websites). I sold them myself in order to focus on new ones, and to learn from the mistakes I made.

Running a forum is hard, and even harder in your case (with your site focusing on coding). I haven't spent much time on THMCC, but I think the best thing for you to do is 1) take a break like you mentioned, 2) look for some dedicated staff members who share your motivation, and 3) keep on promoting on other sites, posting on your own site, and looking for ways to improve.

Those points are pretty obvious, but they are necessary for a site like yours to succeed at this point. Personally, I like the idea of your site, so if you need any help (though I'm no coder by any means), shoot me a PM and we can discuss it.

 

[DudeThatsErin]

I've felt the same way (with my first two websites). I sold them myself in order to focus on new ones, and to learn from the mistakes I made.

Running a forum is hard, and even harder in your case (with your site focusing on coding). I haven't spent much time on THMCC, but I think the best thing for you to do is 1) take a break like you mentioned, 2) look for some dedicated staff members who share your motivation, and 3) keep on promoting on other sites, posting on your own site, and looking for ways to improve.

Those points are pretty obvious, but they are necessary for a site like yours to succeed at this point. Personally, I like the idea of your site, so if you need any help (though I'm no coder by any means), shoot me a PM and we can discuss it.

DISCUSSION ACCEPTED! Pm'd. Lol

Thank you! That means a lot to me! Though it would mean more if you joined and posted... Lol

My break has already started and I'm feeling better already. 🙂

 

[Your Social Village]

I don't really manage forums and/or sites, so I don't really know what to say. Just, good luck and you can do it! 🙂

 

[DudeThatsErin]

Thanks!

 

[Felly]

I think it happens to all of us eventually, but you just have to know how to push through it or work to take a break from it all.

For me, I have a super dedicated staff team & member base on PWN that have been helping me go on. They don't really know I'm burned out, but the fact that we have so many ideas and so much to implement gives me a reason to keep going. I'm sort of taking a break right now, there's a big event that's coming up soon that I'm hosting, so I've been working on that bit by bit, & then after that, I'm just going to chillax and take it easy & have fun for a little while until I have that spark again.

 

[DudeThatsErin]

I think it happens to all of us eventually, but you just have to know how to push through it or work to take a break from it all.

For me, I have a super dedicated staff team & member base on PWN that have been helping me go on. They don't really know I'm burned out, but the fact that we have so many ideas and so much to implement gives me a reason to keep going. I'm sort of taking a break right now, there's a big event that's coming up soon that I'm hosting, so I've been working on that bit by bit, & then after that, I'm just going to chillax and take it easy & have fun for a little while until I have that spark again.

Yup. I'm working on finding a dedicated staff team. I need to find some more promotion forums to advertise that I am looking for members. I've done here PK, TAZ, (not posting on PB anymore) and that's it.

 

[Kaynil]

For me trying to write down what moved to start and what i wanted to accomplish and what has been what I've enjoyed so far helps me put in perspective to realise that it hasn't been the waste of time and effort I feel at the time. Actually, answering threads that ask for these kind of experience helped me get back on my feet before.

Another thing that always gets me pumped up is reading books related to how to make your website grow, they really give me a lot more insight, make me feel like making plans and stuff.

I also think the advice you've gotten is pretty accurate having people that share your passion or at least a similar vision for your place can be a huge help. A time to cool off helps you realise that there is more to life than the community and funny enough that relax you and make you comeback with more options. Well, it usually did for me.

When I get too stressed I talk it out, even people that don't understand well my intention can help me by giving me an unexpected perspective on things. At one point I was overcomplicating things with my forums, trying so hard to make the english/spanish separation, until a friend made me realise less was more, so yeah, change pace and open up to see things from a different perspective.

 

[DudeThatsErin]

For me trying to write down what moved to start and what i wanted to accomplish and what has been what I've enjoyed so far helps me put in perspective to realise that it hasn't been the waste of time and effort I feel at the time. Actually, answering threads that ask for these kind of experience helped me get back on my feet before.

Another thing that always gets me pumped up is reading books related to how to make your website grow, they really give me a lot more insight, make me feel like making plans and stuff.

I also think the advice you've gotten is prettya ccurate having people taht share your passion or at least a similar vision for your place can be a huge help. A time to cool off helps you realise that there is more to life than the community and funny enough that relax you and make you comeback with more options. Well, it usually did for me.

When I get too stressed I talk it out, even people that don't understand well my intention can help me by giving me an unexpected perspective on things. At one point I was overcomplicating things with my forums, trying so hard to make the english/spanish separation, until a friend made me realise less was more, so yeah, change pace and open up to see things from a different perspective.

Oh, wow. Yeah, this one did for me as well. I almost want to bookmark it just in case. LOL Not a bad idea though.

If only I actually read books.... XD

It did the same thing for me. I plan to take a full week off when my family and my extended family visit Hilton Head. I'll take time to look at the site while I am working my 15 hrs (work from home so I can work from anywhere and I have to have a min of 15 hours) so I will not be 100% offline during that time but I will definitely cut back, A LOT.

Definitely will do that in the future. Thank you!

 

[McConnaughay]

I took a two-three year break before I started up Out of Frame. I still posted on forums and browsed websites, but as a member. I feel like it really allowed for me to take a breath and refocus myself. Currently, I don't think I'll burn out, considering my current website is practically just opinion and my writing.

 

[Twisted Fairytale]

This is honestly a common occurrence with me. I'll work on sites in general, then not want to anymore. However, I've found that I stick with it more if I make friends and build a great personal community. Then, I have people that keep me coming back. 🙂

 

[Teg]

Sadly, I have and that is always the downfall to one of my own sites. At some point, eventually, I get bored with it or want to begin a new project. In doing so, everything dies and ends which is never a good thing. 🙁

 

[VVhite_Angel]

Hi,

That's why when you begin a new forum or website, you shouldnt be alone.
I've started a little website alone and later few people joined me ... it was going well few month than some people gave up.

Another time, with 4 guys or more, created a forum 6 years ago ... and still there with 15k people visiting it every month.

So i should try next time to create another project with a little group of 4 people, it could be better than alone.

 

[SonicVaan]

Oh I know that feeling just too well. I owned a tons of forums back then of which none had huge success. But with the forum I am owning right now I am somewhat having some suceess.

It just needs promotion in the right place. For example, my forum has a section for ROM hacks. Some of the members made splash screens which got put in the hacks. And the hacks got entered into a hacking contest and a lot of people played them and saw the splash screen, thus noticing the site.

I know it's hard, but you just need to find the right ways.

 

[Atrox]

I usually get bored with my own projects after some time, however I never seem to get bored of helping others with their projects. I always also find that with some of my projects not only one thing goes wrong - but several things. I was prepared to restart on my projects before, but when I start a new project the same issue arises and there never seems to be a fix. 😛

 

[VVhite_Angel]

Maybe because when you help others, you don't have the same amount of work to do, like the help you want to give ?

Unlike when you work for yourself, you know you must to the maximum and maybe some work you dislike to do.

 

[Mr.Panos]

Hey! Your topic has been moved to a more appropriate section! :great:

 

[DudeThatsErin]

Maybe because when you help others, you don't have the same amount of work to do, like the help you want to give ?

Unlike when you work for yourself, you know you must to the maximum and maybe some work you dislike to do.

That's true.

 

[The Reverend]

You will be hard pressed to find someone who hasn't felt frustrated/bored with their website at some point, there's nothing wrong with taking a break to get your head straight and maybe come up with some fresh ideas.

 

[ShaneVP]

Your forum won't succeed with that attitude. Keep positive, keep motivated.

Remember, if you take a break your forum isn't going to grow / look good while you have left. Keep at it, do exchanges, advertise EVERYWHERE and work on SEO. Keep at it.