[wiseowise]

This is new level of snake oil. When you're not selling your own snake oil, but trying to piggyback off of other people.

Burn out speedrun 101.

If you want to keep your sanity, you need to find your own passion, not try to emulate others (especially with crazy routines like the examples).

[ChanningAllen]

Author here. I've spent a decade drinking my own "snake oil" (the advice in this essay), and I've only now committed it to writing so that others can apply it or ignore it as they wish.

I haven't burned out. Instead, I find my work fulfilling, endlessly novel, and valuable to others.

Does this do anything to change your mental model?

[wiseowise]

No.

My 2 cents: article like these need to be presented with a big red disclaimer for folks who tend to obsess over things like ambition, prestige, fame.

Trying to emulate the greats is like trying to emulate WW2 pilot during the Battle of Britain. Sure, you might become one, but if odds are against you then there’s nothing you can do.

Idle time is extremely important for psyche and feeding it to your obsession will eventually drive you insane if you can’t achieve what you want.

On top of that, you’re not really providing any advice. You’re not explaining why they had the drive, what motivated them to do it in the first place. How do they maintain their life’s, how did they overcome difficulties, what families and environments they come from. You’re essentially shaming the reader for not being driven enough. As is being driven and motivated are the only things that you need to succeed.

I wouldn’t say it better than https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=45442479

* Breath

* Touch grass

* Breath again

* Create a plan for yourself, follow it and don’t obsess over things