From a psychological viewpoint, burnout is defined as “a state of physical, emotional, & mental exhaustion created by long-term involvement in an emotionally demanding situation”. The term was introduced to describe a syndrome that was a reaction to stressful situations that are demanding but not at a traumatic level.
It’s not uncommon to come across hoopers who are experiencing burnout. For some people it occurs after a period of intense focus or after a festival or hoop conference.
Everyone has experienced it at some point in regards to another activity (ie: school) or a work project. Burnout tends to occur in those who are more idealistic – those people who are highly motivated & very committed to what they do.
Well, when people discover hooping – a lot of them jump into the deep end of the pool. I discovered the hoop during the process of immigrating to Canada. I wasn’t legally allowed to work & I had a lot of free time on my hands. I threw myself into the hoop, bundled in layers during winter practices in the garage & later on (less bundled) in the school yard down the street. I scoured online for all the hoop resources I could find, I buried myself.
& eventually…burnt out.
You find your way back eventually. I did!
Recommendations for Getting Out of a Slump
- Waiting it Out. Yes, that’s right. Good ol’ patience.
- Let yourself focus on other things that catch your interest: maybe its another flow toy, maybe it is making a collage.
- Get yourself to the public library & check out some new music! Experiment with some new tunes.
- Go dancing without a hoop. Get your groove on. Remember what it feels like to move in different ways without keeping a hoop up.
- Avoid comparison. We all hoop for different reasons. None are ‘better’ or ‘worse’ than other reasons.