The Burnout Society
This article looks a bit rambling and unfocused to me. I&#x27;m not really sure where it wants to go.<p>But there is a pretty easy explanation for why people are burned out. All the really manual jobs are being slowly automated away or are low-status, so everyone is chasing creative, thoughtful or social jobs. And those jobs are getting more full on.<p>People are being pushed to do things that evolution really hasn&#x27;t equipped them to do - sustained periods of low physical activity, high mental activity guided by willpower rather than instinct. That is pretty tiring.<p>Software is a great example. All engineering fields. Anything involving computers. Anything involving investment. Most creative work. Any customer service work (not mentally stimulating, but very demanding of continuous social engagement &amp; othen in tense situations). Mechanical work.<p>It used to be everyone was a farm labourer. We don&#x27;t have much work like that any more. Most of us have to plan out how we&#x27;ll get physically tired out because it doesn&#x27;t happen by accident any more.