Add: Preventing Burnout for Open Source Maintainers guide

This commit introduces a comprehensive guide aimed at preventing burnout for open source maintainers, detailing recognition of symptoms, sustainable practices, and mental health resources.

Author: probablynotnmp

_articles/preventing-burnout.md

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+---
+title: Preventing Burnout for Open Source Maintainers
+description: Strategies for sustainable open source maintenance and recognizing burnout early
+lang: en
+---
+
+# Preventing Burnout for Open Source Maintainers
+
+Maintaining an open source project can be deeply rewarding, but it can also be emotionally and physically taxing. Burnout is a real challenge that many maintainers face. This guide explores strategies for recognizing burnout early and building sustainable practices.
+
+## Understanding Maintainer Burnout
+
+Burnout in open source maintenance typically manifests as:
+- Emotional exhaustion from constant demands and support requests
+- Cynicism or detachment from the project you once loved
+- Reduced effectiveness or productivity despite increased effort
+- Resentment toward contributors or the community
+- Physical symptoms like sleep disruption or chronic stress
+
+Many maintainers delay addressing these symptoms until they reach a crisis point. Proactive prevention is far more effective than reactive recovery.
+
+## Recognizing Early Warning Signs
+
+Watch for these indicators before burnout becomes severe:
+- Dreading opening your email or GitHub notifications
+- Spending nights or weekends on maintenance when you didn't plan to
+- Feeling irritable during interactions with contributors
+- Loss of enthusiasm for features or improvements you previously cared about
+- Difficulty separating work from personal time
+- Guilt about not responding to issues quickly enough
+
+## Setting Sustainable Boundaries
+
+Clear boundaries are essential for long-term maintenance:
+
+**Define your working hours**: Establish specific times when you respond to issues and PRs. Communicate these clearly in your README or CONTRIBUTING.md.
+
+**Create a triage system**: Not all issues require immediate attention. Categorize issues by priority and severity to manage expectations.
+
+**Set response time expectations**: Let contributors know realistic timeframes for responses (e.g., "I respond to issues within 2 weeks").
+
+**Take strategic breaks**: Plan regular time off. Even 1-2 weeks quarterly can prevent accumulation of stress.
+
+**Automate where possible**: Use GitHub Actions, bots, and automation to handle repetitive tasks like labeling, closing stale issues, or running tests.
+
+## Delegating and Building a Team
+
+You don't have to do everything alone:
+
+- **Identify potential maintainers**: Look for consistent, high-quality contributors who understand your project's vision
+- **Document your processes**: Write detailed guides on how you make decisions, merge criteria, and project direction
+- **Mentor new maintainers**: Invest time upfront to train people who can share the load
+- **Create clear contribution guidelines**: Reduce back-and-forth by clearly stating what you need from PRs
+- **Use issue templates**: Guide contributors to provide necessary information upfront
+
+## Taking Care of Your Mental Health
+
+Maintenance is a marathon, not a sprint:
+
+- **Practice saying no**: You can't accept every feature request. Declining requests is not rude; it's necessary.
+- **Celebrate wins**: Acknowledge releases, milestones, and community achievements
+- **Connect with other maintainers**: Shared experiences help. Join maintainer communities like the Maintainers Slack or open source forums
+- **Seek professional support if needed**: If stress becomes overwhelming, talking to a therapist or counselor is valid and helpful
+- **Remember your "why"**: Periodically reflect on what made you start this project and what you want it to be
+
+## Resources for Maintainers
+
+- [The Maintainers by Node.js Foundation](https://www.sas.upenn.edu/~jesusfv/) - Stories and insights from open source maintainers
+- [Maintainers Anonymous](https://maintainers.github.io/) - Community for open source maintainers
+- [Burnout Recovery Guide](https://opensource.com/article/19/11/burnout-open-source-maintainers) - Opensource.com's guide for recovering from burnout
+- [Finding Time to Maintain](https://opensource.guide/finding-time/) - GitHub's guide on time management for maintainers
+
+## Conclusion
+
+Sustainable open source maintenance requires intentional boundary-setting, delegation, and self-care. By recognizing early warning signs and implementing preventative strategies, you can maintain your project and your wellbeing for years to come.
+
+Remember: A burnt-out maintainer helps no one. Taking care of yourself is taking care of your project.
+```
+
+**Step 5: Commit this file**
+- Scroll down to the bottom
+- In the "Commit new file" section, write this message:
+```
+  Add: Preventing Burnout for Open Source Maintainers guide
+```
+- Select "Create a new branch for this commit" 
+- Name it: `add-burnout-guide`
+- Click "Propose new file"
+
+**Step 6: Create a Pull Request**
+- GitHub will automatically show you a "Compare & pull request" button
+- Click it
+- Fill in the PR title: `Add: Preventing Burnout for Open Source Maintainers Guide`
+- In the description, write:
+```
+## Summary
+This PR adds a new comprehensive guide on preventing burnout for open source maintainers.
+
+## What's included
+- Recognition of burnout symptoms
+- Strategies for setting sustainable boundaries
+- Delegation and team-building approaches
+- Mental health resources and support
+
+## Why this matters
+While the guides cover "Finding Time," there's currently no dedicated resource addressing maintainer burnout—a critical issue affecting many contributors. This fills that gap.