Is burnout common?

[maz0]

Hello,

So second year of beekeeping for me. Started the season full of beans and really enjoyed it. After harvest and at the wind down stage of feeding for winter etc I got a feeling of burnout. Felt like it took a lot of effort to motivate myself to do anything beekeeping. The hives are all fed and tucked up for winter but just wondering if this has been my crappy mood this year or its common to feel a burnout at the end of the season? Couldn’t even be bothered reading on here and I really like this forum as well

Thanks folks

 

[SWEET]

Sorry to hear that, it says you have 4 hives? and just wondering what on earth you could be doing to consider them the source of the burnout?

Speaking from experience, had a burnout and near breakdown in my 20's, working 36 hours straight through and 100+ hours a week (in my day job) over a couple of years, not nice but looking back (now in 40's) it was utterly insane ha!

^^ that would be a LOT of hives. (1000 +)

 

[For want of a better word]

Hello,

So second year of beekeeping for me. Started the season full of beans and really enjoyed it. After harvest and at the wind down stage of feeding for winter etc I got a feeling of burnout. Felt like it took a lot of effort to motivate myself to do anything beekeeping. The hives are all fed and tucked up for winter but just wondering if this has been my crappy mood this year or its common to feel a burnout at the end of the season? Couldn’t even be bothered reading on here and I really like this forum as well

Thanks folks

SADS, my wife suffers terribly.

A posting to the Azores usually sorted it out, now both retired looking forward to some Winter Sun in the Cararies for a week!

 

[mbc]

Hello,

So second year of beekeeping for me. Started the season full of beans and really enjoyed it. After harvest and at the wind down stage of feeding for winter etc I got a feeling of burnout. Felt like it took a lot of effort to motivate myself to do anything beekeeping. The hives are all fed and tucked up for winter but just wondering if this has been my crappy mood this year or its common to feel a burnout at the end of the season? Couldn’t even be bothered reading on here and I really like this forum as well

Thanks folks

It's quite common, I know I always struggle towards the end of the season, don't worry, if beekeeping is the game for you, you'll be champing at the bit long before it's time to open up your hives and getting on with any spring work.

 

[enrico]

Good thing there isn't much to do then!!!!
I like spending the odd day with the radio on cleaning stuff and getting my bee room all tidy.
Apart from that......wait patiently for spring
E

 

[madasafish]

I make my plans for the next season during the winter period.

Planning takes all winter until Beetradex in March when reality dawns......

 

[Murox]

Hello,

So second year of beekeeping for me. Started the season full of beans and really enjoyed it. After harvest and at the wind down stage of feeding for winter etc I got a feeling of burnout. Felt like it took a lot of effort to motivate myself to do anything beekeeping. The hives are all fed and tucked up for winter but just wondering if this has been my crappy mood this year or its common to feel a burnout at the end of the season? Couldn’t even be bothered reading on here and I really like this forum as well

Thanks folks

I sometimes feel a bit deflated, sort of kicking my heels a bit after all the activities around beekeeping. I would not liken that to burnout though as I am not tired, drained and emotionally exhausted.

 

[Curly green finger's]

Hello,

So second year of beekeeping for me. Started the season full of beans and really enjoyed it. After harvest and at the wind down stage of feeding for winter etc I got a feeling of burnout. Felt like it took a lot of effort to motivate myself to do anything beekeeping. The hives are all fed and tucked up for winter but just wondering if this has been my crappy mood this year or its common to feel a burnout at the end of the season? Couldn’t even be bothered reading on here and I really like this forum as well

Thanks folks

#beekeeping withdrawal syndrome.
I think this all co - insides with the lack of Sun light .
I'm a gardener and beekeeper go figure.

 

[Poly Hive]

This is the time to be reading up, planning and making things up.

Just invested in a new table saw (which is beating me so far but...I'll get there) and have a load of this coming to make up my nucs for next year.

https://www.panelsystems.co.uk/product/craftfoam-blue

You have to be positive. when working with Nature there can be setbacks. I have had a blow already in that 6 of my nucs have failed, not unexpected as they were made up in the face of very poor weather but I am an optimist and I thought ok make up as many as possible and what works works and take the hit on the chin. Just didn't quite expect a punch that strong this early. *shrug*

Get thinking, reading, watching and before you know it the bees will be humming happily on the crocus (planted out our lawn with 1000) andnthat lovely sense of contentment will fill you again at the sight of happy working bees.

PH

 

[Stiffy]

Hello,

So second year of beekeeping for me. Started the season full of beans and really enjoyed it. After harvest and at the wind down stage of feeding for winter etc I got a feeling of burnout. Felt like it took a lot of effort to motivate myself to do anything beekeeping. The hives are all fed and tucked up for winter but just wondering if this has been my crappy mood this year or its common to feel a burnout at the end of the season? Couldn’t even be bothered reading on here and I really like this forum as well

Thanks folks

My bee year:
I start each season full of plans and excitement on what I anticipate being able to achieve. By mid summer I am starting flag and plans have changed, normally just concentrating on getting them checked, ensure they are thriving and we are on course to be able to supply our markets. By Autumn, probably our busiest time, harvesting done (a chore) and I start to think about the following year and how I may improve on the time spent with the bees. Treated, feeding completed and bees tucked up for the winter, we then look forward to a few months of relative calm before the Christmas markets kick in and every year say to ourselves, "it'll go quiet after the New Year" never does!! Winter sales to stock up and replenish and look at what we will need for the spring. Spring arrives and I am full of expectations again..... love it.
S
PS I also work a full time job (40-50hrs) a week as well.....looking forward to taking retirement from this though and determined not to increase the bee stock too much

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

It's quite common, I know I always struggle towards the end of the season,

that and having a chronic illness really kicks me in the teeth, this year has ben a real struggle actually - lack of sun also means your vitamin D3 levels take a nosedive which doesn't help. My consultant advised me to take industrial strength Vit D3 tablets, in fact she said everyone should consider taking them - all year in the UK!!

 

[Walrus]

Hello,

So second year of beekeeping for me. Started the season full of beans and really enjoyed it. After harvest and at the wind down stage of feeding for winter etc I got a feeling of burnout. Felt like it took a lot of effort to motivate myself to do anything beekeeping. The hives are all fed and tucked up for winter but just wondering if this has been my crappy mood this year or its common to feel a burnout at the end of the season? Couldn’t even be bothered reading on here and I really like this forum as well

Thanks folks

I found that in my first 3 years I worried about the bees a bit too much, and I made lots of mistakes. Now I probably make lots of mistakes but don't get as stressed about it! As I got more colonies, including lots of nucs to take through winter, I didn't worry so much about the odd mishap. All that angst can make you feel worn out.

 

[domino]

End of the season is a bit of a grind for me as well. I think because I'm not really playing with the bees, just putting them away for the winter.

 

[Finsbury]

This is the time to be reading up, planning and making things up.

Just invested in a new table saw (which is beating me so far but...I'll get there) and have a load of this coming to make up my nucs for next year.

https://www.panelsystems.co.uk/product/craftfoam-blue

You have to be positive. when working with Nature there can be setbacks. I have had a blow already in that 6 of my nucs have failed, not unexpected as they were made up in the face of very poor weather but I am an optimist and I thought ok make up as many as possible and what works works and take the hit on the chin. Just didn't quite expect a punch that strong this early. *shrug*

Get thinking, reading, watching and before you know it the bees will be humming happily on the crocus (planted out our lawn with 1000) andnthat lovely sense of contentment will fill you again at the sight of happy working bees.

PH

Been looking at table saws myself, which one have you gone for?

 

[Poly Hive]

This one. Bit of a beast not started to use it yet apart from a couple of trial cuts as pondering on the dust extractor.

https://www.charnwood.net/products/product/p8-cast-iron-table-saw-w619/category_pathway-122


PH

 

[E&MBees]

This one. Bit of a beast not started to use it yet apart from a couple of trial cuts as pondering on the dust extractor.

https://www.charnwood.net/products/product/p8-cast-iron-table-saw-w619/category_pathway-122


PH

My husband is a member of a woodworking forum, http://ukworkshop.co.uk/, which he finds very useful. Lots of discussion re tools and techniques etc.

 

[E&MBees]

This one. Bit of a beast not started to use it yet apart from a couple of trial cuts as pondering on the dust extractor.

https://www.charnwood.net/products/product/p8-cast-iron-table-saw-w619/category_pathway-122


PH

I think that this is the table saw that my husband uses. He has connected his to the dust extractor system via some modified attachments. I can ask him to send details if you are interested.

 

[drex]

To the OP. Does this lack of enthusiasm extend to other areas of your life? If so I suggest you have a chat with your GP. A few years ago I felt the same but would not accept a diagnosis of depression until the doc asked me if my beekeeping was affected. It was, but had always been my love up to that point. After a few months of treatment I was a different person.
Saying all of that, the toughest year in beekeeping is always the second.
I hope your joy returns
Dr. Ex (drex)

 

[Antipodes]

MazO...I tried re-queening 6 hives over the last few days and ran into all sorts of trouble. It ended up so much more difficult than I imagined....and also probably partially unsuccessful, so I'm feeling deflated at the moment. My beekeeping mood seems to depend on how good a job I think I'm doing with them.

 

[Erichalfbee]

My beekeeping mood seems to depend on how good a job I think I'm doing with them.

Yep!
Requeening can be easy or a minefield. I have found the easiest and almost foolproof way is to make up a queenless nuc, introduce your queen in a cage and re unite with the original have when your new queen has laid up a frame and you have killed the old queen