Why do you keep doing it (for those who write detailed reviews)

After over 400 reviews, I admit, I'm a little burnt out. What keeps me coming back is the fact that people do actually seem to find my reviews very helpful, and I like knowing that there's something that I'm good at. I could probably pump through a whole bunch really quickly, but I refuse to sacrifice quality for quantity. It drives me nuts when I read a review by a higher ranking (anybody who doesn't need the editor program) person and it just reads like they couldn't bother to proofread at all and just wanted to get another notch under their belt and I refuse to let my reviews read like I rushed through them if I can help it.

Motivation is more lacking than it was a year ago, or even a few months ago. For a while I could spend a whole day just writing reviews. During the last few months, I don't really care as much, lol.

I do it because I enjoy it. When it stops being fun, I take a break for a while. I've learned that about a review a week is my maximum, so I watch myself when it comes to buy-outs and push assignments not to overdo it.

I do think the editing points are kind of high, compared to the work involved in writing reviews or mentoring a student.

I have to admit that I am burnt out as well, but I keep making myself do it because it is helpful. I make sure my reviews have good quality because that is important to me when I read a review. I try to take a break away from Eden every weekend, this really helps me not feel so burnt out, but I will admit I still feel burnt. I do 5 reviews a week, but lately that has been four, I try to never over do it at all. The 5 reviews a week I usually do one per day, but sometimes I will do them all in one day. It will depend on what is going on, but if I do not have the time and feel as if I can not write a great review that day, then I do not push it.

I suffered a bit of burn out about the beginning of Christmas. For me it isn't about the point difference it is about expecting too much of myself and spreading myself so thin there was nothing left to give. Everything suffered until I went away for a few days and re-thought my whole purpose. I do not run the site, the site can and will do just fine if I take a break, I am here to HAVE FUN, not wear myself out on unrealistic ideals.

This is what helped me, I am back but on a time budget now!!!
Do other style reviews, not just one type (example- vibrator instead of lingerie, bath products instead of vibrators, mix it up), remember who you are helping, take a break - this is voluntary, DO NOT overwhelm yourself with more reviews than you can handle at one time. Practice self delegation - give yourself limits and stick to it, your work will not be any good for yourself or to help others if your heart isn't in it.

Care about you and enjoy some you time!!

I do it because hopefully people appreciate the effort I put into my reviews, but it's also the only way I know ow to review. I do not suffer from burnout, but that's also because I limit myself to maybe 2 reviews a month. I also tend to only review newer items so it keeps it a little more fun when I review something I know people are waiting for a review.

i love learning new things, and don't generally have money to shell out for toys, so the review program keeps a steady stream of goodies in my box. writing a helpful review is the least i can do in exchange for such a cool setup.

I try to only do about 2 reviews every week at most. I cannot imagine what it's like to be doing reviews on 10 lingerie items at once.

I write reviews because I like doing it. If I didn't find it fun, I wouldn't bother. There are definitely times that I'm not in the mood to work on reviews, so I take a break until I am in the right mood. Sometimes I have assignments due, and I have to get them done even though I'm not very into it, which is probably my least favourite part of reviewing. But the majority of things I review are things I bought myself, so there's no obligation. I just like sharing my opinions and trying to help other people find things that work for them.

I was actually just thinking about this yesterday---not about burnout, specifically, but about what motivates people to write reviews.

For my part---I have this strong desire to have variety in my sex life. Sex toys provide a way to explore a million different sensations without exposing myself (and others) to the physical and mental risks that would come with a bunch of different partners.

So I'm excited to see new toys all the time, because it's filling this need for "variety" and "something new to look forward to" and "a new way to learn about myself."

I love sharing what I learn in reviews because, well, for one I really like to write, and I don't have any opportunity to write for my work. For another, I assume there are other people out there who are eager to learn about what toys might suit them best, and I feel like I do a good job both on the forum and in my reviews of helping people find what might be 'right' for them. Or helping them grow. I know how much help I've gotten from others on this site, so I know I'm probably doing good for others like me

And I'm not writing reviews for the points... but I am going to keep writing them, because there's no way I could afford a collection like this without the help of Eden! So, helping others, at the same time as filing my own need for variety, and giving me an outlet for writing which I otherwise don't have in my life.

Lotsa good stuff!

I suppose I'm too new to eden to be getting burnt out yet, and I'm not!

I enjoy writing detailed reviews. I'm a writer by profession, and I make sure that everything I write is written as well as I can write it. Besides, I want everyone else to return the favor! I like to read a few detailed reviews before I buy a product. On occasion, I've bought a product because of an outstanding review, such as the Je Joue Ami, which I bought because of stainedclear's review. I hope that my reviews accomplish the same thing. I make sure to be objective for most of my review, and give my personal opinions towards the end. I'm aware that the purpose of these reviews is to sell a product, and I feel obligated to do my best for eden to thank them for allowing me to try so many fun toys for free!

I do think the points system is a little skewed in terms of editing reviews taking less work than writing reviews, but it doesn't matter that much to me.

Back when I started writing reviews we only got one product a month and there were no points and no gift cards.

I did it then because it was fun, because I liked getting new toys, because I felt it was a fair trade -- my words in exchange for the product -- and because it was really awesome finding out my words made a difference for some people, helped them out.

I continued to do it for the same reasons.

I stopped writing reviews when I realized I was bored and didn't need another single thing, that nothing was all that thrilling anymore and I had tried just about everything I wanted to try. I stopped because I was getting stressed out and feeling like I had to maintain my rank and had to write reviews for every little thing.

I haven't written a review in a year. My rank has dropped from a 9.7/9.8 to around seven. I went from the top reviewer to... hell, I don't even know anymore.

My advice is to slow down. Do it because it's fun. You don't have to write a review on every product you buy and you certainly don't have to write them under any sort of time limit. Relax. Enjoy the products. Write when you want to and when you have time. Don't bring stress on yourself, don't turn a fun hobby into something that is making you stressed and upset.

It's not a competition and it's not a race so put those photos in a folder and come back to them when you're feeling inspired!

I've wondered the same thing. Some people write so many reviews very quickly, and I've wondered how they keep up the pace while still enjoying the process. I haven't run into that problem but it's also taken me about a year and a half to write 35 reviews. I feel like I'm really cranking them out if I finish two reviews in one week. I don't know how some of you guys do it. I am impressed, but definitely take care of your sanity if you need a break for awhile. We all need a break every once in awhile.

Yeah, I agree with what's been said so far. I do it because it's fun! It sounds like you might be trying to take on way too much. I take my time and do reviews, photos and videos when I want to. I don't necessarily take my monthly assignments even, if I'm not really wowed by any of the available items or if I have real life stuff going on.

Sounds like you might need to take a nice break, and then slow down once you decide to come back. I've been here for about a year and don't even have 20 reviews yet. That's ok with me, I don't care if I ever get 50 or 100, because it's just a fun hobby. I do it in my spare time, and when I want to relax and have fun.

Best wishes to you as you take a much needed break!

I spend a large amount of time on reviews. Actually, all of my spare time goes to reviews. Between taking pictures, editing pictures, and writing the reviews, there's a lot of time that goes into every review posted. Of course, that doesn't even include the time spent testing, but that's the extra fun part, right?

I usually write a review a day and two a day on weekends. I take a break one or two weekdays on nights I'm tired or get a package in. On the nights I get packages, I take pictures. I usually buy more than one thing, so the pictures will take up enough of my night for me not to have time for a review after I'm done with the photos.

I love writing reviews. It's really one of the most fulfilling things I think I've done, aside from the big things in my life like being a mom and my job. It doesn't come close to things like that, but as a hobby it's way more fulfilling than listening to music or going to the movies or something.

I feel like sex is one of those things that can bring great happiness to someone's life. A good sex life can make such a huge impact on quality of life. Good sex toys can positively impact a good sex life and thus impact overall happiness and well being. So I feel like by helping people choose things that will work for them, in some way I'm helping to make people happy. I guess I must naturally like to help or something, because my job is to help people only with money instead of sex. I spend a lot of time helping. I also like knowing that in some small way I've made someone I don't even know (and some people I sort of know) happy. It makes me happy.

Another reason I enjoy it is because before reviewing I didn't really have any hobbies, per say. I love music, but that was a passive hobby for me. I could sit and listen to it for hours, but I can't play any music or make it or anything. So I wasn't actively involved in any way. Here I can write and be involved in the community. It's a more active hobby, a real hobby. I didn't have much to do with my time before this other than watch TV and listen to music and I was very bored. Now I'm never bored! It's a pretty big accomplishment to keep an ADD person entertained.

Do I burn out? Eh, sometimes. There are some days I don't feel like writing. On those days, I usually just don't write a review. If I have something due I will, but sometimes I'll just put it off for another day and I'll be in the mood again. Other times I'll wait a day and then I'll force myself to write but I'll switch categories, as other have mentioned. So instead of doing a vibrator I'll do a dildo or a BDSM product. When I get bored with that, I'll do something else. I try to do reviews as the mood strikes for those items. I do try to review newer products faster since I know people keep an eye out for those, but for older products I just do them when I feel like it.

As for the points, I often wondered why the points for editing were higher when it took less time to do that than write a (good) review. I don't edit so I must have missed where it was mentioned why. I'm glad to know what the reason is now. I would like to get more points for a review, but I don't really do it for the points, so it's no big deal if it stays at 50 forever. I also could see an issue if it went up with (some) members posting more but lower quality reviews. So I see why it stays lower from that perspective too.

Thanks everyone. I kinda halfway set a goal when I saw I had so many items coming (from sales, etc) to have hit 100 reviews by Valentine's Day. I don't know why - it was just something that I thought would be neat.

I wanted to get a lot of the lingerie done fairly soon because it is on sale.

I think some of the forum threads recently might have discouraged me plus just being tired and not getting enough sleep.

I napped for four hours today after taking photos of the item that arrived - and while I really want to get these out while the lingerie is on sale - I'm going to just take it at my pace.

I wasn't trying to complain about the points at all by the way - its just - frustrating to put hours into a review with photos, etc. and then I don't know - wonder if you did good enough or wonder if you did too much, etc.

The responses to this thread have really helped me.

I like to write reviews because I have benefited from reading the reviews of others; it influences the products I buy, and it's enjoyable to read them.
I like mine to be detailed because informed choices are important in life, especially when it comes to the products we use.

At the same time, I'm finding less time nowadays for reviews, and I wish it were otherwise. I've got a large pile of them to work on.
I admire people who go to such great lengths, though! My reviews are just wordy (and probably tiresome to read), but they lack photos and videos. People who go the extra mile (or seven) really make an impact.

I'm going to be the weirdo here and say that rank, points, and prestige don't matter to me. I almost got caught up in the race at the very beginning of my reviewing - then I was put on anti-depressants that killed my libido and I had no interest in using anything.

After almost a year and new anti-depressants, I'm feeling well enough to review again, but am now diving into an intensive term at school that won't give me much spare time. I'm not going to push myself if I don't feel like it, so burn out can be avoided by keeping a pace that fits me and my life outside EF.

Balance is the key - balance your life inside and outside EF.

You and I can be charter members of the "too many pictures club"...to join you must've been downvoted at least once for too many pictures or had complaints about it.

JUST KIDDING!