How do you approach open-world games after the main story without burnout?

[OliviaDT]

I just finished the main story of a massive open-world game and I'm feeling completely overwhelmed by the sheer amount of post-game content, side quests, and collectibles left on the map—it's starting to feel more like a chore list than fun. I love the exploration and freedom these games offer, but I often burn out before completing them because I try to do everything and get sidetracked for hours. For fellow completionists or those who just enjoy the journey, how do you approach these vast games without getting overwhelmed? Do you focus solely on the main narrative first, use guides to be efficient, or just wander aimlessly and accept you won't see everything, and what recent open-world title struck the best balance between meaningful content and pointless filler?

[Paul.W]

Two practical guardrails: cap side quests per session (say two max) and only touch collectibles if they unlock something you care about (lore, upgrades). Use fast travel to avoid needless backtracking, and if a quest drags, drop it and move on. If you want, I can sketch a simple game-by-game approach based on the title.