Aha, two t's. That is useful. You are a true teacher of expletives.
A roller coaster - that's a good image. Kind of exhilarating, kind of nauseating. My burnout can be similarly described. Exhilarating to get one more piece of work done, and then feeling sick afterward.
Yes, let's hold out for the rewards. Or maybe in my case, that dangling carrot.