The #1038 - Out of sort memory error can be frustrating, but by increasing the sort buffer size, optimizing your queries, and adjusting relevant MySQL settings, you can significantly reduce the likelihood of encountering this issue.
Always remember to monitor your server's memory usage to ensure that increasing these settings doesn't negatively impact other aspects of your system's performance. By following these steps, you'll be well on your way to ensuring that MySQL can efficiently handle large data sorting operations without running out of memory.