Ask HN: I lost my will to program. How can I get it back?

I hear this from developers around me quite a bit. Almost always, the issue is not that you've lost interest in programming, but rather that you're discovering that what you are passionate about isn't programming at all, and that programming was simply a means to or a part of whatever it is you are actually passionate about; whatever it is that will actually make you happy.

For me, it was product development and design. I started writing code in middle school, and I really loved it. I pursued computer science in college, and while I did graduate with my b.s. in c.s., it was during college that I hit a similar slump. Over time, I realized it wasn't writing code that I was passionate about. In high school, I had to write code to implement product designs and different ideas that I wanted to innovate on. Programming was a means to what I was actually interested in. Now, I work developing products (not code), and designing UI's, and I love it. It took me a while to figure out that this is actually what I love, but once I figured it out, I was always in love with what I do. (Not just in love with what I do when it happens to be plugged in to what my strength, unbeknownst to me, actually was.)

I urge you, and anyone else hitting the same slump every now and then with writing code to think about when writing code is actually fun. What sets those times apart? When is it most enjoyable? Is there a pattern? Is it when you are also doing the design? Coming up with new features? Leading a team? Designing a developer tool or API?

Your strength and passion may lie elsewhere, and going through this thought exercise may help you uncover it.

Of course, I could be totally wrong; your situation may be completely different. Feel free to get in touch if you want to bounce around a bit of conversation surrounding this. My email's in my profile.

Go to a meetup, talk to people who have different experiences. Make it your goal to build some relationships and learn some new perspectives. After a while your motivation will come back. Don't force it.

I think this is the same as writers block or failure of a painter or an athlete. Focus is lost and regaining it is not simple. I've worked through this process a number of times. I found treeplanting during the summers of my CPSC degree really helped rejuvenate me. The isolation, physical fitness, financial freedom and socializing was invaluable. I am replicating these things in my daily routine now. I have been taking it seriously, a regimented day:

6:00 wake up, put on clean laundered sweatshirt for run(comfy way to trigger my habit) 6:10 eat greek yogurt, maple syrup and vegtable juice 6:20 go for run, 10 min 120bpm warm up, 40min 130-140bpm then 10min 120bpm cool down. very light does not leave me tired for the day ahead and builds appetite for a significant breakfast 7:25 shower 7:35 make breakfast; eggs, butter, milk, tomato, kale, onion, oatmeal, sugar, green tea. This provides post run energy and fats provide a slow burn for the day. 8:10 10-20min rest, let your mind and body relax 9:00 get to work, I try to stand but also lounge with my laptop. I take breaks to juggle, do handstands or swing my home-made bulgarian training bag. 12:00 lunch, either a stew or lentles 12:30 another moderate rest, 20mins. I rarely sleep, that would interfere with homoeostasis and I don't generally feel the need 1:00 back to work until I lose focus. Make sure your space is compfy, live in a place with quality air(I live in Vancouver) use houseplants to clean air, a fan to circulate fresh air from outside, use curtains and plants and earmuffs to block out noise and light when desired. Be Compfortable! Eliminate odours, and I don't mean febreeze, I mean go to the source. 5-6:00 ish I'll go out with friends, some activity maybe do chores. 8:00 cleanup, dishes, wash floor busy none mental tasks. 9:00 personal email, facebook 9:20 bath w/ ebook, epsom salts seem nice 9:40 more reading 10:00 open window it's bedtime and a drop in body temp helps induce sleep which you must take seriously.

When we are young we can ignore discomforts, but stress accumulates and I believe the impact becomes greater with time. I have no idea what exactly is impacting you but I bet it's part of your lifestyle. I think buddists and pig farmers have shown us you can love what you do if you want.

We all had that problem - you have to find your place and go hard.

Many programmers working as lone developers experience that same issue when they're programming for mandated lost causes.

Go back to where you fell in love with it and connect with other developers. Pay attention to how far you came and find or create a project to leave your mark. Programming is love, sometime it takes something to rekindle the flame - don't worry :)

I remember doing my first website for $25 lol.