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Ask HN: Why can't I learn anymore?

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Re: Ask HN: Why can't I learn anymore?

#101

Post by sinenomine »

tehmillhouse wrote: post #47
rawoke083600 wrote: post #35

I know exactly what you mean. As a counter point to the many "burnout answers" here which I completely agree with by the way. It could also be an example of "neuroplasticity" (hear me out). I'm 40 and been coding like it feels forever, I find it "relatively easy" to learn new frameworks or languages. What is much harder are new paradigms; example OOP vs functional. The last few months I've started to learn Clojure. M…

I think there's definitely something to the neuroplasticity thing. Learning does take longer as we age, that's just a biological fact. > Man what a frustrating journey it has been ! I keep telling myself I'm a seasoned senior dev... This right here, that's something you're misunderstanding. Learning something new is supposed to be uncomfortable. To learn most effectively, you want to shape your mental behavior to min…

I think the neuroplasticity angle is vastly underestimated, and we should seek (and also design, research & fund if there is none) neuroplasticity-upregulating drugs & therapies.

As far as this field goes, this is a remarkable paper: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24348349/

Re: Ask HN: Why can't I learn anymore?

#102

Post by [deleted] »

huijzer wrote: post #86
pyentropy wrote: post #85

Earlier quoted context omitted.

You had a depressive episode, and you recovered. It's not getting older, but the fact that time heals most brains just like exercise and antidepressants do. About 70% recover within 12 months [1] [1] - https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12204924/ Edit: OP said "Was depressed that [...]" and also mentions death of a loved one. Even if I'm wrong, personally I really wish someone mentioned MDD as a possibility to me earlie…

> You had a depressive episode, and you recovered. You’re quick in jumping to conclusions.

[deleted]

Re: Ask HN: Why can't I learn anymore?

#103

Post by sinenomine »

fleb wrote: post #16

This sounds like burnout to me. I am in my mid-40s and used to have spells like this, but no more. I needed some kind of large change, back then, to get myself sorted out, but this could be pretty destructive because if I waited too long, the change I'd need wouldn't really be conducive to staying on whatever project I was on. The key to not having to deal with this problem anymore, for me, was starting to proactivel…

Burnout has become such a catch-all term as to be effectively meaningless by now.

In our professional lives, we are used to set quantified KPIs in a SMART way, and I wonder, why is it that our expectations are so comparatively low in our personal lives?

Re: Ask HN: Why can't I learn anymore?

#104

Post by calculated »

Try meditation, Yoga Nidra, NSDR, whatever works for you. You'll really be amazed by the effects it has on your mind. Especially NSDR/Yoga Nidra. It has been life changing career wise and just in regards to how I view the world, how I think about code and just everything in general. It'll help you clear your mind which is one of the most underrated things in life but at the same time crucial to performance. That's the only advice I feel is suitable except the for the common sense (switch jobs, projects, take a break, etc.).

Re: Ask HN: Why can't I learn anymore?

#105

Post by rightbyte »

fleb wrote: post #16

This sounds like burnout to me. I am in my mid-40s and used to have spells like this, but no more. I needed some kind of large change, back then, to get myself sorted out, but this could be pretty destructive because if I waited too long, the change I'd need wouldn't really be conducive to staying on whatever project I was on. The key to not having to deal with this problem anymore, for me, was starting to proactivel…

Getting fed up with all the stupid technology grind is not necessarily burnout though. One could call it wisdom or experience too.

Re: Ask HN: Why can't I learn anymore?

#106

Post by sinenomine »

trophycase wrote: post #24

I have no advice but just can say that I'm there right now. I have no motivation to code and no motivation to learn new languages. Maybe you're just tired of it and tired of starting at a screen.

I'm in this state for the larger part of my life, and I have somewhat succeeded. I can give you advice, but it goes tangential to accepted normie HN happy-go-lucky wisdom.

Re: Ask HN: Why can't I learn anymore?

#107

Post by achenet »

gabrieledarrigo wrote: post #52

I'm 40, I'm a skilled software engineer and, here in Italy, I'm really far from making any 6 figures. I guess that's something wrong with my careers.

it's just that the market is different in different countries.

I'm in France, making 32,000Eur/year with 1 YoE. I had a friend in America making 130,000$ with roughly the same amount of experience.

Americans pay much more for the same work. That said, you can probably find some remote jobs that pay US salaries in Italy if you look around a bit.

Re: Ask HN: Why can't I learn anymore?

#109

Post by koonsolo »

Early 40's here. I'm not going to diagnose the problem, but what usually works for me is the following, from high to low priority. But remark that they all interact with each other.

- get pleny of sleep.

- exercise.

- eath healthy and have a healthy bodyweight.

- have social, in-person interactions with friends. Have a laugh, etc.

Re: Ask HN: Why can't I learn anymore?

#110

Post by jseban »

Before you delve into the complex issues of burnout and depression, you can first try the assumption that you are a bit exhausted and give yourself some rest, this can not hurt, and potentially help a lot.
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