Ask HN: I don't want to work anymore

as one who took a pay cut to work on a place like you describe: this is not 100% good solid advice, although i'm sure it comes from good intentions.

it might work for the OP, but then, these places are usually PLAGUED by political maneuverings and restrictions that end up ruining most of the work done by the workers 'on the trenches'.

It is a fable, that certain kind of work changes the world for better. The reality is changing the world is a slow process, it takes a sequence of events which eventually makes things better.

You do not have to work for a large famous company to start making things better. I absolutely believe that if you want to make a big impact in the world, you need to start small - with something closer and around you.

Consider a few things ... (use your imagination) At social level, start small, if you want to make a change to world: 1. Help a Child

2. Teach someone something, may be online.

At personal level:

1. Work on a hobby project, have your own vision for the world.

2. Learn something you would really like to do.

To take things off your current negativity, take a break, may be a vacation, do something you enjoy, Hiking, Music, Books ..whatever is your thing.

I'm in the same pickle. I get burnout symptoms at the 6 month mark no matter what I do and paid leave doesn't help, only honest to goodness NEET life. I plan to find a way to cope with it by finding something that's lucrative and done in short stints. Which is going to be hard for a neophyte like me with only a passing interest in tech.

Had a conversation about that with a friend on IRC last night and got some interesting insights. His main point was that enjoying the process is the most important thing about a job being enjoyable. Because the process is after all, the thing you do day in, day out.

The most interesting people I've ever met who travelled Europe for most of the year, funded their trips by picking strawberries in Denmark in the summer. However, they were masters at frugality. Couchsurfing, hitchhiking, eating at the cheapest places, thrift shopping, the works.

In theory, couple of months of inflated tech salary should be perfect for such a lifestyle, but strangely enough I don't know any techies living like that. I personally blame the lifestyle creep. Most of my tech worker friends and since recently, myself have quite expensive hobbies.

Quite a rambling post, but I hope it can give someone ideas. Off-hand comments by random anons on HN and other places have often inspired me.

Working in a service can be haunting experience. Long hours and yet it is often not appreciated by customers. I was in IT line too.. Know how you feel.

So what's the job that you have now ?

I read your comment saying that you work remotely. I have been doing that for 2 years too and honestly until recently I felt the same way as you. I started fixing myself by doing meditation and exercising regularly. I have made my mental and physical health my top priority. Once I established that I made sure that everyday I am learning something new and challenging and creating something. After that was taken care of I decided that every week I am going to take time out to reach out to people and socialise. Now I feel that my life is meaningful, which means different for different people. I am happier than I ever was and I have fallen in love with programming again.