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Ask HN: Burnt-out, directionless but want to turn it around

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Re: Ask HN: Burnt-out, directionless but want to turn it around

#461

Post by duped »

randomsearch wrote: post #291
koonsolo wrote: post #179

> I've put in countless hours of work every day (70-90 hrs), being on-call almost 24/7, sometimes for straight 7 days for months So why do you think you have the following: > but unable to concentrate, riddled with brain fog You're putting in WAY TOO MANY HOURS! Stop doing overtime, and read this: https://www.7pace.com/blog/overtime-kills and http://blog.approache.com/2010/11/rules-of-productivity.html On the career…

> Stop doing overtime, and read this: https://www.7pace.com/blog/overtime-kills and http://blog.approache.com/2010/11/rules-of-productivity.html That was fascinating reading, thanks for sharing. This seems like absolutely crucial data for a startup. Rationally, these links imply that a startup should work 40 hour weeks. Intuitively I'm not entirely convinced, but I want to be. I work 50 hours minimum and have regular…

Investors don't give two hoots how many hours your people work, they care if you reach the goals you promise you will (which translates near directly into likelihood that their investment has some return).

The key insight is that working more hours doesn't lead to more work being accomplished, because there's a saturation region to productivity. Couple that with the fact that there's a negative return for sustained overexertion, consistently working excessive hours actually is less productive for individuals and teams.

But if you don't believe it, measure it.

Re: Ask HN: Burnt-out, directionless but want to turn it around

#463

Post by i_am_proteus »

FerociousTimes wrote: post #445
i_am_proteus wrote: post #417

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Aside from the "fired and couldn't find another job" and "had personal problems that prevented him from working angles," there's also the possibility that said employee lives well within his means and can take large blocks of time away from full-time work if he chooses. Which means that said employee could walk away from the company if he's dissatisfied. The company would rather have someone who needs the paycheck— h…

I am not saying that you necessarily endorse this line of reasoning or justification but if this is what passes for talent retention strategies at these firms, they're really in for a lot, lot of pain.

I absolutely don't endorse, but rather strive to understand.

Re: Ask HN: Burnt-out, directionless but want to turn it around

#465

Post by llllllllllll9 »

rramadass wrote: post #144
csk111165 wrote: post #74

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This one liner "Only 10% of programmers are top 10% programmers, 90% are not." completely changed my view towards programming, I am also a software developer working at ANZ, but I do feel that I am not doing the great work. I just wanted to ask how to be at 10% of the top programmers, Is there any pathways? Please suggest, I do feel existential crisis in some point of time.

While i do not claim to have all the answers, the following suggestions might help. What you are feeling is normal. Take a look at the book Why we do What we do: Understanding Self-Motivation by Edward Deci for some insights. Relentlessly work on improving yourself to get "better" at various aspects of "Programming" (assuming that is what you want). Don't compare yourself to others, focus on incremental improvement e…

... but this is just another self improvement story ??

Re: Ask HN: Burnt-out, directionless but want to turn it around

#466

Post by llllllllllll9 »

EugeneOZ wrote: post #159

You’ve got a million pieces of advice about the burnout, I’ll comment this: > I've always wondered how other smart people are able to come up with libraries, services and various solutions from scratch. Read books. Classic programming books - Knuth, Robert Martin, Erich Gamma, and so on. Find 2-3 hours per day - it is one of the best investments you can do.

so if you want to paint/draw, you will read books about drawing?

Re: Ask HN: Burnt-out, directionless but want to turn it around

#467

Post by llllllllllll9 »

michepriest wrote: post #113

I've been burnt out twice. Once to the point of being on short-term disability for 3 months. I've also risen in my career from door-to-door sales to leading an AI based technology startup. Here's what I recommend to get the reset you need: Step 1 - Reset your mind and your body: Get rest. If you have the resources, quit your job and rest. Move. If you're not exercising, start. If you are keep doing it. Breathe. Learn…

door to door to AI ... hmmm ....

yeah.

Re: Ask HN: Burnt-out, directionless but want to turn it around

#468

Post by ynniv »

i_am_proteus wrote: post #417
feanaro wrote: post #200

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> No-one will care about a month or two gap on your resume. On a related note, this "gap in resume" thing needs to stop being a thing at all. I don't know when it became a thing, but it feels distinctively like forcing a wage slave class to keep their head down and continue wageslaving. Why would an employer care whether I took time off to pursue other things otherwise?

Aside from the "fired and couldn't find another job" and "had personal problems that prevented him from working angles," there's also the possibility that said employee lives well within his means and can take large blocks of time away from full-time work if he chooses. Which means that said employee could walk away from the company if he's dissatisfied. The company would rather have someone who needs the paycheck— h…

I can see the reasoning in that, but in my 20 years in industry this has never come up. When my first child was born I spent a whole year with him, and the only person who was concerned about a twelve month "gap" was me. Take the time to care for yourself.

Re: Ask HN: Burnt-out, directionless but want to turn it around

#469

Post by dhanna »

nurettin wrote: post #315

Why don't you take a moment to open a computer architecture book and just start reading and solving? Or read and solve through a discrete mathematics book? Knowledge will help you straighten up. Then try leetcode again with your new insights.

I’m going through something similar to OP and I did exactly this. Thanks for validating I’m not crazy.

Re: Ask HN: Burnt-out, directionless but want to turn it around

#470

Post by s1artibartfast »

futureshock wrote: post #251

I want to throw out there that HN is not going to have the average compassion and emotional intelligence to give you good advice. You need to hire yourself a life coach or work with a therapist (which in your case would serve the same purpose). It may not seem it to you, but you are very young still. You have more growing to do and everyone needs trusted advisors. Also, the world is full of "lies" and most people bel…

   Hard work does not pay off. (This one is starting to break through for you and is the main reason for your post). Luck pays off. Who you know pays off.
This is all true but misses the key point.

Hard work can be incredibly powerful but only if channeled wisely.

How, when, and what you work hard on matters.

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