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Ask HN: Tips to relearn how to care about my job?

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Re: Ask HN: Tips to relearn how to care about my job?

#71

Post by threads2 »

softfalcon wrote: post #42

> Maybe therapy could help. Ding ding ding! We have a winner! You’re beginning that existential question of what matters to you and what you want to spend your time doing. As soon as you do that, uncertainty will creep into far more than just your work. You chased the golden dream, now you “have it” and are near the top given your nice high salary. You’re not at the absolute tippy top, but you’re closer to the summit…

how patronizing

you'll get out of your rut, OP. it's normal to not like your job.

Re: Ask HN: Tips to relearn how to care about my job?

#72

Post by eyelidlessness »

You’re experiencing burnout. It’s not a rut in the sense that it can be mentally adapted into something else, it’s exhaustion. You don’t just deserve, you need, time to recover from it, and you need a commitment to your wellbeing to do that.

I’m saying this from experience at the wrong end of answering this question, or at least addressing the same underlying cause. I’m over two years into severe burnout and have no idea if I’ll ever recover. I made the wrong choice by committing to my job over what my body and mind were telling me.

Get some rest, before your body forces you to do it. And before you build a cycling habit of it. You’re clearly smart. You’ll get to chase all the career things you want to, but you’ll only enjoy them if you take care of yourself along the way.

And yes, do seek therapy if that’s something you’re open to. It can help, especially if you’re in a place where you can go in with trust. Which it sounds like you are.

Re: Ask HN: Tips to relearn how to care about my job?

#73

Post by eyelidlessness »

pesfandiar wrote: post #68
UncleOxidant wrote: post #20

It sounds like you're burned out. Take a vacation ASAP. Take that time to rest. Beyond vacations, make sure you take one day/week where you rest - actually rest . Eschew productivity on that day. This was called sabbath in the past and was connected with religion, but there's much to learn from that tradition of a weekly rhythm of rest to create a secular sabbath. Disconnect - turn off the phone, get away from screen…

In this case, they're bored more than they're overworked. Trying to find more meaning within their day job may be more effective than completely cutting off. Sometimes working harder but on a more meaningful project could reverse a burnout faster than avoiding the problem.

> bored more than they're overworked

They state outright that they’re exhausted. Lots of us get bored and lose the sense of value we felt when we’re overextended. Even when we apply ourselves harder. Often the first symptomatic recognition of burnout is loss or deteriorating interest.

Re: Ask HN: Tips to relearn how to care about my job?

#74

Post by datavirtue »

PragmaticPulp wrote: post #38
vellum wrote: post #3

You don't have to care about your job. Most people have about four good hours of work in them. Just do your four hours, and take the rest of the day off. No job is worth burnout.

> You don't have to care about your job. Most people have about four good hours of work in them. Just do your four hours, and take the rest of the day off. OP says they're young and recently got a high-paying job at a recognizable California company. This isn't good advice. Working half days every day may work for certain senior people in slow moving parts of a company. However, getting a high-paying job in Californi…

Sounds like your typical sweatshop.

Re: Ask HN: Tips to relearn how to care about my job?

#75

Post by artificialLimbs »

rychco wrote: post #17
artificialLimbs wrote: post #7

1.)Have kids. 2.)Work at doing something else, since you clearly don’t like what you’re doing. Looks like you’re already doing that, so just keep going. Could your physical activity and health be what’s affecting your mental state?

I don't mean to be rude, but 'Have kids' may be one of the single worst pieces of advice you could give someone who is "plagued with exhaustion and lack of motivation".

I was also plagued with exhaustion and lack of motivation.

Now, 5 years into getting married and having 2 kids, I value my time and my self in ways that simply would not have been possible prior. I am learning to focus not only on what I want and 'me'. I have begun to contribute to my community through serving in community oriented roles. I stopped my worst self destructive habits explicity so that I may be a good role model for my children. My energy is at an all time high as a result of taking care of myself physically, mentally, and emotionally so that I may do the same for those around me. I have found motivation in doing good work to help others, even if it's not 'ideally' fit for my personal tastes at any given time. Doing good work, being consistent and stable (where I was not before), and striving to bring about positive change has resulted in substantial gains in a number of areas in my life. I would still be smoking weed and fucking off playing 1 player games by myself without my family to motivate me.

Maybe it doesn't work this way for everyone, but this is my experience.

Re: Ask HN: Tips to relearn how to care about my job?

#76

Post by rubicon33 »

The best way to "learn to care about your job" is to work at a job where you care about the people. WHO you work with is as important (if not more important) than WHAT you work on. Aligned in spirit, goals, and energy, a team can be self motivating and a really enjoyable experience even if what you're working on is "just a clone". It becomes about the collective win, the pursuit of victory for everyone. Your mind will shift from being focussed on taking home a big paycheck, to being focused on working on behalf of the team to see everyone's success.

Re: Ask HN: Tips to relearn how to care about my job?

#77

Post by Exorust »

Take a half hr everyday to think not about the nitty-gritty of everyday stuff but about one level above.

This could be: - Areas where you can improve &/or learn - How can I climb up the Corp ladder? - Where can I add value that no one else can add

Sometimes it helps to take a step back and look at the bigger picture

Re: Ask HN: Tips to relearn how to care about my job?

#78

Post by afarrell »

threads2 wrote: post #71
softfalcon wrote: post #42

> Maybe therapy could help. Ding ding ding! We have a winner! You’re beginning that existential question of what matters to you and what you want to spend your time doing. As soon as you do that, uncertainty will creep into far more than just your work. You chased the golden dream, now you “have it” and are near the top given your nice high salary. You’re not at the absolute tippy top, but you’re closer to the summit…

how patronizing you'll get out of your rut, OP. it's normal to not like your job.

OP asked a direct question. It is not patronizing to answer that question from experience.
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