Ask HN: Losing all interest in programming, what now? • Hacker News Board

Re: Ask HN: Losing all interest in programming, what now?

#91

Post by Tarsul » Thu, Dec 10, 2020, 5:20 PM UTC

JSavageOne wrote: post #20

I personally think 90+% of the work in this industry is very boring. At this point many will say "well why are you working in this industry then"? Well I tried the alternatives, and they were way worse. I need money to survive in this world, and programming gives me the best bang for my buck. Most other industries require working longer hours doing less interesting work making less money with less freedom. If it's re…

It boils down to perspective: Is the glass half full or half empty? Not the matter of fact is relevant to the individuum but their perspective (in the end how you feel about something is entirely in your mind). That's why it's always good to get to know the alternatives - maybe it changes your perspective.

Re: Ask HN: Losing all interest in programming, what now?

#92

Post by frankbyte » Thu, Dec 10, 2020, 5:22 PM UTC

One problem I recently noticed was that I was feeling down staring at all the metrics related to my projects.

I'd obsessively look at my downloads, conversions, page views and what have you.

This in no way was helping my work, but it was bringing me down because I was comparing with all the people who had "made it" already. Couple days I decided to stop that. For all those moments I'd rather read a book or play with the kids or listen to the wife. Feeling a bit better already to be honest, and interestingly somehow... free.

Re: Ask HN: Losing all interest in programming, what now?

#93

Post by rabuse » Thu, Dec 10, 2020, 5:23 PM UTC

thrower123 wrote: post #3

Everyone reaches the point where they just want to live in a yurt and milk goats eventually. It's been a fucking rough year or five.

I always say this to people when I get stressed out with programming projects. "I'm just gonna quit and go work on a farm."

Re: Ask HN: Losing all interest in programming, what now?

#94

Post by combatentropy » Thu, Dec 10, 2020, 5:24 PM UTC

city41 wrote: post #87

I was in a very similar spot about a year ago. I decided to take a sabbatical. Just recently I have found my interest in programming returning. I was just really burnt out. Early on in the burnout I seriously questioned if I could ever program again, and now I've been coding full time and really enjoying it again.

How long were you on your sabbatical before the interest returned? A year?

Re: Ask HN: Losing all interest in programming, what now?

#95

Post by kazinator » Thu, Dec 10, 2020, 5:27 PM UTC

I quit programming once. I was 18; lots of distractions. The situation didn't last very long, and had hasn't happened since.

Boilerplate code is conquered through, in the order of least desirable to better:

- manual external code generation

- automated external code generation that repeats itself in each build

- automated internal code generation: macros

You don't want to be manually creating repetitive content with small variations; that's what computers are for.

You can regard boilerplate as challenge: how small can I get the specification of this? And then work on the generator from that specification to the boilerplate. The boilerplate is still boring, but the generator can have fun bits in it.

Re: Ask HN: Losing all interest in programming, what now?

#96

Post by heavenlyblue » Thu, Dec 10, 2020, 5:29 PM UTC

The fact that you need to spend time on “boilerplate crap” just means you’re not good enough to be able to quickly build that boilerplate crap.

This is also a sign of depression. Boilerplate crap is supposed to be easy - what makes you so negative about it?

Re: Ask HN: Losing all interest in programming, what now?

#97

Post by daralthus » Thu, Dec 10, 2020, 5:33 PM UTC

Likely need to tackle from multiple sides:

1. Physical: Sleep more. No screen days. Diet changes. Sport.

2. Emotional: [1] CBT. Get rid of perfectionism and huge romantic /heroic ideas that make you suffer. "burnout is heartbreak". Choose way way smaller projects: You commit, finish and get a good feeling from feedback within a day.

[1] https://www.quirk.fyi/distortions

Re: Ask HN: Losing all interest in programming, what now?

#98

Post by lawwantsin17 » Thu, Dec 10, 2020, 5:34 PM UTC

I think the key is "Passively consuming content related..." I've been there. That has to stop before output can begin. It's a fact. Just quit the Input for a day or two. The internet is not required to program.

Re: Ask HN: Losing all interest in programming, what now?

#99

Post by [deleted] » Thu, Dec 10, 2020, 5:38 PM UTC

johnwheeler wrote: post #15

This has happened to me after a 20 year career and successful side business. Instead of fight it, I accept it and look at it as a natural part of growth, not stagnation. It opens up the possibility for you to take your job for what it is—a job—and explore new hobbies and interests. If nothing is interesting, take a break from trying and play video games or watch tv for a year. Youre going to bump up against a lot of…

[deleted]

Re: Ask HN: Losing all interest in programming, what now?

#100

Post by city41 » Thu, Dec 10, 2020, 5:38 PM UTC

combatentropy wrote: post #94

city41 wrote: post #87

I was in a very similar spot about a year ago. I decided to take a sabbatical. Just recently I have found my interest in programming returning. I was just really burnt out. Early on in the burnout I seriously questioned if I could ever program again, and now I've been coding full time and really enjoying it again.

How long were you on your sabbatical before the interest returned? A year?

About 3.5 months. From there I gradually ramped up back to full time work over a couple weeks or so.