Ask HN: What attributes in a new job would aid in burnout recovery?

I'm pretty thoroughly burned out. I've been a cog in a very broken machine for too long, but I stayed because I love the people and was a highly motivated useful idiot.

Now that I've managed to get myself ready to be on the market, what should I be looking for in a new job such that it won't inhibit recovery (and perhaps aid in it)?

Some thoughts I've had: * Take a long break instead (which I don't really want to do because, you know, bills etc, but I also wonder how much it might impact ability to reenter the market) * Try to be somewhere with more autonomy * Go with a smaller place to perhaps have a better chance at achieving the above * Emphasize work-life balance (but figure out what they actually mean by that)

It's usually listed in the benefits. Burnout is very inefficient and any place that tries to accomplish anything will be aware of its drawbacks.

These are places that tell you to stop thinking of work after work. They have classes on preventing burnout, meditation classes, lots of vacations. Ironically, a lot of those places don't actually advertise work-life balance, because they enjoy going to work and often end up at the office longet than usual. The best hint is usually generosity - you get the impression they're not trying to lowball you or squeeze as much out of you as possible, and they often have gifts when you even interview.

Small companies are often really bad at burnout mitigation - you end up with situations where everyone is always too busy, and there's no docs, no specs, no tests, no source control, no leadership. You're often taking on two jobs with little responsibility, little pay, but also nobody to replace you when you need time off. It can be light but emotionally exhausting, especially when you know the project you worked on will run out of funds.

I've tried long breaks of months and they never really worked for me, often pushing me deeper into burnout. What always works is actually working a little more. First time it was teaching for certifications, which was something with no chance of failure but still tiring. Second was dumping a lot of effort into a side project. Again no chance of failure, but tiring.

So I'd say the cure to burnout is actually tiring yourself out on something you enjoy, something meaningful but can't fail at.

I did that and didn't find issue getting new jobs. The key is, because of the work is easy that I spent a lot of time learning new things and apply to my job. One of my previous job, I knew I was going to leave, but it was easy money so I did my job plus learned a lot of new things during that time. When I started job hunt, I had no problem getting interviews and offers.

I'm not suggesting you go from Senior Staff Engineer to Junior Developer. Instead, get a job where the work is something you know by heart.

The thinking behind a smaller company is having fewer barriers in your way to accomplish things, but you're absolutely right in your third graf.

The proposal of tiring yourself out on something you enjoy and can't fail at is really interesting, thank you!