Ask HN: Anyone else tired of working in tech?

#1

Post by boredemployee » Thu, Feb 19, 2026, 1:47 AM UTC

I'm really tired of the BS, AI, corporate environment and what not.

Looking for alternatives.

In case you're in the same boat:

What do you plan to work with?

Re: Ask HN: Anyone else tired of working in tech?

#2

Post by [deleted] » Thu, Feb 19, 2026, 1:49 AM UTC

[deleted]

Re: Ask HN: Anyone else tired of working in tech?

#3

Post by beratbozkurt0 » Thu, Feb 19, 2026, 1:54 AM UTC

Actually, regardless of the sector, as people get older, they get tired and bored of working.

Re: Ask HN: Anyone else tired of working in tech?

#4

Post by rzzzwilson » Thu, Feb 19, 2026, 2:34 AM UTC

beratbozkurt0 wrote: post #3

Actually, regardless of the sector, as people get older, they get tired and bored of working.

Actually, not always. I didn't want to retire, I liked working and I was good at it, but I had to retire for medical reasons. My environment was a bit different than most, though, working with scientists developing tools for analysis, visualization and simulation.

Re: Ask HN: Anyone else tired of working in tech?

#5

Post by codevark » Thu, Feb 19, 2026, 2:39 AM UTC

I'm tired of working in tech but fortunately (or not) it's my hobby so even if I retired I would still be doing all the techy things at home on my 17 'puters (loose count). Plus being the IT Guy for several extended families. I'm live. I'm nationwide. But, I do plan to do more art, music, gardening, etc.

Re: Ask HN: Anyone else tired of working in tech?

#6

Post by WarOnPrivacy » Thu, Feb 19, 2026, 4:29 AM UTC

I'm an on-call IT guy for small/med biz. Everyone is happy to see me and I am treated very well. Most have volunteered a desk or office for my use.

I do not tire of it.

Re: Ask HN: Anyone else tired of working in tech?

#7

Post by [deleted] » Thu, Feb 19, 2026, 5:59 AM UTC

[deleted]

Re: Ask HN: Anyone else tired of working in tech?

#8

Post by jsnsll » Thu, Feb 19, 2026, 6:15 AM UTC

Yes I am very tired of it as well. I thought the crypto craze was as bad as it would get but boy was I wrong.

I’m going to live a simpler life where I work on making video games as a creative endeavor. I’ll try to find a part time job to earn some money, but mainly just adjust my expectations to be happier with what I have as opposed to what I could have.

I’ve wedged myself into the correct shape to fit into what companies classified as a productive tech worker for 10+ years mainly out of fear of being poor, so now I must repay that debt to myself by doing things just for the sake of enjoyment or fulfillment and not to build a skill that makes me better at making more money.

Re: Ask HN: Anyone else tired of working in tech?

#9

Post by SolubleSnake » Thu, Feb 19, 2026, 10:12 AM UTC

I now see groups of people just meandering between buzzwords and sort of calling it a career. Honestly I know people who were 'crypto developers' 3 years ago who are now 'senior AI implementation architects' and similar..and they have a 'bootcamp' etc....I am a software engineer who qualified in cs but after working around engineering and manufacturing a lot I'm also qualified in CAD...thinking to get into more physical engineering and become a chartered engineer finally and just get away from the bandwagon boosterism. Or become a nurse or teacher.

i'm enjoying making games on the side and I'd like to monetize one soon, but I look at 'tech' careers and I just rapidly lose the will to live now. 30 minutes on linkedin is enough to make most people feel nauseous and need to lie down.

Re: Ask HN: Anyone else tired of working in tech?

#10

Post by muzani » Thu, Feb 19, 2026, 10:12 AM UTC

If none of the alternatives are appealing, the sad truth may be that it's the best you have. We can probably get jobs in a mine or processing sewage.

If I do switch, it would be sales. If the cost to build things really goes to near zero, sales would be a lot easier. People love to buy things that are better.