Ask HN: I quit my job. Need advice

Don't look to your job for any kind of fulfillment or satisfaction, unless your job is your own company and you're doing something you're passionate about. Otherwise, be a complete mercenary and treat your job as nothing more than a way to keep the rent paid, the lights on, and food on the table. Then find ways to achieve fulfillment or whatever it is you're looking for, outside of work.

Maybe that means volunteering at a soup kitchen, maybe it means working on a startup as a side project, or maybe it means playing video games every hour you're not at work. Whatever, it's up to you. The point is, take control of finding whatever meaning it is you want to find in life, and don't let it be all commingled with your job.

Ultimately you may decide you don't even want a "normal job" at all. Maybe you will decide to freelance. Maybe you're meant to be an entrepreneur and run some kind of business, or possibly multiple businesses. Maybe you want to go all Tim Ferris "four hour work week" and move to Thailand or something. One thing that will help you maintain maximum flexibility is to avoid things like a mortgage payment, car payment, etc. If you already have those things then you'll have to deal with them, but if you don't, consider not buying a new car, or a house, etc. until you have things figured out. It'll be easier to up and move, or make other dramatic changes without those encumbrances.

Some people will say to choose startups over a big MNC, but I find that startups can be worse in many ways (again, unless it's your own startup). Work hours may be more demanding, there may be more stress, etc... OTOH, if you accept my position about being very mercenary towards work, you can often find a boring position at a stodgy large company, where you can "punch the clock" for pretty much exactly 40 hours a week, do relatively boring / undemanding work, get paid a decent salary, and - most importantly - reserve as much of your energy (mental, psychic, spiritual, or whatever you want to call it) for your own initiatives outside of work.

start putting your resume out as soon as you can. start finding a away to cut expenses and build more runway next time.

maybe look into something closer and/or a startup which is more fires and chaos at 75% of the pay but has an easier line of sight to "changing the world"

I'd consider taking a short break from programming if I were you. Why not get a temporary job as a river guide or something outdoors? Maybe go on a long backpacking trip or do some other kind of adventure. After getting crushed by years of corporate culture, I'm sure your soul could use a little fun and adventure to reinvigorate and recharge itself! In my experience, (I'm a software engineer engineer) the perspective gained from taking a temporary break and trying something completely different (that maybe puts you a little out of your comfort zone) can drastically improve overall confidence/happiness/wellbeing much more than any minor resume addition. Take a moment to emotionally regroup before you charge back into career life!

Seek adventure!

I spent 6 months on unemployment looking for jobs that I would care about and something that would let me lead a less stressful life.

After the unemployment ran out I started working at a Starbucks.

This was a life saver.

It was fast paced. They were always changing some process. It taught me to be flexible and roll with whatever. I got to talk with customers everyday. I could be making coffee and look down the whole line of people, out the door, and know each and every drink to make. I worked hard, but it was fun.

A customer that I would see daily offered me a job after a year at Starbucks. I still have this job. It has allowed me to move to a happier state where I live on a lake and life isn't so faced paced.