Ask HN: Tips on coping with my quarter-life crisis • Hacker News Board

Re: Ask HN: Tips on coping with my quarter-life crisis

#41

Post by wilsonnb » Thu, May 17, 2018, 2:18 PM UTC

mod wrote: post #38

wilsonnb wrote: post #32

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I mean, more young people probably die skiing than sitting in an office.

Death is the worst case scenario in both situations; it has no bearing on making a decision here. It's also exceedingly unlikely. The worst case scenario that is likely is, as said, making less money, possibly being unable to re-enter the tech field (though I consider that too unlikely to consider as well). There's no obvious major downside to trying the ski instructor gig. I'd go for it if I thought I wanted it.

I don't see why death should have no bearing on the decision if the risk of death in each situation is different.

Re: Ask HN: Tips on coping with my quarter-life crisis

#42

Post by punchclockhero » Thu, May 17, 2018, 2:38 PM UTC

throw_this_one wrote: post #8

protonimitate wrote: post #6

So I don't have any specific advice, per se, but I want to offer my experience as perspective. I am 26 and have had similar thoughts and bouts with depression. I have a pretty diverse work background. I come from a degree in fine arts, have worked multiple minimum wage jobs, outdoor jobs, and desk jockey jobs since graduation in 2014. My current position is in an office in a tech hub city, and I am in the process of…

This is great advice. I'm also 26 and have come to the same basic realization (although only have worked one mundane IT job these past 3 years). The key is to develop a stoic mindset that can adapt to any phase of life you're in. Enjoying the present, doing your best, etc. Remind yourself when you forget. One thing I like to do is to imagine my current surroundings are in a foreign country, and for some reason it mak…

>One thing I like to do is to imagine my current surroundings are in a foreign country, and for some reason it makes things more interesting and less mundane.

This is brilliant! Just tried it on my pizza run and it definitely works for me too. Been in the same place for 8 years and it's starting to get grating despite all the rich culture (one of the oldest living cities in Europe)

Gotta love the internet for the tiny little things said by random anons that can improve your life.

Re: Ask HN: Tips on coping with my quarter-life crisis

#43

Post by henryslater » Thu, May 17, 2018, 5:01 PM UTC

I strongly recommend reading "So Good They Can't Ignore You" by Cal Newport. It's full of good ideas but one of the key insights is about spending time building up career capital and then leveraging that to get what you really want.

I don't think anyone else has said this but it's worth noting that most coding jobs don't involve many hours of being alone. I've been in the industry full time since I graduated (a little over ten years ago) and it's been non-stop meetings and people asking for help and spending time with customers and mentoring and demo days and offsites and brainstorming...