Earlier quoted context omitted.
> "Be the first to experience Burnout before everyone joins in" I mean...
It gets better! > Track vacations and plan burnouts. That just doesn't sound healthy.
Burnout is real – how to avoid it
51–60 of 128 posts
Re: Burnout is real – how to avoid it
#52[deleted]
Re: Burnout is real – how to avoid it
#53Re: Burnout is real – how to avoid it
#54What is funny about this is that Atlasssian’s Jira product is designed for two week “sprints”, a term referring to the idea of running quickly at a rate above a sustainable pace with no intent to keep running after the end. But these sprints normally are done repeatedly with no actual stop or sight of a finish line. Employees just churn through tickets with no designed breathing room or planned downtime. Jira is prob…
In JIRA your performance is constantly measured comparing the actual work against the estimates, which are usually not under the developer control. There are reports produced that developers don't get to see that the manager does to compare developers this way. Of course, this can be easilly gamed. The most cunning developers will go out of their way to get the tasks that are clearly defined in scope and that they ar…
I'm a big critic of Jira for this reason.
I think the more fundamental issue is that most businesses that existed before and after digitization don't really understand or appreciate that they are alive because of that transformation.
Most tech enabled companies do not understand that competent IT execution is important to their ability to have freedom of movement and the ability to respond to change in their markets.
Also Developers think developing is important, but also business thinks business is more important and they got by with paper and phones for a long time before computers turned up.
Both are fair points.
I would say that quality of life at work (in tech) is a function of how much the business thinks that the work you do is important. Is IT a cost center or a capability factory where you work?
In start ups and tech focused companies the core work is technology so it's easy to understand the investment. But places where IT isn't core work, developers are just cogs. They get treated like crap and are made to sprint because who cares, the 'actual' business is important.
Lastly, IT workers talk a big game about Unions but I'd really like to see the day where a strike by IT workers starts with them walking off the job after turning off the network.
I think Atlassian is the Uber of the software development process and devs are the drivers.
Re: Burnout is real – how to avoid it
#55Good compilation of the advice you often read about on the internet. However, a big factor in all of the solutions is having the support of the entire org/company. If your company doesn't believe that burnout is an issue and ignores your "no"s, gives you zero control over what is on your plate, and pressures you culturally, then to take back control, you are stuck fighting another battle on top of burnout. I've found…
>all of the language in this article (until #8) is centered around you. You are supposed to take full responsibility for burnout. It is your choice. Your lack of self-management is causing your burnout. Yes, this! My company seems to be halfway there: acknowledging that burnout is a problem, but then turning that into helpful advice (eat healthy, take breaks, go work out, etc) that is focused on the individual, ignor…
Yeah. It's like overloading people constantly and then offering mediation classes so people can cope.
Re: Burnout is real – how to avoid it
#56What is funny about this is that Atlasssian’s Jira product is designed for two week “sprints”, a term referring to the idea of running quickly at a rate above a sustainable pace with no intent to keep running after the end. But these sprints normally are done repeatedly with no actual stop or sight of a finish line. Employees just churn through tickets with no designed breathing room or planned downtime. Jira is prob…
In JIRA your performance is constantly measured comparing the actual work against the estimates, which are usually not under the developer control. There are reports produced that developers don't get to see that the manager does to compare developers this way. Of course, this can be easilly gamed. The most cunning developers will go out of their way to get the tasks that are clearly defined in scope and that they ar…
It doesn't have to be that way. We use it mainly as a tool to track issues and move these issues through a workflow. When I was scrum master one of the first things I did was to stop tracking time and we didn't enter story points or anything. Personally I would be very interested in numbers how much things take to learn estimating better but I know the numbers will be abused by some managers so it's better not give them any data that could be abused.
Re: Burnout is real – how to avoid it
#57Earlier quoted context omitted.
That is literally the definition of the word. If you can run for more than, at most, a minute or so at a given pace you are pr. definition not sprinting.
Isn't any running unsustainable though ?
Humans evolved to be really good at long distance running and given proper training, time and discipline you can run an absurd distance compared to most mammals.
Re: Burnout is real – how to avoid it
#58Earlier quoted context omitted.
>all of the language in this article (until #8) is centered around you. You are supposed to take full responsibility for burnout. It is your choice. Your lack of self-management is causing your burnout. Yes, this! My company seems to be halfway there: acknowledging that burnout is a problem, but then turning that into helpful advice (eat healthy, take breaks, go work out, etc) that is focused on the individual, ignor…
Yeah. It's like overloading people constantly and then offering mediation classes so people can cope.
"Your lung infection is not my fault because the office is filthy, it's your own fault for not taking your antibiotics"
Re: Burnout is real – how to avoid it
#59> Job burnout is an epidemic, and tech workers are especially at risk. Here’s how you can avoid feeling fried – and what employers can do to de-stress their workforce.
Insane work hours and constantly availability is the epidemic here. Workers can de-stress their workforce by refusing to be available for more than 40 hours a week, and not worrying about doing outside projects if they don't feel like it. Employers can de-stress their workforce by not asking for more than 40 hours a week.
> Quick, who is also a professor at the University of Texas at Arlington, tells his students he’s always available – except between 10pm and 6am
This is the solution to burnout? Telling people you are not available to answer emails and send over quick spreadsheets when you're literally asleep?
Re: Burnout is real – how to avoid it
#60Step 1: TAKE YOUR VACATION!! - every minute allowed, every year. If they won't give you a chance to recharge your batteries, look elsewhere.