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Burnout Is Real

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Re: Burnout Is Real

#61

I gotta take some time off. I'm completely burnt out. It's just not super interesting working for a large company with a stack a mile deep. I'm 6 months into a project that separates one status field into two different status fields. My god, it's boring, but if we fuck any little piece up we break customer data. I just want to work on something new that I'm passionate about. But the things I'm passionate about probab…

What’s the point of the money if it isn’t doing anything for you?

Re: Burnout Is Real

#62
post #10

I think burnout is just depression. but what do I know

Ive had both. For me, they are very different. Burnout is not being able to make myself do a job I am completely capable of doing, which I once loved doing, to the point thoughts of self harm start to creep in. Depression is feeling worthless about everything and anything. With depression, I cannot do anything. With burnout, I can easily keep doing things, I just cant do that one thing.

That describes it perfectly - I am on leave right now after a major case of burnout and it's like my brain just turned off my motivation towards my job as a defense mechanism to protect my mental and emotional health.

Re: Burnout Is Real

#63
Only tangentially related, but one of the best decision I've taken in the last years was to only work four days a week. Not sure how realistic this is in the US as a dev, but in Germany it's been fairly easy (third job where I'm doing this now) and it's made me 1) more motivated 2) less stressed, and on top (I think) I'm essentially as productive as I'd be working full-time :)

Re: Burnout Is Real

#65

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I thought that at first too, but he says he likes picking old tickets off the backlog. There's usually no product pressure or deadlines with that sort of work. Which is actually the source of burnout perhaps?

>> he says he likes picking old tickets off the backlog. OT but man I hate people who "select" tickets off the backlog. You better have a good reason for not taking the one right at the top...

If his team is anything like the one I work for, the backlog isn't prioritized until the day before the sprint starts... something we're trying to change, but still a long way away from.

Re: Burnout Is Real

#66

Must be nice to be financially comfortable enough to give that up. I’m glad that they’re addressing the issue, but how many people are stuck with the mortgage and the student debt and the family that needs almost every penny of their income to make ends meet for every person that has the resources to do drop out of the tech industry in less than half a year?

Agreeing with some of the comments here: I feel like I'm stuck in my current high paying job; we have a mortgage, nice car, lots of "stuff".

Through conversations with therapist and my spouse I've been slowly realizing how much this stuff owns me, rather than me owning stuff. I never have time to play with my synths or flight-sim setup or even photography anymore. The only time I'm truly relaxed is when we go somewhere far and without connectivity - I don't have a 1000-item household todolist, I don't get work emails, I don't have 100 entertainment options that paralyze me. I'm trying to convince myself and make the step and actually start getting rid of stuff and considering a less stressful/paying job... I may not be as "stuck with mortgage" as I feel -- we'll see how it goes :|

Re: Burnout Is Real

#67

Personally, I find the biggest reason for burnout is lack of autonomy. The author seems to have found the same.

I think it's working hard for no reward. I've worked hard on things I'm passionate about and never get burnt out. I took a job recently where the product is millions over budget and years behind and all the work goes into a continual hole... and it's the first time I'm starting to experience burnout.

Honestly I feel like, "good jobs" are very undervalued. I've had high paying jobs that I enjoyed but I never heard good job. It was always okay now what's next? I didn't love those jobs.

I've had lower paying objectively worse jobs where I got more regular positive feedback and I stayed at those jobs longer. I might be an outlier and learned this behavior from sports but it cost nothing tell someone they did a good job and it can go a long way.

Re: Burnout Is Real

#69

I gotta take some time off. I'm completely burnt out. It's just not super interesting working for a large company with a stack a mile deep. I'm 6 months into a project that separates one status field into two different status fields. My god, it's boring, but if we fuck any little piece up we break customer data. I just want to work on something new that I'm passionate about. But the things I'm passionate about probab…

In the end, having done what you love will make all the difference. Doing it only for the money will not.

It's a worthwhile fight.

Your passion will fuel your work and make you through all challenges. Follow your blisters.

Re: Burnout Is Real

#70
post #61

I gotta take some time off. I'm completely burnt out. It's just not super interesting working for a large company with a stack a mile deep. I'm 6 months into a project that separates one status field into two different status fields. My god, it's boring, but if we fuck any little piece up we break customer data. I just want to work on something new that I'm passionate about. But the things I'm passionate about probab…

What’s the point of the money if it isn’t doing anything for you?

To give you a sense of security and freedom. Once you have experienced the stress of worrying about paying rent or health insurance it’s nice to have some money.
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