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Ask HN: Has anyone managed to find enjoyment in their work after burnout?

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Re: Ask HN: Has anyone managed to find enjoyment in their work after burnout?

#21

Post by mentos »

My biggest fear after my burnout was that I'd killed my passion for the rest of my life but I was able to take a year off (after 6 years non stop) and now I'm back at it for 2 years now with the same vigor I had when I started.

There is a good chance you can see 80% of the benefit by taking only 20% of the time off that I did. Start with a 2 week vacation and then notice how after 2 days you're itching to get back to work on something. Resist the urge, let it build. After two weeks go back to work and find that your first week back is great but don't get demoralized when your 2nd week you find yourself in the same rut. Your weekends are 32 waking hours (almost a full work week) where you can pursue activities that are not work and can be your own vacation (32 hours ~= 40) if you get up early and get out.

If that doesn't work then think seriously about taking 6 months off and see where your hobbys/desires take you.

Good luck!

Re: Ask HN: Has anyone managed to find enjoyment in their work after burnout?

#22

Post by Arch-TK »

I've managed to go from thoroughly burned out to functioning again without quitting my job. But it always feels like I'm teetering on the edge of burning out again. Previously I had burned out and did a career switch which helped for a while.

I don't know how much useful advice I can offer but I think my own problem is lack of self discipline. I end up working when I should not be. Whenever I can muster the self-discipline to stick to a proper schedule things seem to get better.

Re: Ask HN: Has anyone managed to find enjoyment in their work after burnout?

#23

Post by smcl »

canucklady wrote: post #14
smcl wrote: post #5

Coming back from a 2 week absence due to burnout right now. Problems I experienced are still there, so all I can really contribute is a guess that 2 weeks isn't enough of a gap to recover.

I took 3 months off and didn't look at a computer when I was burnt out. When I was interviewing for jobs after my break I felt pretty good, but less than a year into my new job I'm right back where I started. I do think it's important to work with a psychologist to understand what aspects of your work are making you burn out. Simply taking a break and then diving back into a similar environment is a recipe for failur…

Yeah one mistake I made was promising myself I would catch up on some personal software development things. I didn't end up doing many of them, but always felt a sense of stress that I should've been spending time on them.

I should really have just stayed away from my computer altogether, you made the right choice.

Re: Ask HN: Has anyone managed to find enjoyment in their work after burnout?

#24

Post by rreyes1979 »

Yes. I have burnt out a couple of times. Given enough time and rest, you will reset. But my suggestion is that after you feel recovered, get into therapy to find out the root causes that got you into burn out in the first place.

It's hard work but it will pay off both for you and your near ones :)

Re: Ask HN: Has anyone managed to find enjoyment in their work after burnout?

#25

Post by smcl »

danielheath wrote: post #13
smcl wrote: post #5

Coming back from a 2 week absence due to burnout right now. Problems I experienced are still there, so all I can really contribute is a guess that 2 weeks isn't enough of a gap to recover.

IME 6 months was closer to the time required (and I suspect returning to the same role would have caused an immediate relapse).

Yep I've actually got about ~17 days holiday left (I had a busy year) I think at least taking December off will help.

Re: Ask HN: Has anyone managed to find enjoyment in their work after burnout?

#26

Post by fredley »

Yes, but only after making peace with not 'striving', and making some larger shifts in how my life is set up.

I experienced major burnout after a 4 year stint in an early stage startup, and I walked away. I had a six week break which was wonderful, but the next step I took after that was essentially a similarly stressful (but rehigh profile) job. I lasted a year.

Now I have a less prestigious job, at a less recognisable (but much more compassionate) company. I've moved out of the big tech hub city and now I work remote. I'm much, much happier, and have something approximating a healthy work life balance. I can walk to quiet woodland from my house, where I work, which helps.

The hardest step, which still troubles me from time to time, is stopping striving. I could be earning more, have a better job title, etc. But I remind myself I don't want those things more than I want a fundamentally comfortable life with ample time to spend with family and friends.

Re: Ask HN: Has anyone managed to find enjoyment in their work after burnout?

#27

Post by strongpigeon »

I did.

I got really burnt out at the beginning of the pandemic. Ended up quitting my job and taking some time off. For a long while, just thinking of doing coding projects would fill me with disgust.

After about 9 months, I decided to make an app for the workout program I was following (5/3/1) as I didn’t like the ones out there or using spreadsheets. Working on something where I was user 0 was tons of fun and reminded me of why I liked coding in the first place. The fact that the response to the app was great did help too.

Can’t say that it would work for everyone, but this got me unburnt out. I just started a new job now and am loving it.

Re: Ask HN: Has anyone managed to find enjoyment in their work after burnout?

#28

Post by jfabre »

I just had somewhat of a burnout last winter and left my job. I'm lucky enough that I could take a couple months off to get back in shape mentally and physically.

Invest in yourself however you can, that means doing some sport you love and/or go see a therapist. What I'm realizing is that I have a lot of power over how I feel, way more than I previously believed. Make a conscious effort to let go of negative thoughts when they arise.

Make sure your house is in order, it's an extension of yourself. Do whatever you need to feel satisfied, it's your life. It is a mistake not to live it the way you want to. Be kind and patient with yourself.

Good luck.

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