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Ask HN: I'm 40 and feel my mental ability declining. Programming seems harder.

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Re: Ask HN: I'm 40 and feel my mental ability declining. Programming seems harder.

#21

Post by jesuscript »

40 has nothing to do with it. Every other day I see a Ask HN post from younger people bringing up depression, burnout, and apathy.

Listen, there are 60 year olds that look like our long held image of a 60 year that can barely walk or do anything.

And then there are 60 year olds that go to the gym everyday.

How do you want to play this? I don’t accept your premise that 40 has anything to do with it.

Being a miserable fuck is age-agnostic. Trust me, I’m a professional malcontent.

Re: Ask HN: I'm 40 and feel my mental ability declining. Programming seems harder.

#23

Post by danielvaughn »

I know how you feel. I'm a bit younger at 38, but I can feel it as well. It started around mid-2020 for me. I'm not sure whether to chalk it up to covid, or depression, or natural aging. I hope it's not natural aging, because I can lose my muscles or my youthful appearance, but I cannot lose my brain.

Re: Ask HN: I'm 40 and feel my mental ability declining. Programming seems harder.

#24

Post by johnla »

If you're interested in it, you still can do it. And coding required many hours STRAIGHT of uninterrupted time to dive deep. Something that you get less and less of as you get older. Plus the distractions (Hello Hackernews).

I have a list of passion project ideas. When there's a new hot technology/language I want to learn, I apply it to one of my passion projects and it becomes more directed and focused on a goal and it goes a lot better than just goofing around aimlessly on a new language.

Re: Ask HN: I'm 40 and feel my mental ability declining. Programming seems harder.

#25

Post by stdbrouw »

Any chance you've got little kids or for some other reason are not getting enough sleep? Lack of sleep can be very insidious because you can get to the point where you don't notice it anymore except for maybe a vague feeling that you're losing your edge.

Re: Ask HN: I'm 40 and feel my mental ability declining. Programming seems harder.

#26

Post by VyseofArcadia »

Stop asking Hacker News and start seeing a neurologist. This is a job for a professional.

It could be that you just need a break or some clever productivity hack etc. Or it could be something serious. Better rule that out first.

Re: Ask HN: I'm 40 and feel my mental ability declining. Programming seems harder.

#28

Post by jb1991 »

jb1991 wrote: post #17

I don't know you personally but I doubt cognitive decline has anything to do with this. As we age, we usually end up with more and more life responsibilities, beyond just the work we are doing. All of that is input to the brain and requires energy in response. The brain is not infinite. I often feel as you do, but then I have periods where I am as light and agile in my productivity as 20 years ago, maybe even more so…

Also, our standards improve as we age. I wrote a lot of high-energy seemingly clever code when I was younger, but it was nonsense and terrible to read. Now I would not allow myself such indulgence, and so I work differently, maybe at times more slowly, and it might seem this is due to less abilities, but actually it is due to wiser experience.

Re: Ask HN: I'm 40 and feel my mental ability declining. Programming seems harder.

#29

Post by [deleted] »

jesuscript wrote: post #21

40 has nothing to do with it. Every other day I see a Ask HN post from younger people bringing up depression, burnout, and apathy. Listen, there are 60 year olds that look like our long held image of a 60 year that can barely walk or do anything. And then there are 60 year olds that go to the gym everyday. How do you want to play this? I don’t accept your premise that 40 has anything to do with it. Being a miserable…

[deleted]

Re: Ask HN: I'm 40 and feel my mental ability declining. Programming seems harder.

#30

Post by kardianos »

napolux wrote: post #13
kardianos wrote: post #6

1. You're getting old. Start writing everything down on paper. 2. Some people decline mentally faster then others, sometimes in their 40-50. Don't freak out, but do pay attention, ask others you know to pay attention to you. 3. Take it one layer at a time, and again, write everything down, best on paper. And keep smiling when it is hard.

WTF, AM I ALREADY DEAD AT 42?

:)

No, but we mortals age our brain ability does tend to decline.

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