consider a Peace Corps assignment. Besides the standard 27 month option, there are shorter term options in host countries and there are virtual volunteer positions where you serve from wherever you are. www.PeaceCorps.gov
Ask HN: 30, burnt out, with 6-10 months of runway. What would you do?
11–20 of 33 posts
Re: Ask HN: 30, burnt out, with 6-10 months of runway. What would you do?
#12Decompress. A few days, a week. Let your brain clear. Get good sleep, go for walks, eat well and hydrate. Do little things you enjoy and take time to reflect. Try not to stare at screens too much. Look at the sky.
The answers will come. Once you've had some time to process you'll know what to do. Don't overthink it. Just take some time to relax.
I've had a few of these breaks in my life. It's time to take stock and move on. Sometimes retrain or learn something new. But ultimately breaks are good. Just don't force the change. It will come. Slow and steady wins the race.
Re: Ask HN: 30, burnt out, with 6-10 months of runway. What would you do?
#13No one knows you better than you do. I'm 46 and I live in Russia. Believe me, I have far fewer opportunities and options.
Re: Ask HN: 30, burnt out, with 6-10 months of runway. What would you do?
#14Is that runway based on US expenses? If so, I’d seriously consider going abroad to a cheaper country. $24,000 saved is poverty level ~9 months in America but could last you a frugal 2 years in many places.
After that I’d figure out what you’d actually like to do, and use this opportunity to become good at it. 2 years is enough time to retrain in a good amount of careers, if you don’t waste your time.
Re: Ask HN: 30, burnt out, with 6-10 months of runway. What would you do?
#15I can understand how hard this can be. I have been out of a job two times now, once for 9 months, from October 2024 to July 2025, and then for 5 months later again, from January 2025 to June 2026. The only good thing is, the first time I was out of a job - I had some investments (Mutual Funds) which I could sell and withdraw money from though I had to sell them when the stock market was down - only because I was forced to withdraw money and I didn't have any liquid cash or any money in my bank accounts. Second time - I was smart and this time I ensured I had an emergency fund which I can quickly liquidate and withdraw from, without any losses, like, in my case it was a fixed deposit. The other good thing is, I live in India and the cost of living is pretty low here. So, I could manage pretty well even with what would one call a lavish lifestyle from the perspective of a poor person
I would say - figure out how you wanna earn money / make money. Just focus on that for now. If that means looking at your career and it's long term goals and how to keep it sustainable, do it. You might arrive at decisions like - you need to do something you like. You can give it a shot. I know many people who say that a job is just to pay the bills. But I also know that to be sustainable, it's important to have good jobs (good roles, good experience) which can compound later for you to get a better job - like, better role, better pay, and makes a good career which is worthy of promotions etc. So, yeah, look at short term to start with, but at some point you need to start looking at long term too - how to make money - startup, or work for others, and how to do it sustainably. Starting up is surely hard though, compared to working for others who take care of selling for you, which is a hard job
Re: Ask HN: 30, burnt out, with 6-10 months of runway. What would you do?
#16I can understand how hard this can be. I have been out of a job two times now, once for 9 months, from October 2024 to July 2025, and then for 5 months later again, from January 2025 to June 2026. The only good thing is, the first time I was out of a job - I had some investments (Mutual Funds) which I could sell and withdraw money from though I had to sell them when the stock market was down - only because I was forc…
About the "doing what you like/Love" - for many it's important to keep things sustainable. Or else it's easy to do anything, even if you don't like it, assuming you can do it sustainably, and still earn from it and also make a good career, which is big - cuz you don't even like what you do, but maybe you are good at or made yourself good at it and also ensured you did your 100% and more (in today's world every employer always expects more) and got promotions etc
Re: Ask HN: 30, burnt out, with 6-10 months of runway. What would you do?
#17I can understand how hard this can be. I have been out of a job two times now, once for 9 months, from October 2024 to July 2025, and then for 5 months later again, from January 2025 to June 2026. The only good thing is, the first time I was out of a job - I had some investments (Mutual Funds) which I could sell and withdraw money from though I had to sell them when the stock market was down - only because I was forc…
Btw, I'm 30 too. I turn 31 in December 2026
Re: Ask HN: 30, burnt out, with 6-10 months of runway. What would you do?
#18I can understand how hard this can be. I have been out of a job two times now, once for 9 months, from October 2024 to July 2025, and then for 5 months later again, from January 2025 to June 2026. The only good thing is, the first time I was out of a job - I had some investments (Mutual Funds) which I could sell and withdraw money from though I had to sell them when the stock market was down - only because I was forc…
I hope you figure things out!
Re: Ask HN: 30, burnt out, with 6-10 months of runway. What would you do?
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Re: Ask HN: 30, burnt out, with 6-10 months of runway. What would you do?
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