make random things. use your creative side and have fun with it. I do it all the time when I'm struggling with a problem or taking a short break.
Ask HN: I'm Tired of Hacking. What Do I Do? Please Advise.
21–30 of 121 posts
Re: Ask HN: I'm Tired of Hacking. What Do I Do? Please Advise.
#22Yes, this has happened to me.
I found a part-time gig, and worked 20 hours a week, while hiking in the Rockies with all of my free time. I then disconnected completely, and did manual labor for a year.
In short, turn off the computer. Find other interests. Determine your true priorities. Once you have done that, you will likely be able to come back and enjoy technology again because it will be supporting your true self, not defining your self.
Re: Ask HN: I'm Tired of Hacking. What Do I Do? Please Advise.
#23It's spring.
Go hike the Appalachian trail all summer.
You living expenses will be food + replacement socks + fuel for your camp stove.
Four months from now, you'll be wonderfully destressed, and will have barely touched your savings.
Re: Ask HN: I'm Tired of Hacking. What Do I Do? Please Advise.
#24Sounds like a case of burnout to me. I think a lot of people would envy your position, especially given today's economic climate. Without knowing anything of your situation, except that you don't want to work on computers any longer, I'd suggest taking a step back and really analyze your situation. Have a serious conversation about your immediate future with someone that you respect (parent, mentor, older friends/sib…
This is a very common sense advice, but I don't think it will do any good in this case. He most likely knows/tried all of this.
Reading is a good idea, though, just not professional books (or not in particular). There's a lot of interesting stuff around if you look a bit.
Re: Ask HN: I'm Tired of Hacking. What Do I Do? Please Advise.
#25Do you know what you'd rather be doing instead of writing software?
Because, if you do, then you should probably make a list for yourself. On that list you do this:
#1: Job I don't like.
#10: Job I want.
Steps #2 through #9 should be the next N things you need to do to do whatever it is you'd rather be doing.
Software is not the only place for smart people to work, a lot of people burn out or discover that it's just the wrong career for them.
Don't force yourself to work in an industry that you don't like. You're young, and it's far better to work towards something different now instead of wasting away doing something you hate.
Fortunately for you, the world rewards smart people these days; regardless of the field. You'll do fine anywhere if you did fine in software.
Re: Ask HN: I'm Tired of Hacking. What Do I Do? Please Advise.
#26I'd recommend some hard physical work, be prepared not to work amongst your peers, but do level with them.
It can be most rewarding doing physical work, and see society through different eyes for a while.
Re: Ask HN: I'm Tired of Hacking. What Do I Do? Please Advise.
#27welcome to burnout. its absolute hell. before depression sets in and you become irreversibly emotionally detached and drained, you have to branch into hobbies that bookend your life as a hacker.
personal advice: buy a synthesizer or a nice digital camera. or a bike (but you have to use it though, that part is key, my friend. key.)
professional advice: use a reasonable chunk of your vacation time and money and get out of town for a week or two, sans computer. dont stop thinking about what you want to accomplish with hacking away, just learn to prioritize thinking about it, and to be a little more clear-minded. i find walking about from something for a week both annoys the hell of out everyone around me (not so good) and gives me the presence of mind and matured sense of whats do to and how to do it that i can walk back in and, well, do it.
just find the hobbies and then find the balance.
Re: Ask HN: I'm Tired of Hacking. What Do I Do? Please Advise.
#28Follow Norm at Inc Magazine advice: go 3 hours away from home, and think of how do you want your days to be.
After you have a clear image of what you want think of the type of business that would allow you to live that way.
Probably in your case you also need to fall in love.
Re: Ask HN: I'm Tired of Hacking. What Do I Do? Please Advise.
#29It's spring. Go hike the Appalachian trail all summer. You living expenses will be food + replacement socks + fuel for your camp stove. Four months from now, you'll be wonderfully destressed, and will have barely touched your savings.
Awesome Idea!
Re: Ask HN: I'm Tired of Hacking. What Do I Do? Please Advise.
#30Take one month's expenses, move out your pad if you're renting and go teach English overseas until you get your senses back. Everyone needs their 2-years of fucking around backpacking before they hit 30. I am just coming back from mine; 20 countries in 2 years and stories for a life time. Cost me less than 10k a year to live like that. Cheers!
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