Ask HN: I'm Tired of Hacking. What Do I Do? Please Advise. • Hacker News Board

Re: Ask HN: I'm Tired of Hacking. What Do I Do? Please Advise.

#101

Post by kiddo » Thu, May 28, 2009, 3:06 AM UTC

Radix wrote: post #90

mahmud wrote: post #77

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Sometimes you see danger but its magnitude doesn't hit you until someone else points it out. I was 26-27, I had my vaccines done, I had some cash and I am African by birth, so none of these "problems" that Western expats were facing could touch me, it is my third-world and I will be fine! Yyyyyeah, nice try. My new girlfriend with a woman's common-sense was quick to point out to me the danger I was in. I had dabbled…

Reading your second comment in this thread leaves me wondering if it would be safe for an american to travel the same as you did. I had wanderlust a few years ago and reading your post makes me want to go wandering abroad again. I would go to South America, but out of curiosity, is Africa or the Middle East safe for Americans? [Edited for better communication] REPLY: Ah, so then in a sense, it isn't safe. It would be…

I'm American. I spent a year and a half traveling through Asia, Australia and NZ. Then another 6 months in South America. There are tons of people, Americans included, doing the same. In general it's extremely safe.

Re: Ask HN: I'm Tired of Hacking. What Do I Do? Please Advise.

#102

Post by zenocon » Thu, May 28, 2009, 3:27 AM UTC

Yea - so, I have a family which eats up a lot of my time, but beyond that, not long ago I would spend all my living free minutes reading tech books and writing code on projects I never finished...really just to keep myself sharp. I've done this for 10 or so years. It was a passion/obsession, whatever. In some strange twist of events, I've been listening to a lot of dubstep lately, and I just decided I wanted to create my own for fun. So, instead of reading textbook X all day, I bought some music software and now I'm trying to learn how to create my own musical compositions on the 'puter. It is the most fun I have had since I can't remember when.

Re: Ask HN: I'm Tired of Hacking. What Do I Do? Please Advise.

#103

Post by grandalf » Thu, May 28, 2009, 3:34 AM UTC

stanleydrew wrote: post #91

mikeyur wrote: post #82

Earlier quoted context omitted.

'Get a Girlfriend' isn't as easy as it sounds for everyone. I'd say get a dog to start with. I got a dog last September and I can't imagine getting rid of him now. It just makes life more worth living. You wake up in the morning a bit happier because your dog is smiling and wagging his tail for you to go make him food. And it gets you outside more because he has to be walked 3+ times a day which helps give you a brea…

Often getting a dog leads to getting a girlfriend, since you'll be outside more and have an instant conversation starter.

I thought about starting a puppy rental business for college campuses. I imagine you could charge over $100 per hour b/c of all the girls who would flock to pet the puppy and then happen to think "wow what a nice guy".

Re: Ask HN: I'm Tired of Hacking. What Do I Do? Please Advise.

#104

Post by whatusername » Thu, May 28, 2009, 3:57 AM UTC

kiddo wrote: post #101

Radix wrote: post #90

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Reading your second comment in this thread leaves me wondering if it would be safe for an american to travel the same as you did. I had wanderlust a few years ago and reading your post makes me want to go wandering abroad again. I would go to South America, but out of curiosity, is Africa or the Middle East safe for Americans? [Edited for better communication] REPLY: Ah, so then in a sense, it isn't safe. It would be…

I'm American. I spent a year and a half traveling through Asia, Australia and NZ. Then another 6 months in South America. There are tons of people, Americans included, doing the same. In general it's extremely safe.

watch out for the drop bears in Australia though. Those guys are vicious!

Re: Ask HN: I'm Tired of Hacking. What Do I Do? Please Advise.

#105

Post by philwelch » Thu, May 28, 2009, 4:23 AM UTC

J_McQuade wrote: post #89

caffeine wrote: post #40

If you play an instrument, then make music! It's time for you to join a band and hit the road, my friend. If you have a passport, as others have said, get the hell out of dodge. Get your shots though, you don't want to come back with broken kidneys. Have you considered attending Hedonism II? It's a lot of fun...

I can't recommend this first point enough - keeping a banjo next to my desk at all times has done wonders for my mental wherewithal. It is impossible to feel frustrated while playing a banjo - FACT.

Even if you suck at playing banjo?

Re: Ask HN: I'm Tired of Hacking. What Do I Do? Please Advise.

#106

Post by wenbert » Thu, May 28, 2009, 5:35 AM UTC

larsberg wrote: post #2

Find a place to work where you're not the best developer, engineer, etc. It's more fun when you're learning.

Seriously, this is good advice. It is always fun when you have a "big brother" in your workplace.

Re: Ask HN: I'm Tired of Hacking. What Do I Do? Please Advise.

#107

Post by charlesju » Thu, May 28, 2009, 5:44 AM UTC

This is such an awesome post!

I am doing fairly well too and I have hit this exact same problem. My plan of attack is 5 prong, feel free to use any of them.

1. Minimize visual stimulation outside of work hours. No computers, no reading, no tv.

2. Pick up hobbies that require you to socialize or be active. My personal ones are; golf, tennis, basketball, yoga, running a marathon.

3. Dog! I just put a deposit on my own labradoodle, I think it will help me get out more.

4. Study happiness. Just the act of reading self-help books actually makes you more happy. I'm almost done with the Happiness Hypothesis and I'm about to start Feeling Good.

5. I just started dating a girl, and that has been nice too. Just stray from the dinner and a movie dates.

Re: Ask HN: I'm Tired of Hacking. What Do I Do? Please Advise.

#108

Post by dlevine » Thu, May 28, 2009, 5:54 AM UTC

I was in a similar situation a few years ago. I worked for a couple of top software companies, and had a job that most people would have loved. But, somehow I was unsatisfied. It got harder and harder to do productive work. After some soul searching, my conclusion was that I just didn't want to be an engineer.

I decided to go to business school. Two years later, I'm graduating and starting a software company. But I have a new set of tools and contacts that I didn't have before, as well as a different perspective on business. I'm looking forward to doing things other than just coding (although I'm going to have to write some code, since there are only three of us).

Have you considered grad school? A lot of ex-engineers do well in finance or law. Business school in particular gives you two years to explore potential job options and figure out what you want to do with your life.

Re: Ask HN: I'm Tired of Hacking. What Do I Do? Please Advise.

#109

Post by keefe » Thu, May 28, 2009, 7:12 AM UTC

Dude, it sounds like you are really stressed out. Consider the situation you are in (eerily similar to my own, but I haven't left to work on my webapp yet) : lots of job hopping, obvious talent for CS, staring in frustration at being unable to execute a dream, bit of money saved up. I think you need to recognize that you are in a transition period in life and that life is about your emotions and your body as well as your intellect and your wallet. First off, take a yoga class TOMORROW and learn to relax and look at ergonomics info to learn how to avoid neck strain. You're unlikely to make your way out of a desk job if you want a decent life in this day and age. Allow yourself to be completely passive, to attain the beginner's mind and look at the world with no judgement or preconception. You don't need to make a decision now or tomorrow. I think you're burnt out. Relax for a month and do nothing but take things IN don't try to put anything OUT. Rejuvenate and refresh, think about your life. Have a few drinks or whatever turns you on. After a few weeks, take stock and realize you only have so many options ahead of you to make money and live a nice life. Pick the best one, make a plan and then execute on it. Make sure it is realistic and can be pulled off (at least a visible stage 1) in 3 months. If you go back to CS don't be afraid to watch some lectures on academicearth to make sure your bases are sound. Good luck!

Re: Ask HN: I'm Tired of Hacking. What Do I Do? Please Advise.

#110

Post by nostrademons » Thu, May 28, 2009, 7:59 AM UTC

stanleydrew wrote: post #91

mikeyur wrote: post #82

Earlier quoted context omitted.

'Get a Girlfriend' isn't as easy as it sounds for everyone. I'd say get a dog to start with. I got a dog last September and I can't imagine getting rid of him now. It just makes life more worth living. You wake up in the morning a bit happier because your dog is smiling and wagging his tail for you to go make him food. And it gets you outside more because he has to be walked 3+ times a day which helps give you a brea…

Often getting a dog leads to getting a girlfriend, since you'll be outside more and have an instant conversation starter.

Many girls also love dogs and, by extension, guys who have dogs. I saw this a lot in college, where guy with dog = instacrush by half the females in the vicinity.

Alas, I'm allergic. To dogs, not girls, though given my luck with the latter, maybe it's both.