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Tell HN: Burnout is bad to your brain, take care

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Re: Tell HN: Burnout is bad to your brain, take care

#121

Post by FrenchTouch42 »

steve_adams_86 wrote: post #73

If I have one thing to share about burn out, it’s that I didn’t think I would get it. Maybe someone reading this is like I was. I always and energy to do everything. I was often the hero making sure we recovered from errors over the weekend, we hit unrealistic deadlines, or we were prepared for stakeholders beyond what we thought was possible. I thought this was rewarding and that it would help my career, so it was w…

Thank you for sharing, your story really hit home for me.

For years, I've been one of the people to step up: solving problems, hitting crazy deadlines, being the "hero" etc. I thought if I just kept pushing, it would pay off. But somewhere along the way, I realized that no matter how much impact I truly had, I was still just another employee, not truly breaking through to the level where I could make the difference I wanted. And the worst part is that I'm fully aware of it, yet I still deal with it because I haven't found the success I'm looking for.

Burnout doesn't hit all at once: it sneaks up on you when you're too busy solving everyone else's problems. I ignored it for too long, thinking it was just part of the job. For those of us who thrive on tackling the "impossible", it's easy to forget that you need to take care of yourself. Being the one who makes things happen shouldn't come at the cost of your well-being. It's okay to step back and prioritize yourself. You're worth so much more than just the work you do.

Combine Cassandra and savior syndromes, and it's been a terrible recipe for my health. I've learned that no amount of foresight or effort can substitute for the need for balance and self-care.

To anyone reading this, especially those in leadership, it's important to recognize the people truly making a difference. And for those who feel like they're giving everything and it's still not enough, sometimes stepping back and valuing yourself is the most powerful move you can make.

True leadership isn't about being the hero; it's about knowing when to put your own mask on first. You can't pour from an empty cup.

Re: Tell HN: Burnout is bad to your brain, take care

#122

Post by 8Z7FpV6eDp »

WFH and the general state of tech burned me (and continues to burn me) out big time.

I am extremely over Zoom meetings multiple times per day, every day, and what-feels-like-constant Slack interruptions. I usually love meetings, too!

Tech consulting is what I love doing, but all of the small consultancies are getting hoovered up by the big 4 or WITCH firms, and all of the big firms make you wear business casual and have strong money/sports/golf cultures, which sucks ass.

Going back to engineering and spending all day pairing on Zoom and dealing with petty politics isn't the way either.

Work just isn't exciting anymore; the last four years have felt like different takes of the same job (despite me changing jobs a few times! ). But going back to the office in a world where half of the folks there don't want to be there isn't fun either.

Also, all of the energy in tech is going towards AI, which I couldn't give less of a shit about. Startups are hella exploitative, but big companies prevent you from getting anything done.

I don't know.

Re: Tell HN: Burnout is bad to your brain, take care

#123

Post by cm2012 »

paxys wrote: post #92

Also important to note – a lot of people correlate burnout strictly with overwork. You could be burned out due to overwork, sure, but you could also be burned out due to not having enough work . Or doing an average amount of work but not finding real meaning in it. Or another reason not directly related to work at all. If you aren't 100% happy with your situation, and not getting out of bed every morning with a smile…

Do people really go to work with a smile on their face?

Re: Tell HN: Burnout is bad to your brain, take care

#124

Post by famahar »

xyst wrote: post #77

This is too real. This weekend is when I finally start looking for a new job. Corporate life just fucking sucks. Work is "easy" but it's just not rewarding. The before/after OP described is kind of on point. But add in the fact that I just don't give a fuck about this company anymore. There's nothing I work on that contributes to the betterment of society. Equivalent of pushing paper at this point. Going to get a goo…

I'd argue that most dev jobs contribute nothing to society. The ones that do unfortunately don't pay well. I went into teaching for now and while it pays less, it's also tremendously fulfilling and the most human I've felt at a job. Tech work is soulless to me. Corporate environments are sterile fake bubbles of ego, profit and exploitation. It's not the real world but it pays well. If money weren't an issue I'd be a teacher for the rest of my life.

Re: Tell HN: Burnout is bad to your brain, take care

#125

Post by FrenchTouch42 »

ein0p wrote: post #107

Been there done that. For me burnout is no so much about overwork. The happiest I’ve been was when I did contracting/consulting where I’d routinely work 50-60 hours a week. It’s more about feeling “trapped” in a set of circumstances, eg a dead end job where no matter what I do forward progress is impossible, project I don’t believe in, stuff like that. The solution has always been: take 6-9 months off and go elsewher…

Ah I just replied to someone else but I totally understand the feeling.

Re: Tell HN: Burnout is bad to your brain, take care

#126

Post by nunez »

SoftTalker wrote: post #68

Join a gym, one with real barbells, do Starting Strength for six months, getting physically exhausted 3 or 4 times a week does wonders for your mental health. I didn’t believe it until I did it.

Everyone should do this program. Rip has issues, but he did the world a HUGE service by writing this and Practical Programming.

Re: Tell HN: Burnout is bad to your brain, take care

#127

Post by famahar »

morkalork wrote: post #58

Ever since I snapped at a C-level exec and more or less told them to fuck off and stop asking me for shit, in more polite words, when they are categorically _not_ in the chain above me, I've been feeling a lot better. I may have completely burnt any and all bridges I have though, I don't know yet.

I'm glad you're feeling better. Sometimes burning bridges is the fuel you need to build better ones.

Re: Tell HN: Burnout is bad to your brain, take care

#128

Post by gnulinux »

VonGuard wrote: post #5

The number one trait I have seen in people who are burned out is that they utterly and completely deny they are burned out. They often furiously push back on the idea. "I cannot possibly be burned out, because I have way too much to do," or something less articulate. Admitting you're burned out is the fist step on the path back. It can take years to get back to normal and have passion again. But it will return if you…

This is a very naive take. There are people who live paycheck to paycheck with the threat of homelessness. They can't just "accept" they have burnout, they have to work as if they don't just like any other person. I myself had a brutal burnout recently (hopefully recovering now slowly) but it was very difficult because I work on a visa and I can't afford to take a break or PTO etc. Yes I "accepted" that I'm burned out in an academic manner but almost everything my therapist offered was out of question. In that sense of course "I can't be burned out because I have too much to do." I still have to work every day, churn the churn, hustle the hustle, write the performance review forms, avoid PIPs, otherwise I'm deported in a matter of months. Managers expect exponential return every quarter!
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