Poll: Are you burnt out?
This is a question that gets asked quite regularly here on HN and I think it would be interesting to see what kind of results we can gather.
10 comments
Another poster writes
> people with as little as up to three years of experience. To me it seems they just don't like being programmers.
I don't think this is fair. Many of these people are young. When you are young, life can feel hard. If you asked me when I was in my 20's if I liked work, I would have answered on the verge of tears that I hated work, and was tired out from it. I had good jobs, and good workmates, and am relatively smart. But life is hard sometimes. Looking back, I would say that the hardest things in your 20's are that you don't yet relate to people well (you don't know how to understand their motivation, or how to forgive their different views), and that your taste for quality work exceeds your skill at producing it. These are very tiring things to deal with.
But stick with it, you get better, work feels easier, and you start to enjoy it again.
My advice to myself if I could speak to myself at 25 would be to worry a little less, be proud of the things which you have produced, not to compare yourself to people 15 years your senior, and not to try and achieve fame and fortune by the age of 30. Remember to drink plenty of water (not too much alcohol) and eat your greens, get proper rest and exercise. Proper rest includes daily sleep, and regular holidays, and sick days when you need it. Don't be afraid to use a counseling service if you need guidance.
I hope this helps a young person who is feeling burnt out. Our industry needs people who care about what they do. Keep trying, but do look after yourself.
I don't think this is fair. Many of these people are young. When you are young, life can feel hard. If you asked me when I was in my 20's if I liked work, I would have answered on the verge of tears that I hated work, and was tired out from it. I had good jobs, and good workmates, and am relatively smart. But life is hard sometimes. Looking back, I would say that the hardest things in your 20's are that you don't yet relate to people well (you don't know how to understand their motivation, or how to forgive their different views), and that your taste for quality work exceeds your skill at producing it. These are very tiring things to deal with.
But stick with it, you get better, work feels easier, and you start to enjoy it again.
My advice to myself if I could speak to myself at 25 would be to worry a little less, be proud of the things which you have produced, not to compare yourself to people 15 years your senior, and not to try and achieve fame and fortune by the age of 30. Remember to drink plenty of water (not too much alcohol) and eat your greens, get proper rest and exercise. Proper rest includes daily sleep, and regular holidays, and sick days when you need it. Don't be afraid to use a counseling service if you need guidance.
I hope this helps a young person who is feeling burnt out. Our industry needs people who care about what they do. Keep trying, but do look after yourself.
As I read the topic over and over again, this heavily depends on how long one has stayed in the industry. Most of the people claiming they're "burned out" are people with as little as up to three years of experience. To me it seems they just don't like being programmers.
Yes. I've been burnt out for the last few months but it's only after my father's recent death I decided to take the leap and quit my job. It's not programming in general, it's the tight deadlines, last minute changes which result in fires and long hours putting out those same fires. All that time spent working means no time living.
I was going to tick "Partially", but I think I am bored-out instead of burnt-out [1].
[1] http://mindfulnext.org/disengaged-burned-out-or-bored-out/
[1] http://mindfulnext.org/disengaged-burned-out-or-bored-out/
I have this impression that we (the programmers of the world) are burned out as a whole[1] - I know its actually just me perceiving the rest of the world not doing anything interesting, but still, I don't know to force my perception/emotional state out of this.
[1] And then very creative/full of energy, and back to burn out..
[1] And then very creative/full of energy, and back to burn out..
12 years at one company. work was interesting. then we took on a project that just wouldn't quit. the work was remote and exotic. then it was repetitive and mindless. then it was copying data. now i sit waiting for the day to be over because, i don't want to review the repetitive data that was recorded. 10 TB ... of crap.
I'm not burnt out by programming, I'm burnt out by sitting on my butt for 16hrs a day and having a 1 dimensional life! Hit that gym, friends
I put other since I'm funemployed ATM :)
RetuRning soon though and am gung-ho about avoiding burnout !
Not in the slightest. I know what I'm in the game for and I'm enjoying every day of it.