Tips I use to avoid burnout(addyosmani.com)
addyosmani.com
Tips I use to avoid burnout
http://addyosmani.com/blog/burnout/
80 comments
> Doubled down on focus. Went back to using a single monitor
For me it's the opposite. Working on a single monitor means hundreds of alt-tab a day. That's a lot of distraction that is avoidable by using multiple monitors.
Recently switched from a two to a triple monitors setup (mainly for IDE/terminal/browser). I feel like it reduced how much tired I am at the end of the day.
For me it's the opposite. Working on a single monitor means hundreds of alt-tab a day. That's a lot of distraction that is avoidable by using multiple monitors.
Recently switched from a two to a triple monitors setup (mainly for IDE/terminal/browser). I feel like it reduced how much tired I am at the end of the day.
Agreed, it’s impossible to do my job on a single window — or a single screen’s worth of windows — and I can’t imagine how constant alt-tabbing helps prevent burnout/fatigue.
Having multiple monitors means being able to switch between windows without constantly changing what’s on my screens.
I currently have three that I use for IDE, browser, terminal(s), Slack, and SQL. Often one or more of these aren’t needed often, and/or I can share two on a single monitor. But I am able to carry out most of my day without having to change windows around.
I occasionally have two browsers that I will be working in simultaneously so will split those across monitors, but that’s rare.
Having multiple monitors means being able to switch between windows without constantly changing what’s on my screens.
I currently have three that I use for IDE, browser, terminal(s), Slack, and SQL. Often one or more of these aren’t needed often, and/or I can share two on a single monitor. But I am able to carry out most of my day without having to change windows around.
I occasionally have two browsers that I will be working in simultaneously so will split those across monitors, but that’s rare.
I'm curious how you find alt-tab is distracting. I use one monitor and switch between windows using keyboard shortcuts, like alt-tab, and don't even notice. Does your alt-tab do something visually fancy that is distracting (animations, thumbnails, etc), instead of just switching to the other window?
I am currently trying to learn how best to present my ideas and reach people who don't necessarily see problems as a large network of pictures and concepts in their heads.
It's a process that I struggle with, but I truly want to improve. Do you have any suggestions or resources?
It's a process that I struggle with, but I truly want to improve. Do you have any suggestions or resources?
One problem I see people make is to present the solution before the problem.
Nerds often have a tendency to be hyper focused on the details of the solution because that's the most fun part and the part they have directly thought about intensely.
Many people "up the chain", or in general who don't have intimate details of the problem space may not grasp why such a solution is needed. So starting off with it doesn't resonate with them.
I've found its better to first tell the story of "what got us here", that led to this solution. If you do it right, you'll see the "a ha" moment go off in people's faces and they're right with you.
Nerds often have a tendency to be hyper focused on the details of the solution because that's the most fun part and the part they have directly thought about intensely.
Many people "up the chain", or in general who don't have intimate details of the problem space may not grasp why such a solution is needed. So starting off with it doesn't resonate with them.
I've found its better to first tell the story of "what got us here", that led to this solution. If you do it right, you'll see the "a ha" moment go off in people's faces and they're right with you.
Thank you for asking. I’ve had success using the Challenger Sale model, otherwise known as Insight Selling.
This gives a logical framework for presenting people with new information - starting with a 10,000 foot view of how ‘the world has changed’ and gradually going into more detail about how this change will impact them before providing a solution. [1]
Where it really excels is enabling you to ‘bundle’ ideas into a larger trend, which others may not have seen as connected in the past. Depending on your background, using a sales framework may seem ‘icky’ but it’s a fairly tried and true method of presenting information.
In terms of books, other than Challenger Sale and Challenger Customer I can recommend To Sell is Human by Dan Pink, Made to Stick by Chip and Dan Heath and How to Deliver a Ted Talk.
An area where you can get a huge leg up over others is in use of PowerPoint / Google Slides. Most people are terrible at it, so if you can deliver a presentation which is 15% better than most you will be at a huge advantage also. The key here is not to see PowerPoint as a tool for conveying information, but as a tool for creating pitches. If you treat every new idea you present as a ‘pitch’ it will transform your effectiveness.
In the same way as gift wrapping a gift ‘elevates’ the gift, wrapping an idea or proposal in a presentation means it’s automatically taken more seriously.
[1] https://blog.hubspot.com/sales/insight-selling-better-pitch
This gives a logical framework for presenting people with new information - starting with a 10,000 foot view of how ‘the world has changed’ and gradually going into more detail about how this change will impact them before providing a solution. [1]
Where it really excels is enabling you to ‘bundle’ ideas into a larger trend, which others may not have seen as connected in the past. Depending on your background, using a sales framework may seem ‘icky’ but it’s a fairly tried and true method of presenting information.
In terms of books, other than Challenger Sale and Challenger Customer I can recommend To Sell is Human by Dan Pink, Made to Stick by Chip and Dan Heath and How to Deliver a Ted Talk.
An area where you can get a huge leg up over others is in use of PowerPoint / Google Slides. Most people are terrible at it, so if you can deliver a presentation which is 15% better than most you will be at a huge advantage also. The key here is not to see PowerPoint as a tool for conveying information, but as a tool for creating pitches. If you treat every new idea you present as a ‘pitch’ it will transform your effectiveness.
In the same way as gift wrapping a gift ‘elevates’ the gift, wrapping an idea or proposal in a presentation means it’s automatically taken more seriously.
[1] https://blog.hubspot.com/sales/insight-selling-better-pitch
This simple framework helps me format my thoughts for presentation:
- What is the problem?
- Why is it a problem? (Eg, Business impact, impact on customers, etc.)
- What are we doing about it?
- What consequences do we expect (or do we already see)?
Depending on the medium, do a sentence, a paragraph, or a page for each.
- What is the problem?
- Why is it a problem? (Eg, Business impact, impact on customers, etc.)
- What are we doing about it?
- What consequences do we expect (or do we already see)?
Depending on the medium, do a sentence, a paragraph, or a page for each.
I think it also depends on toxicity of the organization. My untested hardware was sent to production line in the factory elsewhere. I was telling to every manager I could, not to do this. So “no” does not work. I was told, there will be second developer one day, but it didn’t happen. Manager of other group sees me declining and invites to go for lunch together. But he can’t help since my manager and division manager are more buddies than professionals working together. I was trying to make longer breaks to recharge working only 4 days a week, but this was canceled a day after I send proposal how to test hardware. I also got new table - a door place in open space office where I got distracted every 3 minutes. Basically my all time gets wasted sitting there. Last but not least, there will be committee next year to review everything I did in the project and do the great blaming fest. It is believed, that this will help to find the bugs I made due to my incompetence.
I read this and it does not sound real. To avoid burnout I simply need a new job. I also packed my all personal belongings and am ready to hand in my notice anytime I see it’s too much. Better unemployed for some time than mentally broken.
I read this and it does not sound real. To avoid burnout I simply need a new job. I also packed my all personal belongings and am ready to hand in my notice anytime I see it’s too much. Better unemployed for some time than mentally broken.
Some jobs just rely on attracting and retaining people with no boundaries and no ability to set them. Startups are great at this. They foster a sense of community between the workers and then understaff/overbook the team. When the invariable crisis rolls in no one even has to tell people to work until 5 am. They just do it because no one wants to "let down the team".
My last job I was at least the fourth or fifth person to break down and cry at work. Plenty of those happened in meetings where the boss man was present. They just quietly get replaced and that's that. Burn em and churn em. Never shows up on the ledger and everyone writes it off as a crazy one-off situation.
Then oh gosh a big deadline hits and we're down a person, better show off what a team player we are and make sure we hit the deadline.
My last job I was at least the fourth or fifth person to break down and cry at work. Plenty of those happened in meetings where the boss man was present. They just quietly get replaced and that's that. Burn em and churn em. Never shows up on the ledger and everyone writes it off as a crazy one-off situation.
Then oh gosh a big deadline hits and we're down a person, better show off what a team player we are and make sure we hit the deadline.
> let down the team
it's a deeply wired need, and it would be interesting to discuss that. I found it easier to wake up in the morning when I felt part of team rather than going to a company be a nameless cog. Surely being a cog may avoid being overworked by never ending night shifts .. hence the debate.
it's a deeply wired need, and it would be interesting to discuss that. I found it easier to wake up in the morning when I felt part of team rather than going to a company be a nameless cog. Surely being a cog may avoid being overworked by never ending night shifts .. hence the debate.
I think the problem is when being part of a team is abused - so you get the expectations but not the benefits.
> They just quietly get replaced and that's that. Burn em and churn em. Never shows up on the ledger and everyone writes it off as a crazy one-off situation.
Man, it’s killing me how true this is. It’s never “we treated them so poorly they needed to quit to preserve their sanity”, it’s always “they just weren’t a great fit. Oh well.”
Man, it’s killing me how true this is. It’s never “we treated them so poorly they needed to quit to preserve their sanity”, it’s always “they just weren’t a great fit. Oh well.”
YMMV, but here's what worked for me (or what I wish I did in the past, but didn't).
Writing a resignation letter, even if you're not planning to hand it in immediately, might help you clear your head and make a better decision. Handing in your notice straigh after another fire/argument/nuissance, i.e. in a direct response to a single event, might turn out to be worse than doing it when things slow down a bit—purely because you'll have more control over the situation and will be able to approach it with less emotions.
> anytime I see it’s too much
Honestly, why wait?
Writing a resignation letter, even if you're not planning to hand it in immediately, might help you clear your head and make a better decision. Handing in your notice straigh after another fire/argument/nuissance, i.e. in a direct response to a single event, might turn out to be worse than doing it when things slow down a bit—purely because you'll have more control over the situation and will be able to approach it with less emotions.
> anytime I see it’s too much
Honestly, why wait?
I still have hope, I’ll find another job soon. So I am waiting and developing more marketable skills. For example I used C++ only for embedded development, but learning to use C++ for application development might open me more job opportunities. I am also creating GitHub portfolio and already have 2 followers:-) Everything is happening extremely slow, but I keep doing. Looking for a job from unemployment in Germany is very tough, better use big name of current employer during application process.
You’ll still be able to reference the company after you have left. I’ve always left my jobs before finding another. Providing there is a market available and adequate funds I would recommend anyone to do it.
After a short period of regaining your breathe and what purpose you had before you started then you will start to work on marketing yourself - GitHub profile/LinkedIn/meeting with a few recruiters...
You’re situation will probably remain the same until you jump. But you have to do the jumping, is my experience.
After a short period of regaining your breathe and what purpose you had before you started then you will start to work on marketing yourself - GitHub profile/LinkedIn/meeting with a few recruiters...
You’re situation will probably remain the same until you jump. But you have to do the jumping, is my experience.
I would advise to never leave your job before having another signed offer, to be honest.
And honestly in our field (software) it just takes a few weeks to sign a new offer. Plenty of opportunities out there.
Depends a bit on the location though - but in certain EU countries it's not a good idea to have a gap in your employment, as it is used to calculate your holidays and retirement savings.
And honestly in our field (software) it just takes a few weeks to sign a new offer. Plenty of opportunities out there.
Depends a bit on the location though - but in certain EU countries it's not a good idea to have a gap in your employment, as it is used to calculate your holidays and retirement savings.
> in certain EU countries it's not a good idea to have a gap in your employment, as it is used to calculate your holidays and retirement savings.
I have not heard of something like that. Sure the more month you have worked the more you paid into the retirement insurance, but a couple of months won't make a difference.
Not sure which employer would give you less holidays either.
I have not heard of something like that. Sure the more month you have worked the more you paid into the retirement insurance, but a couple of months won't make a difference.
Not sure which employer would give you less holidays either.
In Belgium your legal vacation days are calculated based on the number of days you have worked the previous year.
This resonates very deeply with me. Looking for another job is something you definitely should do. Apply to everything that sounds remotely interesting. Since you have a job, you don't have to take the first job they offer you, you can take your time to find something that suits you.
Regarding your workplace: I had a similar problem and I kept searching and changing desks whenever possible. I bought noise cancelling headphones and occupied empty meeting spaces. I also managed to show that I was able to deliver better solutions when I worked from home, because it was easier for me to focus. Now I use a standing desk for 50% of my time in he office. It's placed next to the window where I have a great view and nobody is moving through my peripheral vision.
I still struggle with burnout - a lot of times because of context switching - but I learn to say "no". A lot of people don't even try to debug their problems or google for errors, they just like to ask someone else. I just say: "I need to type this email first" or "there is a meeting in a few minutes, but I'll come to you right after" and when I check back with them they often solved their own problem.
Regarding your review: I think this is a chance for you. Just come prepared with a list of known problems. Software devs need to take shortcuts in order to meet clients timeline plans, but we also need to pay back the technical debt. It's not incompetence, it's prioritizing time-to-market over quality / robustness / security / maintainability.
Regarding your workplace: I had a similar problem and I kept searching and changing desks whenever possible. I bought noise cancelling headphones and occupied empty meeting spaces. I also managed to show that I was able to deliver better solutions when I worked from home, because it was easier for me to focus. Now I use a standing desk for 50% of my time in he office. It's placed next to the window where I have a great view and nobody is moving through my peripheral vision.
I still struggle with burnout - a lot of times because of context switching - but I learn to say "no". A lot of people don't even try to debug their problems or google for errors, they just like to ask someone else. I just say: "I need to type this email first" or "there is a meeting in a few minutes, but I'll come to you right after" and when I check back with them they often solved their own problem.
Regarding your review: I think this is a chance for you. Just come prepared with a list of known problems. Software devs need to take shortcuts in order to meet clients timeline plans, but we also need to pay back the technical debt. It's not incompetence, it's prioritizing time-to-market over quality / robustness / security / maintainability.
Packing up sounds like a great plan to save your insanity
Some non-time off tips that work for me:
- Remove most, if not all notifications from your phone. Not just work-related, anything that will stimulate your brain for no good reason
- Try to leave work on time to allow other activities after. Could be ranging from going to the gym to raising your kids.
- Monitor your smartphone usage and cut it down (use something like RescueTime).
- Go to places where there is no internet connection to have some you time (e.g., a steam room is perfect to relax, or yoga)
- Sleep the right amount of hours for you
- Eat, drink well
- Remember, in most jobs, no one dies if that thing is not done today.
- Remember, if you have to work too much it's probably not your fault, but poor planning / constraints in your org. that you cannot control
- Remove most, if not all notifications from your phone. Not just work-related, anything that will stimulate your brain for no good reason
- Try to leave work on time to allow other activities after. Could be ranging from going to the gym to raising your kids.
- Monitor your smartphone usage and cut it down (use something like RescueTime).
- Go to places where there is no internet connection to have some you time (e.g., a steam room is perfect to relax, or yoga)
- Sleep the right amount of hours for you
- Eat, drink well
- Remember, in most jobs, no one dies if that thing is not done today.
- Remember, if you have to work too much it's probably not your fault, but poor planning / constraints in your org. that you cannot control
> - Remove most, if not all notifications from your phone. Not just work-related, anything that will stimulate your brain for no good reason
My phone slipped into water and is not working. I liked it, huge screen, great battery life. So I took some old one I had at home. Smaller. Terrible battery. Old Android, so many apps don't work. I can only use it for calling and texting a couple of times a day. I need to save the battery. I cannot read in bed, as it's too small to be comfortable. It's small, so it fits into all my pockets.
Oh, it's so great that I'm not going to buy a new one. I feel like I don't have phone at all. I didn't know how it was slowly changing (destroying?) my life.
My phone slipped into water and is not working. I liked it, huge screen, great battery life. So I took some old one I had at home. Smaller. Terrible battery. Old Android, so many apps don't work. I can only use it for calling and texting a couple of times a day. I need to save the battery. I cannot read in bed, as it's too small to be comfortable. It's small, so it fits into all my pockets.
Oh, it's so great that I'm not going to buy a new one. I feel like I don't have phone at all. I didn't know how it was slowly changing (destroying?) my life.
Before having a phone I was reading a lot of books.
Now, I read HN too much.
Is it better, is it worse?
Certainly not bad, if, the addictive, time wasting aspects are muted / avoided.
I think not using a smartphone in 2020 is actually a massive evolution step back. Used wisely, at the right time and for the right tasks, it's a killer device.
But used for everything, all the time, it's just another form of crack.
Get your phone back, get on top of it, you'll be as happy, I'm sure.
(also, running an old Android version is quite risky on top of being annoying)
Now, I read HN too much.
Is it better, is it worse?
Certainly not bad, if, the addictive, time wasting aspects are muted / avoided.
I think not using a smartphone in 2020 is actually a massive evolution step back. Used wisely, at the right time and for the right tasks, it's a killer device.
But used for everything, all the time, it's just another form of crack.
Get your phone back, get on top of it, you'll be as happy, I'm sure.
(also, running an old Android version is quite risky on top of being annoying)
When my previous phone broke, I switched back to an old "dumbphone". It was quite lovely to charge it once a week and just forget about it for the most part.
Eventually I got a new smartphone though - especially when travelling they are a useful tool.
Eventually I got a new smartphone though - especially when travelling they are a useful tool.
On my Mac, I turned off the clock in the task bar. So to see the time I have to type “date” in terminal or look at my phone’s clock. My calendar notifies me of upcoming meetings, so I can stay focused longer. That little bit of intentional change makes my coding quality of life so much better.
A lot of this becomes fairly obvious if you start from the assumptions that:
1. Work exists only to support your lifestyle. If your work doesn't allow you to live a lifestyle you are happy with, it's not serving its purpose. This is obvious to most people when their work doesn't pay them enough, but it's not as obvious when their work doesn't give them enough time.
2. You are a person of worth who deserves to have proper boundaries around your work.
3. Your job is a transaction where they need you just as much as you need them.
1. Work exists only to support your lifestyle. If your work doesn't allow you to live a lifestyle you are happy with, it's not serving its purpose. This is obvious to most people when their work doesn't pay them enough, but it's not as obvious when their work doesn't give them enough time.
2. You are a person of worth who deserves to have proper boundaries around your work.
3. Your job is a transaction where they need you just as much as you need them.
I'be been struggling with burnout myself during this year. In the darkest times it got bad enough that I considered to abandon software development altogether.
Thanks to a three months time off I'm through it now.
I've been writing about my experiences and my recovery, maybe they can be of help to anyone else in a similar situation:
https://www.damienklinnert.de/a-passion-lost/
My one piece of advice for you if you're in a similar situation would be to take time off.
Thanks to a three months time off I'm through it now.
I've been writing about my experiences and my recovery, maybe they can be of help to anyone else in a similar situation:
https://www.damienklinnert.de/a-passion-lost/
My one piece of advice for you if you're in a similar situation would be to take time off.
I had the same experience as you, years ago. I was severely burnt out (to the point where I didn't want to do anything computer-related). Taking time off fixed it, but I probably need to do that again now.
I’ve learned that it’s best to take the time off as soon as you notice something is wrong. The longer you wait, the more time it takes.
After the last time it took me about two months to recover.
After the last time it took me about two months to recover.
Absolutely, I pushed it too far at some point and got put off by even the thought of opening my IDE for months.
Having some hobbies outside of code can help as well.
Having some hobbies outside of code can help as well.
That was interesting. How long did it take you to get so burnt out? I feel like I might be lately, i haven't done any interesting personal coding or learning in probably around a year and a half now. I used to really enjoy hacking on stuff and learning how it all works. Lately I just don't care much. Ive only been working for maybe 4 or 5 years, my third year of professional work was particularly shitty.
You don't have to code every hour that god sends to be good at your job. Most of the good people I know have hobbies and outside interests that are tech related but are significantly different to the day job, perhaps producing music, or making short films, or home automation or something.
Personal coding and learning, in the same sort of area you work, would accelerate burnout for me.
Personal coding and learning, in the same sort of area you work, would accelerate burnout for me.
I'm partially recovering, it's such a weird feeling. Like un-divorcing.
Perhaps it does make sense to condense it to a few simple tips to watch out for, but honestly this posts feels a lot like: "tips i use to avoid obesity; eat less! do exercise!"
I wish this post Included something actionable. I know I shouldn’t overcommit not just professionally but in my personal life too, but I do anyways. So how do I stop? I know I should be asking for help more, but I’m prideful. How do I get over that? And so forth with all of the points..
This is the trick of repetition and probably why the list seems so obvious. There is no “secret trick”. Saying no and taking breaks is just difficult.
My biggest tip: sleep!
Make sure you get 8 hours/night, and (say) 10 hours in stressful periods. If you already think you have burnout, then sleep as much as you can.
Make sure you get 8 hours/night, and (say) 10 hours in stressful periods. If you already think you have burnout, then sleep as much as you can.
Sleep is great but I don't think it's ever been a factor for me when it comes to burnout. When I've been burned out, I was still getting a good night's sleep. After changing industries, I've worked some exceptionally long days and weeks (far longer than before), and it makes me physically exhausted but never burned out.
Here are the things that have worked out for me:
- Constantly thinking and outsourcing the time i spend on stuff that doesn't matter (especially the bottom 10-20%). Good hack for doing this is calendering all the things i do in a typical day and then reviewing it over the weekends to subtract the automatable and (probably boring) non impactful pieces.
- Having two different phones, one for work and the other for everything else. The work phone/number gets shut down as soon as i am done for the day (no exceptions. Android has the concepts of users which can emulate similar experience without the need to invest on another phone.
- Not syncing emails constantly, instead i have 3 hour blocks for syncing/replying to emails. Can't check emails all the time and neither at the end and beginning of the day so three hour blocks work well for me.
- Constantly thinking and outsourcing the time i spend on stuff that doesn't matter (especially the bottom 10-20%). Good hack for doing this is calendering all the things i do in a typical day and then reviewing it over the weekends to subtract the automatable and (probably boring) non impactful pieces.
- Having two different phones, one for work and the other for everything else. The work phone/number gets shut down as soon as i am done for the day (no exceptions. Android has the concepts of users which can emulate similar experience without the need to invest on another phone.
- Not syncing emails constantly, instead i have 3 hour blocks for syncing/replying to emails. Can't check emails all the time and neither at the end and beginning of the day so three hour blocks work well for me.
I am really sad this didnt have sports and hobby/life in it as its very important heres my tips after 5 years of stressful growth company management would be following and is the following to my employees:
- Dont cut the flow state in cold turkey as then you just lie in bed and die rather start by lowering the work hours first to closer to 37,5h or less if possible
- Start exercising sports that remove you from your phone so for example swimming is great as it forces you to be alone with your head and carrying a phone to pool is hard.
- Never work during a weekend. I do it you do it, everyone of us does it in IT but you really need at least a day per week to do something completely different.
- Weekend getaways, I go to no electricity cabins, sailing etc. away from notifications so you really cant work.
- Kill notifications, NO ONE will die if you dont answer to slack message in 5 minutes you can still check slack every hour or so or mail just kill toxic notifications and keep the evening at your own pace.
- fix your monitoring. Application downtime monitoring should be helping your mental health not harming.
- Make friends outside work. They have completely different view to the world which helps you with above
Crisp and to the point. No BS. I refuse to work more than 45 hours per week and take 1w vacation per quarter. Time is more important than money as you age.
The thing that's burning me out isn't the coding. It's the constant updating of everything I use across 3 machines and nothing working despite these updates. Within minutes of sitting down to code I encounter some flow killing problem. I so miss the days of DOS, μEmacs, and Microsoft C. Yeh we had to code everything, but it all just worked.
You can have a modern Linux dev environment like that, I run my laptop from ram with very little specialized configuration.
That used to be a problem for me when I was on Windows. Linux, docker and Dropbox have solved that problem. Now the real difficulty is posting on HN and similar.
[deleted]
Basic organisation skills applied to work and life helped me a lot, I was sorely missing in this area and dedicated some time to getting a system in place. I spend 15 minutes in the morning planning my day. This had a lot of benefits, one is being way less stressed if I know I can "dump" incoming information somewhere and parse it later.
This is what I believe is the the main cause of burnout and how to efficiently prevent it and deal with it if necessary:
https://medium.com/@markpapadakis/how-to-prevent-burnout-and...
https://medium.com/@markpapadakis/how-to-prevent-burnout-and...
I always joke with my students that the best way to avoid burnout is to avoid work. Work is overrated anyways...
Managing. Expectations.
Easily took away 75% of the stress at work and stopped from it bleeding into my private life.
This can manifest itself as: - being upfront with what you do and don't know when asked to do anything so if delays occur, it won't be b/c you overpromised == lose trust - keeping stakeholders in the loop with any significant developments so there are no surprises down the road - estimate normal project work as if you can only work ~8 hours a day/5 days a week (while taking meetings, vacactions, other normal overheads into consideration)
This, IMHO, is a pre-req to properly implementing any of the other common helpful tips others have listed.
Easily took away 75% of the stress at work and stopped from it bleeding into my private life.
This can manifest itself as: - being upfront with what you do and don't know when asked to do anything so if delays occur, it won't be b/c you overpromised == lose trust - keeping stakeholders in the loop with any significant developments so there are no surprises down the road - estimate normal project work as if you can only work ~8 hours a day/5 days a week (while taking meetings, vacactions, other normal overheads into consideration)
This, IMHO, is a pre-req to properly implementing any of the other common helpful tips others have listed.
Removing notifications from my day has helped a lot.
I still use several monitors because one task is done more efficiently across several but notifications are truly the worst thing in the world.
Honestly there's only one type notification/email/IM/phone call I don't mind... when something is down and needs fixing.
I still use several monitors because one task is done more efficiently across several but notifications are truly the worst thing in the world.
Honestly there's only one type notification/email/IM/phone call I don't mind... when something is down and needs fixing.
> It's OK to ask for help. This includes seeking collaboration vs. going alone
This is a huge thing. I often feel pressure to improve my individual programming skills, but this next year I want to focus on what I can do to be a better collaborator and team member. I can only do so much in a day.
This is a huge thing. I often feel pressure to improve my individual programming skills, but this next year I want to focus on what I can do to be a better collaborator and team member. I can only do so much in a day.
I would also remove caffeine (coffee, energy drinks) as a health step and see how that affects work and your body. Most people are over-stressed and working over time with caffeine is one of most common reason people do not sleep a recommended 7-8 hours a day.
[deleted]
One thing I also learned is to leave work on achieving a goal, no matter how small. This gives you disconnect at night.
Meditate. Yoga. Learn and become who you are.
DON'T install Slack on your phone.
Or install it, and keep notifications off.
To each their own. My goal is to set very rigid expectations on when I'm reachable or not. And to enforce with myself what my priorities are. If I'm not at my PC my priority is not reading or writing slack messages.
How is that incompatible with the parent poster's point? You can have an app installed and not open it just fine.
What's the point of having it at all then? For me, there is never an appropriate use for slack + phone.
My job will wait for me to be at my desk.
You have the app available in case you need to communicate (outgoing.) It's like a phone you never answer, just like my land line.
Good points, and I appreciate the conciseness of the post. Nice.
Isn't this obvious to every software engineer I know? Perhaps I am missing something or living under a rock in my own ecosystem. Every single engineer I've ever met knows these things: Don't over commit, take breaks, seek help and know that time is important, may be remember to breathe? I am sorry, but this is not some deep insight.
The author works at Google. I presume that if one is getting paid in excess of $200k, you're a damn good professional at the very least. These things need not be reminded or taught - they're required and necessary as a professional software engineer.
Burn out happens when - the company or team is under duress, imagine running a manufacturing software system and your factory lines are down. Yes, that gets intense and you can have a burn out if problem requires rehauling the system (takes 6 months say). Or the company is on the brink of collapse and you're one of the 3 engineers holding it together. But, that's not because of the reasons listed here. In fact, writing such an article is dismissive because it distracts the discussion on what really leads to burn out.
The author works at Google. I presume that if one is getting paid in excess of $200k, you're a damn good professional at the very least. These things need not be reminded or taught - they're required and necessary as a professional software engineer.
Burn out happens when - the company or team is under duress, imagine running a manufacturing software system and your factory lines are down. Yes, that gets intense and you can have a burn out if problem requires rehauling the system (takes 6 months say). Or the company is on the brink of collapse and you're one of the 3 engineers holding it together. But, that's not because of the reasons listed here. In fact, writing such an article is dismissive because it distracts the discussion on what really leads to burn out.
You think being well-paid or good at your job magically protects you from burnout? Oh boy.
Burnout is caused by excessive/prolonged stress. Your pay or your skill level have no influence on that. Nor is stress limited to 'existential duress'. It's not even limited to work-related causes.
If there's anything dismissive, it's your idea that you must experience a special kind of stress, or it's not really burnout.
Burnout is caused by excessive/prolonged stress. Your pay or your skill level have no influence on that. Nor is stress limited to 'existential duress'. It's not even limited to work-related causes.
If there's anything dismissive, it's your idea that you must experience a special kind of stress, or it's not really burnout.
It’s not at all obvious to me, and I wish someone had told me these things earlier in my career. They’re all very obvious in retrospect, but when you’re neck deep in the mire and carrying the world on your shoulders, sometimes it’s very hard to see any possible path out other than doing something drastic like changing jobs. (It’s OK to change jobs when appropriate, but you won’t want that to be the only tool in your toolbox.)
Until fairly recently - let’s say the last five years or so - did anyone ever tell me it’s OK to say no. To the contrary: rise to the occasion! Meet all challenges! Dazzle with your ability to do all 100 things at once! I think it’s very important that we tell people early in their careers what they can do to manage stress while still advancing.
Until fairly recently - let’s say the last five years or so - did anyone ever tell me it’s OK to say no. To the contrary: rise to the occasion! Meet all challenges! Dazzle with your ability to do all 100 things at once! I think it’s very important that we tell people early in their careers what they can do to manage stress while still advancing.
> Burn out happens when - the company or team is under duress, imagine running a manufacturing software system and your factory lines are down. Yes, that gets intense and you can have a burn out if problem requires rehauling the system (takes 6 months say). Or the company is on the brink of collapse and you're one of the 3 engineers holding it together. But, that's not because of the reasons listed here. In fact, writing such an article is dismissive because it distracts the discussion on what really leads to burn out.
I wouldn't say that's the case at all.
The first time I struggled with burnout was because the organisation I worked within was built in such a way that the rank and file are irrelevant and take some sort of grim pleasure in being low status.
In that situation there doesn't have to be any crisis or external pressure. You can just be stuck in a bureaucracy with a drone manager that makes your working day pointless.
The further I get away from that, the happier I am.
IME the company, your life, whatever, can be falling apart as long as you know that those around you are actually playing the same game as you and care about the outcome.
I wouldn't say that's the case at all.
The first time I struggled with burnout was because the organisation I worked within was built in such a way that the rank and file are irrelevant and take some sort of grim pleasure in being low status.
In that situation there doesn't have to be any crisis or external pressure. You can just be stuck in a bureaucracy with a drone manager that makes your working day pointless.
The further I get away from that, the happier I am.
IME the company, your life, whatever, can be falling apart as long as you know that those around you are actually playing the same game as you and care about the outcome.
> that's not because of the reasons listed here
If we take one of your examples, „the company is on the brink of collapse and you're one of the 3 engineers holding it together.”, we could still apply advice from the article: „Learn to say "no" more often. Know your limits. It's easy to over-commit”. It seems as if it would still help.
If we take one of your examples, „the company is on the brink of collapse and you're one of the 3 engineers holding it together.”, we could still apply advice from the article: „Learn to say "no" more often. Know your limits. It's easy to over-commit”. It seems as if it would still help.
I agree. If you’re one of 3 engineers holding it together, that’s the company’s problem (unless you won’t be able to find another job). If the other 2 engineers start working all the time to try and hold it together, that’s their problem (unless you won’t be able to find another job). I don’t know why people sometimes seem so willing to take responsibility for other peoples’ business decisions.
I’m young and inexperienced but in my opinion there’s a difference between “willing to work extra late on something occasionally when something unexpected comes up and working late will actually help”, which is helpful for the team, and just getting killed because of bad decisions other people did, or business circumstances that are beyond your pay grade.
I’m young and inexperienced but in my opinion there’s a difference between “willing to work extra late on something occasionally when something unexpected comes up and working late will actually help”, which is helpful for the team, and just getting killed because of bad decisions other people did, or business circumstances that are beyond your pay grade.
Why bring up the author's salary? Besides, Addy Osmani is not just some random Google engineer. You could have attacked the fact that he is one of the most prominent figures in software instead and that a lot of developers listen to him. No idea why you feel the need to get personal at all though.
Over the past 20+ years in the industry I have found that yes, saying "no" is the most important component. If you let other people to walk over you eventually they'll complain you're not flat enough. This includes not working on job-realated stuff on your own time (which is something the employer will almost always try to cajole you into doing), and not checking work emails after work.
The other two major components are sleep and physical activity. Just get that 30 minutes of HIIT cardio done, every day like clockwork, and sleep _at least 8 hours_ a night, every night.
The other two major components are sleep and physical activity. Just get that 30 minutes of HIIT cardio done, every day like clockwork, and sleep _at least 8 hours_ a night, every night.
Thanks for that, author. Tips of this kind are very useful.
- Doubled down on focus. Went back to using a single monitor, cut down notifications on my phone and carved out time in my diary to do focused deep work. Constant task switching has always been bad for burnout for me.
- Was much more intentional about how I presented my work to others. I used to think that if I needed to focus on how I communicated my work upwards, that was somehow a reflection on the quality of the work itself. Instead I learned that taking time out to focus on how you present your ideas acts as a force multiplier on them.
- Get out of toxic environments. Often I’ve found that the cause of burnout is not hard work, I am capable of hard work for sustained periods, but hard work with an expectation or repeated experience of failure in forms of projects being scrapped or canceled. Success isn’t always its own reward, but it does seem to help ward off against burnout.
- I also spend a couple of hours in the gym nearly every day. It’s a high end gym and this is my splurge for myself. For other people, their release may be family.