TL;DR
Tech has taught me many things over the years. It taught me how to learn new technologies, build projects, apply for opportunities, and keep growing. What it didn't teach me was something that turned out to be just as important: how to take care of myself while doing all of those things.
For a long time, I believed I would slow down later. Later, when life became less busy. Later, after the next project. Later, after the next opportunity. The problem was that "later" never seemed to arrive.
It took an unexpected pause in my own life to realize that building a successful career means very little if we forget to take care of the person trying to build it. Looking back, I don't see that experience only as a difficult chapter. It changed the way I think about success, growth, and what it means to build a career that's sustainable.
Today, I still love learning, building, writing, and chasing opportunities. None of that has changed. What has changed is the realization that taking care of myself isn't something separate from my career. It's one of the reasons I'll be able to keep building it for years to come.
Along the way, I also realized that many of the things that truly support us are easy to overlook. Rest, movement, nourishing ourselves well, meaningful relationships, and simply checking in on the people around us often receive far less attention than the next framework, project, or milestone, even though they make everything else possible.
More than anything, I wanted to write this because I care deeply about this community. I hope none of us have to wait until life forces us to slow down before remembering to take care of ourselves. I hope we build careers we're proud of, but I hope we also build lives we're able to enjoy.
This isn't an article about productivity or health advice. It's simply a reflection on something I wish I had understood earlier.
Your career matters. So does the person building it.
I'd also love to hear your story. Has there been a moment that changed the way you think about your career or your health? Or is there a habit that's helped you build a career that's both meaningful and sustainable? I'd love to read your thoughts in the comments.
Table of Contents
- The Conversation I Wish We Had More Often in Tech
- The Pause I Never Expected
- The Career I Was Building
- The Small Things I No Longer Take for Granted
- Why I Wanted to Share This
- I'd Love to Hear Your Story
- ๐ค Let's Stay Connected
The Conversation I Wish We Had More Often in Tech
One of the reasons I love tech is that there's always something new to discover. Every week brings a new framework, another AI model, an interesting research paper, an open-source project, or an opportunity to learn something I didn't know yesterday. That constant sense of growth is one of the things that drew me to this field in the first place, and it's still one of the things I enjoy most about it.
As exciting as that is, I've noticed something over the years. Throughout my journey, I've heard countless conversations about becoming a better developer. I've learned how to prepare for interviews, improve my projects, write cleaner code, build a stronger portfolio, stay relevant, and keep learning. Those conversations have helped me tremendously, and I'm genuinely grateful for them.
Looking back, though, I realize there was another conversation I rarely heard.
We spend so much time talking about how to build better developers, but much less time talking about how to stay healthy enough to enjoy the careers we're working so hard to build.
I don't think that's because people don't care. Rather, I think it's because the pace of tech rarely slows down on its own. There's always another technology to explore, another project to finish, another opportunity to apply for, another skill to learn, and another reason to tell ourselves that we'll rest once this one thing is over. Without realizing it, we begin to believe that slowing down is something we'll eventually get around to.
I certainly believed that. I kept telling myself "later" would come on its own. I never stopped long enough to question whether it actually would.
Eventually, life chose that pause for me instead.
The Pause I Never Expected
When I say that life chose that pause for me, I don't mean I suddenly decided it was time to slow down. It wasn't part of my plan. If anything, I probably would have kept going. I genuinely believed that I could keep pushing for a little longer. There was always something waiting for my attention, another opportunity to prepare for, another project I wanted to build, another article I wanted to write, or another goal I wanted to reach. Like many people in tech, I had convinced myself that taking a break was something I would do after I had accomplished just one more thing.
Instead, life had other plans.
Without sharing too much, I went through a period that forced me to stop and look at everything differently. It wasn't something I expected, and it certainly wasn't something I wanted. For the first time in a long time, I couldn't keep running at the pace I had become used to. At first, I saw that pause as an interruption. I kept thinking about everything I wasn't doing, the opportunities I might miss, the projects that would have to wait, and the plans that suddenly felt uncertain. It was frustrating because it felt like life had pressed pause while everyone else was still moving forward.
But something unexpected happened during that time.
As the weeks passed, I started noticing things I hadn't paid attention to before. I realized how easy it had become to measure my progress only by what I was building, learning, or achieving. Somewhere along the way, I had become very good at taking care of my projects, my work, and my career, but I hadn't been nearly as intentional about taking care of myself.
Looking back now, I don't see that period as time I lost. In a strange way, I think it gave me something I didn't know I needed. It reminded me that there's a person behind every project, every article, every application, every opportunity, and every late night spent learning something new.
That person deserves the same care and attention as the career they're trying to build.
I sometimes wonder whether I would have learned that lesson if life hadn't forced me to stop. Honestly, I'm not sure I would have. As difficult as that experience was, I'm grateful for what it taught me, and I just wish I hadn't needed a forced pause to understand something so important.
The Career I Was Building
After that experience, I found myself thinking about something I had never really questioned before.
What kind of career was I actually trying to build?
For a long time, my answer would have been simple. I wanted to keep learning, build meaningful projects, contribute to the community, write more, and make the most of every opportunity that came my way. Those goals haven't changed. They're still important to me, and I still enjoy working towards them. What changed was how I started defining success.
Somewhere along the way, I had convinced myself that making progress always meant doing more. Learning more, building more, applying for more opportunities, and saying yes whenever something exciting came along. I rarely stopped to ask whether I was building a career that I would actually be able to enjoy years down the line. That question stayed with me because, when I looked back, I realized something surprisingly simple.
What is the point of building something meaningful if we don't take care of ourselves enough to be there and enjoy it?
Looking back, I don't think I was intentionally neglecting my health. I simply wasn't paying enough attention to it. It wasn't a conscious decision. It was just a pattern that slowly became normal, and I didn't notice it until I was forced to.
That experience changed the way I think about growth. I no longer believe that constantly pushing harder is the only way to grow. Instead, I want to build a career that's sustainable, one where I can keep learning and creating without forgetting to take care of myself along the way.
I don't think I've found the perfect balance, and honestly, I'm not sure there is one. I'm still learning, just in a different way now.
I'm learning that taking care of myself isn't something separate from my career. It's one of the reasons I'll be able to keep building it for years to come.
The Small Things I No Longer Take for Granted
One of the biggest changes wasn't that I suddenly became an expert at taking care of myself. It was that I started paying attention.
Before all of this, I rarely stopped to think about the small things that quietly supported everything else in my life. I assumed my body would simply keep up with whatever I asked of it. If there was another deadline, another article to write, or another project I wanted to finish, I would find a way to make it work.
Looking back, I don't think I was doing anything unusual. I think I was doing what many of us in tech do. We become so focused on building our careers that we slowly stop noticing the foundation those careers are built on.
Today, I think about those things very differently. I try to move a little more during the day because I've realized how much of my life happens sitting behind a screen. I pay more attention to what I'm eating, not because I'm chasing some perfect routine, but because I want to give my body what it needs to keep showing up for the things I care about. I try to protect my sleep because I've learned that I'm not doing my best work when I'm constantly running on empty.
None of these habits are extraordinary, and I certainly don't get them right every day. I'm still learning, and some days are better than others. What changed wasn't that I found the perfect routine. What changed was realizing that taking care of myself isn't something I do after work is finished. It's something that allows me to keep doing the work I love in the first place.
Another change surprised me just as much.
I became more intentional about checking in on the people around me. One thing that experience taught me is that we rarely know what someone else is carrying. The person celebrating a new opportunity online might also be dealing with something they'll never post about. The colleague who always seems positive might be quietly having a difficult week. The friend who says they're "fine" might simply need someone to ask again.
That's why I've come to believe that a simple message asking, "How have you been?" can matter far more than we realize. It's easy to assume everyone is doing okay because that's often what we see online. The truth is, many of the hardest battles are invisible, and sometimes the smallest act of kindness is simply letting someone know they're not alone.
More than anything, I stopped seeing health as something I would think about later. I started seeing it as something that makes everything else possible. The ability to learn, create, write, solve problems, build projects, and chase opportunities doesn't exist separately from our health. It depends on it.
The more I reflected on that, the more I realized that taking care of myself wasn't taking time away from my career. It was one of the most important investments I could make in it.
We're often encouraged to invest in new skills, better tools, and continuous learning, and I still believe those things matter. But I've come to believe that one of the best investments we can make is in the person who's trying to learn those skills, use those tools, and build that career.
Without that person, none of the rest is possible.
Why I Wanted to Share This
One of the reasons I wanted to write this article is because I genuinely care about this community.
Over the past few years, I've met so many incredible people through tech. Students taking their very first steps, experienced developers with decades of experience, researchers, open-source contributors, writers, mentors, and people who simply enjoy learning and sharing what they know. Watching people grow, celebrate one another, and support complete strangers has been one of my favorite parts of this journey, and it's one of the reasons I'm so grateful to be part of this community.
That's exactly why I hope we start having more conversations like this.
Not because learning new technologies is any less important, or because ambition is somehow a bad thing. I hope we never stop building, creating, learning, and dreaming big. Those are some of the qualities that make tech such an exciting field to be part of.
I just hope we remember that the person doing all of those things matters too.
If there's one thing my own experience has taught me, it's that our health is surprisingly easy to take for granted until it asks us to pay attention. I genuinely hope none of us have to learn that lesson because life forces us to slow down. I hope we choose to slow down every once in a while instead.
I hope we get enough rest, not because someone tells us to, but because we deserve to wake up with the energy to enjoy the work we love. I hope we make time to move our bodies, even if it's just a short walk after spending hours behind a screen. I hope we remember to nourish ourselves well, because our bodies and minds are carrying us through every project, every challenge, and every opportunity we chase.
I also hope we stop treating stress like a badge of honor. Tech moves incredibly fast, and it's easy to feel like we always need to keep up. There will always be another framework to learn, another AI model to explore, another project to build, and another opportunity to apply for. But chronic stress is real, and over time it can affect us in ways we don't always notice until we're forced to.
More than anything, I hope none of us try to carry everything alone. If you're struggling, please don't isolate yourself. Reach out to someone you trust. Talk to a friend. Spend time with your family. Lean on your community if you can. And if you're in a position to do so, check in on someone else too. Sometimes a simple "How have you been?" can mean far more than we realize.
One of the greatest gifts this community has given me has never been a project or an opportunity. It's been the people. The people who encouraged me, answered my questions, celebrated my small wins, and reminded me that we're all figuring things out together. Those conversations have meant more to me than I can put into words.
If you've read this far, I hope you don't walk away thinking this article was simply about slowing down. It isn't. I still love learning. I still get excited about discovering new technologies, writing articles, building projects, and finding opportunities I never imagined I'd have. I still have goals I'm working toward and dreams I hope to achieve one day. None of that has changed.
What has changed is how I want to get there.
I no longer want to build a career that constantly asks me to sacrifice the person building it. I want to build one that I can actually enjoy. I want to look back years from now and remember not only the projects I built, but also the life I lived while building them. I want learning to remain something that excites me instead of something that leaves me exhausted. Most of all, I want to reach my goals without forgetting that I'm a human being before I'm a developer, a writer, or anything else.
If I could go back and tell an earlier version of myself one thing, it wouldn't be to learn another programming language sooner or contribute to more open source projects. It wouldn't even be about building a stronger portfolio or applying for more opportunities.
It would simply be this: take care of yourself while you're building the life you dream about.
Not because it will make you more productive. Not because it will help your resume. And not because someone on the internet told you to. Take care of yourself because you matter. Your health, your relationships, your peace of mind, and the life you build outside your career all matter just as much as the work you're so passionate about.
The career you're building is important, and I genuinely hope it becomes everything you've dreamed of. But I hope something even more than that. I hope that years from now, when you look back on your journey, you're proud not only of what you built but also of the way you lived while building it. I hope you're surrounded by people you love, healthy enough to enjoy the opportunities you've worked so hard for, and able to look back knowing you didn't lose yourself along the way.
Because careers are important. Dreams are important. Success is important. But none of them are more important than the person trying to achieve them.
Your career matters. So do you.
I'd Love to Hear Your Story
Writing this article reminded me that every one of us has a different journey. Some of us are just getting started, while others have spent years or even decades in this field. Some are chasing their first opportunity, and others are helping the next generation find theirs. Our experiences may be different, but I think many of us have reached moments where we've become so focused on building our careers that we've forgotten to take care of ourselves along the way.
That's why I'd genuinely love to hear your story.
Has there been a moment that changed the way you think about your career or your health? Is there something you wish someone had told you earlier, or a habit that's helped you build a career that's both meaningful and sustainable?
If you're comfortable sharing, I'd love to read your thoughts in the comments. One of my favorite parts of writing isn't publishing the article itself. It's reading the conversations that happen afterward. Time and time again, I've learned just as much from the experiences, reflections, and stories people share as I have from writing my own.
I truly believe that every one of us has something valuable to contribute. Your story, your perspective, or even a lesson you've learned along the way might be exactly what someone else needs to hear today.
๐ค Let's Stay Connected
If you enjoyed this article, I'd love to stay connected.
I regularly write about software engineering, AI, open source, career growth, and the lessons I'm learning along the way. Every Friday, I also share my Dev Opportunity Radar, where I curate internships, jobs, hackathons, scholarships, fellowships, open-source programs, and other opportunities that I think are worth checking out.
You can also find me on LinkedIn, GitHub, and X (Twitter), where I share updates, resources, and things I'm learning along the way.
If that sounds interesting, feel free to follow along. And if this article reminded you of someone who's been working hard and might need a gentle reminder to take care of themselves too, I'd be grateful if you shared it with them.
Wherever you are in your journey, I hope you keep learning, keep building, and keep believing in yourself.
Just don't forget to take care of the person who's making all of it possible โค๏ธ
Transparency note: The banner image for this article was generated using DEV Community's built-in AI image generation feature. I wrote the prompt, generated multiple variations, and selected the final image used in this post.
Top comments (10)
I spend most of my time posting technical stuff, but honestly it's the non-technical habits that keep me shipping. Sitting with a book, or just being in the garden with dirt on my hands instead of a keyboard. Getting soaked in the rain no matter where I'm headed. Cooking for people I care about and watching them enjoy it. Sitting with my eyes closed, not thinking about anything at all.
Good read, this one.
I really smiled reading this. I love how you described the little things that help you recharge. Cooking for people you care about, getting your hands dirty in the garden, even getting soaked in the rain... those are the kinds of moments we don't talk about enough.
Thanks for sharing this, Shubhra. I hope someone reading the comments is reminded to make a little more time for the things that make them feel like themselves too ๐งก
This is an important message to spread. Self care is so important. Thanks for sharing this and opening up about your own experience.
I consider self care as a fundamental building block for my career, it has become part of my routine. I start my day with movement and end my day with reading/learning.
I also block weekly evening time slots for writing and reaching out to friends/family.
One lesson I have learned over the years is that it's important ot have your own house in order to be able to effectively help others too.
I love that you've made self-care part of your routine instead of treating it as something you'll get to later. I think that's exactly what I'm trying to learn too.
I also really liked your point about taking care of yourself so you can better support others. I hadn't looked at it from that perspective before, and it honestly gave me something to think about.
Thanks for sharing this, Julien. I have a feeling it'll help someone else reading the comments too, just like it helped me ๐
There's a saying where I'm from โ "your body is the capital of your revolution." And there's another one: "man is iron, food is steel. One meal skipped and your whole system crashes." We treat our bodies like they have infinite uptime, but even the best server needs maintenance. Appreciate this one, Hema. Real talk.
Read this and decided not to stay up tonight. Going to sleep now. Good night. ๐ฅฑ
I love those sayings. They fit this article so well, especially the one about treating our bodies like they have infinite uptime.
And I'm counting this as one small win for the article if it got you to choose sleep tonight ๐
Good night!
Good night @xulingfeng
Take care
In tech, we're constantly optimizing our code, portfolios, and careersโbut it's easy to forget to invest in the person behind all of it. A successful career means little if it comes at the cost of your health, peace of mind, or the relationships that make life meaningful.
The reminder that self-care isn't a distraction from growthโit's what makes sustainable growth possibleโis something more people need to hear.
Thank you for sharing such an honest and thoughtful perspective. Wishing you continued success, good health, and a career that's just as fulfilling as it is impactfulโค๏ธ
Thank you so much, Divyanshi โค๏ธ
Reading this honestly means a lot because it tells me the message came across the way I hoped it would. We spend so much time talking about growth in tech, and I hope we can keep having more conversations about taking care of ourselves too.
Thank you again for your kind words and wishes. Wishing you the very same ๐
I'd love to hear your experiences. Has there ever been a moment that changed the way you think about your career or your health? Or is there a small habit that's helped you build a career that's more sustainable?
I have a feeling we can all learn something from each other's stories โค๏ธ