Burnout isn't weakness. It's what happens when sustained stress exceeds recovery. Developers are particularly vulnerable.
Warning Signs
Cynicism about work you once enjoyed. Projects feel meaningless.
Exhaustion that sleep doesn't fix. Mental fatigue persists.
Declining performance despite effort. Simple tasks feel hard.
Detachment from colleagues and work. Isolation increases.
Physical symptoms. Headaches, sleep problems, changes in appetite.
Why Developers Are Vulnerable
Always-on culture. Slack notifications at midnight. Weekend deployments.
Imposter syndrome. Constant learning can feel like never being good enough.
Unclear success metrics. "Ship more features" isn't a healthy goal.
Cognitive load. Keeping complex systems in your head is exhausting.
Prevention Strategies
Set boundaries. Working hours should end. Notifications should stop.
Take actual vacation. Not working-from-beach vacation. Real disconnection.
Build non-coding interests. Your identity shouldn't be your job title.
Exercise regularly. Physical activity genuinely helps mental health.
Maintain relationships outside work. Diverse social connections matter.
Say no to some opportunities. Not every project needs you.
When You're Already Burned Out
Acknowledge it. Denial prolongs suffering.
Talk to someone. Manager, HR, therapist, friend. You're not the first.
Take time off if possible. Even a few days of genuine rest helps.
Identify what's unsustainable. What specific factors are draining you?
Make changes. Sometimes that means a new team, sometimes a new company, sometimes just new boundaries.
For Managers
Watch for signs in your team. Sudden performance drops, withdrawal, cynicism.
Model healthy behaviour. If you email at midnight, you set that expectation.
Staff appropriately. Permanent crunch mode burns people out.
Check in genuinely. "How are you?" asked with time to listen.
The Long View
Your career spans decades. Burning bright for two years then crashing isn't success.
Sustainable pace beats heroic effort. Every time.
At Logic Leap, we believe sustainable work practices are a competitive advantage. Building a team culture that prevents burnout? We've learned some things.
How do you maintain sustainable pace in your work?
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