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Discussion on: How do you deal with burnout and low motivation?

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Donald

I'm experiencing this right now. The feeling has increased over the last 7 years for me. I'm sort of in a tough spot, since I was laid off and need to find work, but I've found something else to do I can enjoy and not feel guilty for putting my time into over whatever I'm doing.

Sometimes, I have to go so far as to not accept new work, because it turns out not being worthwhile.

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Ryan Norton

I'm sorry to hear about being laid off. Do you know what started the burnout? 7 years is a long time to deal with that.

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Donald

I wasn't necessarily burned out for 7 years straight. At that point in time, I

  • just became a father
  • was studying CS full-time (the burnout led me to switch to math that year)
  • working full-time at yet another job where I was underpaid
  • was jaded by how difficult finding a new job was

It took a few years, but I changed careers. After I got laid off from that job, I didn't want to keep doing sales, but I didn't want to be an employee (contract was okay), so I started a software business, putting lots of hours into it.

None of that worked out, so it all recently has come back. For me, I think I have to relegate actual development to hobby status, or I'll stay unmotivated.

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Ryan Norton

I understand. Life takes its toll, and you have to know where this stuff fits, be it hobby or career. I personally have had struggles with finishing my degree as it hasn't always given me much extra time to code. Having a baby girl, wife and full time job keeps everything crazy!