Ask HN: Burned out on software development & looking for an offline job?
I've been a software developer for most of my life (late 30's now) but lately I've been profoundly unmotivated to write more code. I'm looking for inspiration for a career change, preferably something that can be done nearly completely offline. Any suggestions?
7 comments
I starting burning out about 34 - I'm 44 now - and I wish I had made the effort to start transitioning. But I'm very good at forcing myself to go on death marches... life got in the way and was distracting as well. The latest stupid crap has finally convinced me to really start, however. So don't procrastinate - I really hope you don't.
Usually, in one's 30s, you start trying to figure out what you really want to be doing for the last half of your life. I quit my job after the first Internet bubble broke and went to film school, something I'd always wanted to do, but after film school, I decided it was "practical" to stick with IT. Writing screenplays is a little too much like programming, and it really doesn't pay as well... Anyway, such is life.
What would you be doing if you suddenly became 18 again, but kept all the life knowledge you have accumulated by now? Do you feel the need to do something completely different or perhaps just something to the "left" of software development? Any sort of writing is to the left, I think, as a lot of the skills in IT are applicable to the writing process. Something different would be the acting classes I took last year - i.e. try to develop the subordinate side of your personality - more 'artistic' stuff, more feeling than the thinking. Acting actually involves a lot more analytical processes than one might think, but you still have to get in touch with one's 'feeling' side so I found it all useful.
At this point, I'm starting to think seminary school sounds interesting, as it is aligned with a lot of my intellectual interests. There is a monastery in Belgium that brews beer, and they need help as demand is growing and the order is shrinking. Spending my life making beer sounds fun!
Usually, in one's 30s, you start trying to figure out what you really want to be doing for the last half of your life. I quit my job after the first Internet bubble broke and went to film school, something I'd always wanted to do, but after film school, I decided it was "practical" to stick with IT. Writing screenplays is a little too much like programming, and it really doesn't pay as well... Anyway, such is life.
What would you be doing if you suddenly became 18 again, but kept all the life knowledge you have accumulated by now? Do you feel the need to do something completely different or perhaps just something to the "left" of software development? Any sort of writing is to the left, I think, as a lot of the skills in IT are applicable to the writing process. Something different would be the acting classes I took last year - i.e. try to develop the subordinate side of your personality - more 'artistic' stuff, more feeling than the thinking. Acting actually involves a lot more analytical processes than one might think, but you still have to get in touch with one's 'feeling' side so I found it all useful.
At this point, I'm starting to think seminary school sounds interesting, as it is aligned with a lot of my intellectual interests. There is a monastery in Belgium that brews beer, and they need help as demand is growing and the order is shrinking. Spending my life making beer sounds fun!
I completely burned out about three years ago and took a break. I was working at a digital agency and the work was good but the hours were really crazy with tough deadlines. It was all exciting but then I just burned and couldnt just write anymore.
I decided to take a break, went into banking - Yeah! Worked in the front office and doing clerical tasks for about a year and it was extremely refreshing. It was a huge bore a lot of the time but the break was helpful because I had plenty of free time compared to previous job so I could spend the time doing side projects and learning a lot of stuff online.
After one year away, I had spent the time learning new things and tools and was really excited to get back into full time development again. And now pretty happy I did that. I guess I needed that.
You dont have to take another job or career change. Just take some time and do the things you liked about development or try new things and you'll get the mojo back. But defn take a breather I guess. A couple of days away
I decided to take a break, went into banking - Yeah! Worked in the front office and doing clerical tasks for about a year and it was extremely refreshing. It was a huge bore a lot of the time but the break was helpful because I had plenty of free time compared to previous job so I could spend the time doing side projects and learning a lot of stuff online.
After one year away, I had spent the time learning new things and tools and was really excited to get back into full time development again. And now pretty happy I did that. I guess I needed that.
You dont have to take another job or career change. Just take some time and do the things you liked about development or try new things and you'll get the mojo back. But defn take a breather I guess. A couple of days away
I'm mid-thirties myself and am going through the same thing. I decided midway through 2013 that I just couldn't keep going. I left my job July 31 last year and thought I would build a software business on my own. I thought the problem was I just didn't like my previous job or working for others. The problem is that I really don't like large amounts of coding. I don't mind dabbling in small amounts of code now and then but large amounts of code day in and day out just burn me out.
For now, I'm taking up writing. Both technical writing and fiction. Writing Science Fiction is something I've always wanted to try. Long term, I want to move into renovating old homes and into farming. Specifically peppers. I like growing peppers.
For now, I'm taking up writing. Both technical writing and fiction. Writing Science Fiction is something I've always wanted to try. Long term, I want to move into renovating old homes and into farming. Specifically peppers. I like growing peppers.
Have you looked into project management?
Something along the lines of "business technology consulting" might be another route to get mostly offline. By that, I mean consulting businesses on how to utilize specific technology to solve their problems, not building that technology.
If all else fails, look to your passions. What do you do when you aren't working? Do you like photography, working on cars, building wooden furniture etc. etc? You might have to get creative but a lot of hobbies can transition into careers or businesses.
Something along the lines of "business technology consulting" might be another route to get mostly offline. By that, I mean consulting businesses on how to utilize specific technology to solve their problems, not building that technology.
If all else fails, look to your passions. What do you do when you aren't working? Do you like photography, working on cars, building wooden furniture etc. etc? You might have to get creative but a lot of hobbies can transition into careers or businesses.
> I've been profoundly unmotivated to write more code
If that's you're only real gripe, move into management. I enjoyed it a lot. It's a great chance to multiply the effect of your knowledge. I approached management as engineering, except I would give up as soon as I knew how the tasks should be done (because I could re-assign them). Other than that, it's all team building and communication.
If that's you're only real gripe, move into management. I enjoyed it a lot. It's a great chance to multiply the effect of your knowledge. I approached management as engineering, except I would give up as soon as I knew how the tasks should be done (because I could re-assign them). Other than that, it's all team building and communication.
I'm burned out on business application code but it pays so well compared to other things.