3 ms·
You need to take a break from software development for about 6 months. Really. About 1.5 years ago, I was in almost exactly the same state of mind that you're
by palish 16y ago
You need to take a break from software development for about 6 months.
Really.
About 1.5 years ago, I was in almost exactly the same state of mind that you're currently in. So I quit my job and lived off of savings for a few months. I played a ton of Left 4 Dead and met a lot of awesome friends (most of whom are still friends to this day). I did almost nothing programming-related.
At a certain point, about 6 months in, I simply lost interest in playing games, and went back to programming. I felt rejuvenated -- actually, I felt like a completely different developer. I was now way, way more productive than I ever had been before.
So, take my story for what it's worth. It may not work for everyone, but the takeaway is, I once had a mindset very similar to "All day I've been tempted to just pop an Advil PM and go to sleep. But if I stop moving, I'm fucked, so on I go coding." It was a terrible time in my life, and I solved it by taking a complete break from software development for about 6 months, and wound up a much better developer (and much, much happier) because of it.
- minouye 16y agoWow, a video game staycation. That sounds awesome!
- stcredzero 16y agoI am doing this right now. After 1.5 years of shuttling back and forth between two town every week, I'm now, "running a 1 man mental ward in my apartment as head shrink, head nurse, chief bottle washer, and patient."