3 ms·

I've recently wondered how the stresses of software development would compare to the stress of knowing my family might starve if the crops fail or that we could

I've recently wondered how the stresses of software development would compare to the stress of knowing my family might starve if the crops fail or that we could be set upon by brigands and murdered. I mostly make this comparison in jest, and probably as a result of having read several novels in the last 12 months that deal in various ways with the decline of civilization. However, our ancestors also probably slept better than we do and dealt with the stress naturally as part of their daily physical requirements. I'm not suggesting it would be more fun, but I wouldn't argue if you told me it was healthier, and maybe even happier.

hajderr 6y ago
In physical work you have a natural outlet for that stress. Confining everything to your upper body, and even one part of it (the head) is gonna cause even more stress.
- eloff 6y ago
  Yes, I think that physical exercise helped a lot. I go the gym every weekday at 3pm, and do heavy (for me) weight lifting for an hour. That has a great way of burning off the stress and resetting the mind. I highly recommend software engineers specifically plan some time in your day to get out of your chair and get some exercise.
yetihehe 6y ago
I think they think about this like we think about making an error which will delete whole database of our client. It happens to us, but there are some safety nets everywhere. Several families in the world may be so unlucky as to get killed, but it's not day to day worry for everyone.