> One thing I've never really recovered is the passion I had for side projects. Worse than that, I can't actually think of anything worth building, or even tink

> One thing I've never really recovered is the passion I had for side projects. Worse than that, I can't actually think of anything worth building, or even tinkering with, which is sad, as spending some of my free time on side projects was something I really enjoyed. If you don't enjoy side projects any more, don't force it. Better side projects would be something offline like improving your personal fitness, learning a new (non-computer) hobby, leveling up your cooking skills, and other real-world skills. Forcing side projects on top of a day job is a recipe for returning to burnout.