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I “retired” after 12 years of web development due to extreme burnout. I now work in a completely different industry and could not be happier. It felt like my w
by jquery 5y ago
I “retired” after 12 years of web development due to extreme burnout. I now work in a completely different industry and could not be happier.
It felt like my workload was forever increasing. I could never rest on any laurels without falling significantly “behind”. I developed a major substance abuse problem as well (sober 14 months now), although untangling cause and effect here is impossible. I think I was abusing substances in part to cope with the stress.
- antris 5y ago> It felt like my workload was forever increasing. I could never rest on any laurels without falling significantly “behind”. Sounds very familiar. Also, when I finally put my foot down to demand changes in order to avoid burnout, that was used against me when I was later discussing a pay raise. I learned to never bring up problems again, and got crashed hard.
- jquery 5y agoThat line about it being used against you rings true. Business is often a toxic stew of keeping secrets from others lest they exploit you. This warps our perception and experience of human intimacy. Yet one more reason I’m glad to have left the industry.
- ipnon 5y agoYour very first submission! "Ask HN: how do you avoid burnout and getting taken advantage of?"[0] [0] https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=939580 https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=939580
- jquery 5y agoHaha, thanks. That brings back memories. If I recall, that thread helped me avoid burnout for a while. But it eventually caught up to me again with a ferocity I was unable to defend against, with the catalyst being a parent who died. Fortunately, I was in a position of financial strength and faced the beast head-on. On further reflection... burnout turned out to be a gift in disguise. It was an impetus for necessary change.
- ipnon 5y agoI have had similar experiences. Thank you for sharing and good luck.