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My recommendation after 20 years or so in tech: if you can, take a sabbatical that’s long enough to completely reset, and then re-assess. Travel, read, try stuf

My recommendation after 20 years or so in tech: if you can, take a sabbatical that’s long enough to completely reset, and then re-assess. Travel, read, try stuff, do personal projects, do nothing for awhile. I started a sabbatical two years ago, and in the beginning I was convinced that I didn’t want to ever work in tech again. In retrospect, that was at least partially the burnout talking. It took me over a year before I started warming to the idea again, and I’m now fairly certain I’ll go back to a tech role, but with a very different perspective both on life and on whatever roles I take going forward. There’s something incredibly valuable about fully replacing your routines and truly taking a break. I sold some stock to make it happen, and it’s one of the best decisions I’ve made.

charlie0 2y ago
This is the way. I've heard of the idea that you should seek to re-invent/re-evaluate your life every 7-10 years. Things change, you get older and so does everyone else around you. I find that if you don't take time off to do this consciously and willingly, life will force this upon you one way or another. I'd rather do this proactively and I really do believe taking time off is the best way to break "the mirage" and re-think your life.
- haswell 2y ago
  Looking back, I wish I had done this a decade sooner. Going forward, I definitely plan to make this a regular thing. Long before burnout can take hold again.
nickd2001 2y ago
This is good advice :) There's a lot to like in tech but it can indeed burn people out, and some time away from it doesn't hurt. I also took a sabbatical, years ago, and ultimately returned to tech. I worked the ski season, travelled in summer and lived on little. If you're frugal and do bits of work that pays a little, its possible to do this and have barely eroded savings after a year or so. (caveat- in USA health cover can be an issue)
SteveNew 2y ago
How long was your sabbatical? Did you go back to the same company or did you someplace else? How did you explain the resume "gap?" Do employers really want to hear that you got burned out and took a long sabbatical to recover?

charlie0 2y ago

This is the way. I've heard of the idea that you should seek to re-invent/re-evaluate your life every 7-10 years. Things change, you get older and so does everyone else around you. I find that if you don't take time off to do this consciously and willingly, life will force this upon you one way or another. I'd rather do this proactively and I really do believe taking time off is the best way to break "the mirage" and re-think your life.

haswell 2y ago
Looking back, I wish I had done this a decade sooner. Going forward, I definitely plan to make this a regular thing. Long before burnout can take hold again.

nickd2001 2y ago

This is good advice :) There's a lot to like in tech but it can indeed burn people out, and some time away from it doesn't hurt. I also took a sabbatical, years ago, and ultimately returned to tech. I worked the ski season, travelled in summer and lived on little. If you're frugal and do bits of work that pays a little, its possible to do this and have barely eroded savings after a year or so. (caveat- in USA health cover can be an issue)

SteveNew 2y ago

How long was your sabbatical? Did you go back to the same company or did you someplace else? How did you explain the resume "gap?" Do employers really want to hear that you got burned out and took a long sabbatical to recover?