I went on a sabbatical thinking I may not be able to do dev again, but I was wrong. It's good you mentioned lifestyle changes; you'll want to get in the habit

I went on a sabbatical thinking I may not be able to do dev again, but I was wrong. It's good you mentioned lifestyle changes; you'll want to get in the habit of constantly experimenting with these before you pull the plug completely. Consider: * therapy * being in a community (in real life) * lifting * the arts * doing more/less work-type stuff on the side (open source, speaking, mentoring, etc) * service projects (lots of different clubs do them) I think a lot of the existential pain in my late twenties was due to feeling alone plus stuck at my job. I tried several things to deal with it (all safe) but couldn't get a handle on it, resulting in burnout. All of those things you want to do are good; you could try doing some of them part time. When life tells you to pack up, you'll know it, so I'm not going to prescribe anything particular, other than letting you know to trust your instincts here. I had to find out the problem was mostly me (but other people also had to go). But one thing you need to know: all the good you do cannot patch you up on the inside. Whatever you're feeling will be there later. The importance of someone who honestly balances you out cannot be understated. I did not understand balance until I had to see myself through my wife's eyes over and over again. It's humbling and hard, but it will change you to something healthier much quicker. I don't know what your relationship looks like, but I hope your girlfriend builds you up and supports you whatever your mood is. Personally, I have to always be learning. I found a guitar teacher who does a great job teaching technique, and I'm constantly challenged. I also work in R&D at a lifestyle company. I hope this helps a little.