Thought about it, and then tried it. I followed my dream and started a creative project that had been dogging me for a long time. EVERYBODY wanted me to do it. Family, friends, people on the street with whom I discussed it. I expected it to be a big moneymaker. And it didn't work out. Not only that, but it became very clear that it was a really poor fit for me on a fundamental level.
I'm glad for the experience, though.
Going back to programming, here's what I figured out:
- I was working on stuff I didn't enjoy, with people I didn't particularly care about.
- I was taking on new work projects without any particular selection criteria.
- I wasn't thinking about the kinds of work that got me excited about programming and chasing it down.
So I recently nailed the first two back into place. I'm working closer to my values system rather than paychecks. In exchange, I'm just saving more money so I have more freedom.
Anyway, burnout is real. I thought I was done for sure and that my interest in programming and computers was a thing of the past. But that was just the burnout talking.
It helped to keep a journal during this time. Not a chronicle, but a thought-dump process in which I asked if my life was actually improving daily. That made it pretty quick to pinpoint my frustrations, as you can only write about the same pains a few times before you start to really zoom in on the causes and potential solutions.
This speaks to me. Career curation; making sure it means something. Burnouts can sometimes afford to be selective in their work. Illness is very expensive.
I'm glad for the experience, though.
Going back to programming, here's what I figured out:
- I was working on stuff I didn't enjoy, with people I didn't particularly care about.
- I was taking on new work projects without any particular selection criteria.
- I wasn't thinking about the kinds of work that got me excited about programming and chasing it down.
So I recently nailed the first two back into place. I'm working closer to my values system rather than paychecks. In exchange, I'm just saving more money so I have more freedom.
Anyway, burnout is real. I thought I was done for sure and that my interest in programming and computers was a thing of the past. But that was just the burnout talking.
It helped to keep a journal during this time. Not a chronicle, but a thought-dump process in which I asked if my life was actually improving daily. That made it pretty quick to pinpoint my frustrations, as you can only write about the same pains a few times before you start to really zoom in on the causes and potential solutions.
Good luck to you, however it turns out.