Everyone reaches the point where they just want to live in a yurt and milk goats eventually.
It's been a fucking rough year or five.
It's been a fucking rough year or five.
"Take a 3 month break and come back to it". I'm back. I don't want to do programming anymore.
"Ok you should play video games and not do anything productive, then come back to it". Cool, just finished Days Gone and i'm replaying BioShock. I don't want to do programming anymore.
"You're just burned out and depressed, find a therapist, take medicine, etc.". Did that. I'm on Welbutrin and my therapist says I should look into changing fields, maybe going back to school. Easy right? I don't want to do programming anymore.
"It's all mental, meditate". I sit outside on my deck every weekend and just enjoy the outdoors. I still don't want to write programs.
"Buy a motorcycle". I already have one and I love it, but I still don't want to write programs.
After many years of feeling this way and getting the answers like the above, any answer not in the realm of "you can move to X field with relative ease and maintain the same salary/benefits" doesn't feel like it's going to help. It seems my only option is to just accept defeat
Everyone that's having issues should talk to their doctor and/or see a therapist. They know what they are doing.
The problem with this form of diagnosis is that everything the OP mentioned is in relation to one single activity: programming. It's entirely possible (and should be considered, if the rest of their life is still good) that their interests have simply shifted away from programming without a mental disorder to go along with it.
That said, yeah, take it up with a professional, if only to rule depression out.
The whole point of therapy is not that they are superhuman who can fix the world. The point is having another person, whom you trust, and who has experience of how to help people, to take a good look at you. They discuss with they see, and suggest simple things you could do. The thing is - nothing is stopping you doing those things without a therapist. But you likely are not aware what the specific single things to help you are. Otherwise you would be doing those, and not needing a therapist.
I guess gist is, do something you enjoy for hours without any goals or any pressure. It should make you tired at end of day. And then you will start feeling good.
In covid-era, luckily I picked up cooking as hobby and survived.
God, they should make a work week of 4 days. I am really jealous of europeans (spicifically scandinavian countries ) where work-life balance is highly prioritized
Naw. It ain't going to be cheaper. More adrenaline causing perhaps, but not cheaper. Between buying accessories, upgrades, and different styles, you'll be paying them off for awhile.
One a more serious note: Riding a motorcycle won't cure depression. Depression, on the other hand, can make you not want to motorcycle anymore.
It's a nice escape, but I definitely think dealing with these feelings directly by talking them out with a therapist / journaling / meditation is the only way to deal with them effectively (although it's still hard)