I think that a lot of the stressors were there, before COVID, but the pandemic was the straw that broke the camel's back.
As an older software engineer, I find the statement that "everyone wants devs" to be fairly amusing. I'm rather grateful that I don't need to work for a living. Instead, I'm working for free. I'm glad to have the tools that are available these days, and the means to afford them.
It has always been my dream to work for free.
I am fairly good at what I do; largely because I love doing it. I consider it a craft, not just a vocation.
If no one is interested in paying me for my work, I’ll do it anyway; except on my terms; and that makes all the difference.
In fact, I love doing it so much, I don’t really want to go back to working for others.
It’s kind of too bad. I would have been happy to work for a lot less than most, as my retirement was assured some time ago, but that’s all water under the bridge.
I'm hoping I'm done by my early 40s (mid thirties ATM). I have a target amount that should afford me a relatively well off life just off interest. The moment I hit that number I'm stepping off the treadmill.