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Comment by rakejake | Hacker News Reader

I am currently in this phase where tech stuff does not interest me very much. I still work a tech job and do a fair bit of coding, but mostly put a stop to obsessively reading every tech article on this website, code up something new in my free time, learn a new language etc.

Sometime during the pandemic, I stopped caring, perhaps fell into a bit of anhedonia. Thankfully, reading HN kept me informed about boreout (the relatively unknown cousin of burnout). Past few months, I made a big decision to move back to my home country and generally be more social, get more involved in the arts, watch movies, listen to music, read books, just take things easy. I think I am doing fine in my new job. The roaring interest in tech is still not back, but I'm confident it will be back eventually.

Until then, I'm happy reading about the good work done by other people. Perhaps one such idea might spark an insight in me and make me go to work. Cheers.

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>informed about boreout (the relatively unknown cousin of burnout).

Thank you for giving a word to this vague thing that I thought was unique to my situation. I worked as the solo IT guy for a small firm of about 50 people, half in house, and when I started in 1998 I was busy 40 hours per week... at the end in 2012 I'd show up and wait for things to break.

That job broke me

Ever since I'm afraid to start projects, or try things with only a few exceptions when I've been sufficiently nerd-sniped.

Wow, that sounds a lot like my job... small business, solo IT, heavy emphasis on "other tasks as needed." Some weeks it's felt like I slacked off most of the week waiting for calls to come in (though I've been keeping busy learning, documenting, and updating) while other weeks I'm so busy I barely sit down.

Over time it's been teaching me to say no to projects when they're out of scope or beyond my ability. I used to say "I'll try" to everything which led to some great learning experiences but also a lot of stress and disappointment. Still trying to find some kind of balance there.

> small business, solo IT

Years ago I imagined such a thing as "Programmer in the corner syndrome". This is where you are the only person interacting with considerable complexity and fragility, and no one else in the office ever looks, or could look.

Same, I still like tech stuff but I’ve put an end to caring about staying updated on the bleeding edge and started new hobbies that are not in front of a computer screen.

I lost my dad too, in 2018. If making things that would make him proud of you helps you move forward that's really great. It's a huge step. But then, maybe later, you might switch this mindset to a new one which will be: I'm going to do whatever makes ME (not my dad) proud of MYSELF, because my life can end at any moment (maybe next month, maybe next year) just like my dad's. And that's when you will find true happiness back in your life. Just make yourself happy. That is what he would love to see most. I think. Wish you the best in this journey and congratulations for moving forward.

Glad you were able to move back and muster up some interest in life again. I have the IQ and demeanor of a Labrador and somehow never lost my interest in tech 40 years after I started. Who knows, maybe your journey will lead you out of it now that you’re safely back home.

Perhaps, but I don't see myself FIREing and then spending my life gardening or something. I would like to have a sustained, organic interest in something (may not be software, but definitely something in the scitech). That is my goal and for that, I needed to take some "time off" and cultivate some discipline.

Being able to do what you're interested in is the whole point of FIRE!

Pretty much the same here, for the past months I didn’t cared too much but last week I re-discovered Rust and I’m having fun with it. Anyway my time in front of a screen is way less than it was an year ago and it feels good for now :)

Cheers. Was already on the Rust train. I'm waiting for this year's Advent of Code.

Cheers, looking forward to my third AoC! In the meantime hope you are having some good downtime from the tech firehose. It’s good to let the mind rest or play in a new arena. All the things you listed are important to me too. Hope they’re treating you well.

Surprised I had to go this far down to find the first mention of Rust on a HN thread

Will learning Rust fix my mental health too?

Yep that must be a new record :)

There is too much churn for me to really feel anything about tech anymore. The last bastion might be rust so if I ever become passingly proficient I would like to find a job that primarily uses it and then attempt to "call it a day" when it comes to my career. I probably only have another 15 years in my anyway (if I am lucky and ageism doesn't kick me to the curb).

As a person who is on the other side of the table, I noticed that this is usually the case when you stayed in the field for quite long.

For the context, I just started a coding journey - so everything seems new and fascinating, so many areas to delve into: - Compilers - Generative art - Stable diffusion models - APIs

To the point that its really confusing and chaotic but super interesting.

I kind of think that every decade we'll have to re-invent ourselves and find something new that excites us and move there (either professionally or personally). Doesn't have to be tech, but you surely spend time on some interesting things that can give you meaning and excitement!

Same for me. The sense of wonderment is no longer there. It's really just a job for me nowadays. I hope that spark comes back one day.

I’m also not interested any longer in my field (that I used to be passionate about so much that I swear would wake up out of the dead just to do).

So I am picking up another hobby. History, cooking, and ????

Obsession with news (gossip) is usually a sign of procrastination.

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