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Comment by daanlo | Hacker News Reader

I have switched industry before and you kind of start from 0.

What you are describing doesn't necessarily sound like an issue with the tech sector, but rather that you are a bit burnt out.

My suggestion: try to take some time off, either by not working or just working on some very unambitious projects that give you time to relax. Do this for at least 2-3 months. Sleep, eat, treat yourself well.

Then slowly start tinkering with whatever tickles your interest (only once you feel like it). This can be a a tech side project, playing the guitar or bartending.

This recipe has helped me re-discover my energy in the past.

It might lead you to something in tech or outside tech.

Just my 2 cents.

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Very much relate to this comment.

I burned out twice. Both times I took a break with the intention of starting a new career.

The first time I considered getting into music professionally only to find that my colleagues were not only substantially more educated and technically capable but also that they had to focus a lot of energy on teaching and traveling. I had enough savings that when I returned to contract work I could do it very much part-time and pursue music heavily with little profit motive.

The second time I burned out I tried to get into the mental health space only to find that the training was too intense and that the pay was not going to be great unless I went back to grad school, again, which I was not interested in. Again, I returned to working part-time.

Eventually I found a role where I could work 30 hours per week with full benefits and people who I like. Plenty of vacation time for touring and attending music intensives.

At least for me, the key to preventing burnout is not working full-time which gives me time to start and end my day putting energy into satisfying my interests and passions with no profit motive.

That's a great read, many people get burned out. Have spoken to a few people who left the industry to do something else, most of them came back a few never did. The grass isn't always greener, some people can easily work through a burnout and come through the other side, others simply need a few months off to re-ignite the flame. It can just be working in the wrong environment, switch to a smaller team maybe? A few friends of mine ditched the startup wheel and now work for an agency producing "standard" websites/cms and enjoy their life so much more.

I don't think it's burnout, I think it's boredom. OP can be perfectly rested and want to try something new, similar to how if you have pasta for dinner everyday you may eventually want to try something else.

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