Ask HN: Seeking life advice. Monotony, boredom, brain fog
I am posting on this forum because I am a software developer with 12 years experience, living and working in silicon valley, with the same aspirations and goals that I (imagine) many people here have. My life is comfortable and trust me I appreciate that and recognize how lucky I am.
The issue I am dealing with is over the last ~5-6 years I have steadily become more and more bored, burned out, and simply just disconnected. My brain lacks the "spark" that it used to get when I would think about programming, or anything really. I don't enjoy things like I used to, and it feels like my brain just doesn't fire with all cylinders like it did in my 20s.
I worry that years of the same thing, over and over, has dulled me. How does anyone do this for 20+ years? Am I just "different" and require more variability and stimulation in my life, to feel happy? Or am I doing something wrong?
M-F is always the same. Wake up, head to work. Meetings, write software. Go home. Workout, eat dinner, take care of my dog, play some video games for an hour or so. Bed.
Weekends are generally spent doing chores, taking care of the house, and occasionally traveling with my wife.
I feel like I need a break, but not a stupid little 1 week vacation, but like a year, or two of just doing nothing whatsoever. Or, I need to find a way to add enough genuine variability to my life that my interest in software and other hobbies returns.