Ask HN: Is it burnout or something else, and how can I recover?

18 points · modestcaptain64 · 27 days ago

Lately, I've been struggling with work, enough that it's caused relatively minor medical issues, and I can't figure out if it's a burnout spiral or eroded trust in the company after a few rounds of layoffs and stress from poor execution an AI marathon.

Normally I'd leave for greener pastures, but the job market isn't great, and I'm sitting on a lot of unvested RSUs I can't easily replace. I don't want to leave without trying alternatives.

Fortunately, I have enough cash and few enough obligations that I can take a very long break on a budget. I also have enough PTO saved for a 1 month break, but it would impact the perception of my work for the half.

Is my best move to check out and put effort into interviewing? Is there a way to change my perspective so I don't feel drained most of the week?

9 comments

syndicatedjelly · 27 days ago

> I also have enough PTO saved for a 1 month break, but it would impact the perception of my work for the half.

Care less about what people think about you at work, and more about your health. We’re all adults, and you’re allowed to do that. others are more forgiving when you show grace while admitting faults

Take a month off and go somewhere. Or don’t, staycation. Or work on a side project. Or replay Final Fantasy 7. You’re allowed to do all these things, and you should

purple-leafy · 26 days ago

I’m in the exact same position. Third layoff round in 9 months.

It has completely eroded my trust in this company, to the point it’s irrecoverable. It’s hard to focus (because of the urgent priority to sort it out). It’s not necessarily burnout.

I’ve spent the weekend polishing my CV till it’s perfect, then applying to companies that look good (read: stable). Maybe 15 applications so far.

I’d suggest polishing your CV every 3 months, always be ready to jump at opportunities. And take some PTO. Take a week, use some of the time to apply to jobs, and most of the time to relax and watch the world burn.

At your job, as another commenter said - zoom out. Stay out of all politics, do the work required, spend your quiet time up-skilling, go for a walk before work, and on every break at work. Stay off twitter/reddit or anywhere doom posting about the job market.

You’ll know burnout when it hits - you won’t be able to focus at work, you won’t have any enthusiasm for side projects, you’ll feel tired all the time and rundown, you’ll begin to hate your career and all your colleagues, you’ll go from emotional to numb.

Proper burnout is horrible and its effects last months. I burnt out last year, probably took 4-6 months to be back to normal. Required taking significant time off, and dropping my days worked from 5->4 for months. And moving back with parents etc.

trilinearnz · 27 days ago

The PTO doesn't have to be all or nothing. Would a more strategic 2-week (or 1-week) break be better received?

Also as a more passive job-seeking strategy, you could leverage your professional network of past co-workers to let you know if any opportunities come up (always had a lot of success with this personally). That way you can dip your toes into the job pool without having to switch focus completely.

tacostakohashi · 27 days ago

Sometimes, it's best to just suck it up. Learn how to do your job as a 9-5, don't get sucked into death marches and politics, don't be emotionally attached to things, just show up on time, be helpful, do your best and go home.

It's not _always_ the best, of course, sometimes it is better to interview, make a move, etc., but there are switching costs like losing your RSUs, interviewing time, it might end up as a bad fit at the new place, it's an extra jump on your resume, etc... even if your job is currently crappy, you might be better of sticking it out and waiting for someone else to leave / a new opportunity to come up at your current place, or make a move when the market is better, etc.

lunarcave · 26 days ago

I’m not sure whether this will help, but I’ll tell you what works for me.

Zoom out and do things that let you zoom out.

There are certain things that you can do in order to get out of the day of your life and realise that there is a whole world just outside of your little bubble. For some this is travel, but it’s not universal. When I feel this way I sometimes catch up with friends who do not work in tech who have the least amount of intersection with what I do today and I ask about their lives and try to relate to them. If I have a bit more time, I go camping and stare at the trees.