So, how are we doing?
My first post on DEV was in 2024 - almost two and a half years ago. There, I discussed the feeling that, by being "too old" and in the process of recovering from burnout, I was being left behind by tech. I didn't even know if I wanted to stay working with IT, and how I wanted that work to be. It's crazy how much has changed in my life since then. Some things improved a lot; some things got worse.…
The year is 2026, and the pace of technological advancement is becoming increasingly overwhelming. In the past two and a half years, the writer has witnessed a significant shift in the work landscape, feeling left behind by the rapid pace of change. AI is now a hot topic, and every new job demands knowledge of ever-evolving tools and techniques.
By January 2026, proficiency in n8n, automations, the best models, prompt engineering, and RAG is expected. By March 2026, familiarity with OpenClaw is necessary, and by May 2026, mastery of Claude Code is required. Agentic AI is already a buzzword, and the question arises: what will be the next big thing?
The writer, at a point in their career where they can maintain a distance from new trends, observes younger professionals experiencing the same feelings of being a fraud and the fear of being replaced. They see more and more of their peers expressing exhaustion and the need for a break. As September 2026 approaches, a month dedicated to discussing mental health, the writer wonders how others are coping with the constant pressure to stay updated and perform at their best.
They ask readers to reflect on their own well-being, hobbies that don't involve screens or being online, and the importance of having a support network to discuss their struggles.
Written by urgent.news from Dev.to's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
