You are not a software engineer: how I protect myself from burnout
Someone asked me at the end of a talk recently whether I'd ever burnt out. I said no. I put it down to still loving the work, and to communicating pressure rather than absorbing it, and we moved on to the next question. It was a true answer and a useless one. So I've spent a while since unpicking what I actually do, to see whether there's anything in there someone could use. Positive thinking…
A recent talk inquired whether the speaker had ever burned out, answering that they hadn't due to their passion for the work and effective communication of pressure instead of absorbing it. This answer, while true, felt inadequate. The speaker then reflected on their approach to prevent burnout, distinguishing between choices and circumstances.
Firstly, the speaker highlighted an anecdote of two friends: one who worked late nights on personal projects and another facing constant corporate pressure. The speaker reiterated the importance of communicating choices and seeking collaborative solutions with managers, emphasizing that some deadlines are non-negotiable and, if unmet, require a reassessment of one's situation.
The speaker also delved into the Stoic philosophy of Epictetus, which divides the world into two: what's within our control (our judgments and responses) and what's not (events themselves). According to Epictetus, suffering arises from how we judge events rather than the events themselves. Similarly, the concept of "happy" presented by Derren Brown emphasizes that a bad workplace isn't an attitude issue and that positive thinking alone won't change an uncollaborative manager.
The speaker concluded that identity should not be solely tied to one's profession, suggesting that when the joy of coding fades, it's a sign to stop pushing and take corrective actions. These actions may include adjusting what one volunteers for, the responses to work demands, and utilizing accrued leave to prevent burnout. The speaker advised checking in regularly and making small, controlled adjustments to avoid the need for drastic measures.
Written by urgent.news from Dev.to's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
