[dsg42]

This may be redundant advice based on what you've already done, but I would suggest you go on a 2+ week vacation. It's often easy, after being at a startup for a while, to not really feel like you can actually unplug completely, and it sounds like it's time for you to do that. A couple weeks away from everything will give you clarity on the situation, and you'll come back either refreshed and ready to work, or clear on the fact that you need a new job.

[sb8244]

What strategies do you take to be an active contributor to the situation while on vacation? Do you reflect on certain things, avoid others?

I'm wary against a physical solution (take a vacation) without advice on mental and emotional components that will need addressed over time. I believe a person will get into a cycle if they only use physical solutions to something which isn't that clear cut.

Taking a vacation isn't bad advice, but I'd be wary about doing so without the explicit goal to figure the situation out and not hoping it just happens

[dsg42]

The key point of taking a longer vacation is to do the exact opposite of what you just said - you have to truly, completely disconnect from the situation at work. What helps you do this best is different for different people. For some people the best way to do this is to go backpacking or hang out on a beach, for others its a couple weeks hanging out with their kids. My sister prefers to work on a project - usually knitting or sowing something - full time.

What this gives you is a fresh perspective when you get back. If it's time to move on, you'll be dreading coming back to work, thinking how stupid your project is or how much you hate your coworkers. Maybe you'll realize you're incredibly excited about something else.

Some people really need to journal to think their way through these things, but others just don't. Again, the process is totally individual. But I think you'll be surprised how much perspective you get removing yourself from the situation.

[CyberFonic]

I have done this 2+ week vacation approach. I basically chose to chill out and forget about work (as much as I could). When I got back, I was struck by the absurdity of the situation and quit soon after. Ever heard about the boiled frog analogy? You take a frog, put it into a pot of cold water and slowly turn the heat up. Being warm and cosy the poor thing doesn't realise that the water has gotten too hot until too late. Shuffling off to work is like that, you don't notice the slow increase in temperature until you are well done. Taking a vacation is like hopping out of the tepid water and then dipping a toe in later and realising just how hot the water has become.

[sb8244]

I think we just disagree a bit. Maybe a vacation is necessary but I am very skeptical that good long term answers come from it. It's hard to tell from OP post but I'm cautious against assuming good answers will just come at the end of it.