[kierantie]

Hey everyone - thanks so much for reading! Burnout and depression is a topic that not enough of us talk about, even though that's often the best solution.

If you know anyone struggling with burnout or depression, or you just enjoyed my article, I'd be forever grateful if you'd share it with them on Twitter or Facebook, to help spread the word. Thanks so much!

[moron4hire]

> Burnout and depression is a topic that not enough of us talk about

You know, I get what you're saying, but I actually need to stop you here. Because honestly, we can't go two weeks without a post hitting the front page about someone's personal come-to-Jesus moment about burnout. We do talk about burnout and depression, a lot. And nobody learns.

Nobody learns and I don't think anyone will learn. In the 20 years I've been working in the tech industry, I've only seen things get worse. Workers get treated more like cattle every day. Creatives who become founders self-flagellate themselves even more. It's a sick, disgusting cycle, all built on a lie of "just work hard--never mind on what--and you will get your due", and it's one I think companies like Facebook and funds like Andreeson are encouraging so that they can have a constant churn of Jr Devs desperate to get started and Sr Devs desperate to put their lives back together after their own failed startups.

[elementalest]

Maybe its not so much that nobody learns, but that its something that is generally best learned through experience. Its hard to self assess and self deception is easy. So society keeps repeating the same mistakes, even though those who have experienced and learned from it are actually talking about it.

To me it seems much more like a societal/systemic problem - one that will not be easy to fix, especially with the increasing inequality and rise of automation. The demand for achievement and lifestyle upheld by society as something worthwhile to strive for (for happiness, fulfilment, recognition etc), just perpetuates the cycle and will be become harder to attain.

What are those to think/do who did not reach what society taught them they should want and have to be happy and fulfilled? These people put the effort in, but get nothing back. They get burnt out and depressed and even though they later talk about it, others cant understand as they don't have perspective and/or don't think it will happen to them. They are too busy burning themselves out chasing the goal.

I don't think there is a solution that doesn't involve a radical shift in society and work/life balance.

[darioush]

What you're describing is the norm in capitalist Western countries. Other societies have different "things to chase", basically the values of their cultures.

[olivermarks]

I'm very burnt out on the whole 'like and share' thing Kieran. Is the intent to productize your thoughts and advice? I thought it was an ok article but was turned off by the email harvesting to get your punch list.

'Work to live' rather than live to work is my credo...

[kierantie]

I have no intention to productize my thoughts on burnout - I just know that one of the things that helped me the most was reading other people's accounts of what they went through. It took me a lot of searching to find the help I needed - if, by sharing, I'm able to make that a little easier for a few others, then I'll be happy.

[DonbunEf7]

I've been in a state of burnout for a few years. Turns out that it's possible to just stop caring about anything. Kind of like how too-hot peppers make your mouth numb.

Thanks for writing, but I just don't care.

[leesalminen]

Fellow Coloradoan here. Just wanted to say thank you for writing this. I'm going through a very difficult time in my professional life and needed to read that. Thanks again!

[kierantie]

No problem - so glad it helped!

[lloeki]

Just wanted to say thank you as I can relate to every single word in that piece.