Ask HN: Need career advice facing burnout?

[thrownawayy]

I can't seem to work 5 days a week, somedays I wake up and just decide I rather take a vacation or sick day than show up.

I just don't know how to cope.

Please advise on how you handled workplace burnout?

Thanks

[itamarst]

1. Take a long vacation. Spend some time talking to friends.

2. Figure out what you do want in a job. Personally I quite enjoy working, if it's the right work. But I still don't want to work 40 hours a week, so I work less when I can.

3. Try to get whatever it is you realized you want. (If shorter working hours turns out to be your thing, I've written a book about it: https://codewithoutrules.com/saneworkweek/).

This is also probably a good time to make sure you have lots of savings, in case you hit the point where you can't work and you have to quit without a plan.

[mbiondi]

Can you pivot and try to do something different within the same industry? Assuming you are currently working as a developer, try your hand at management / project management / sysadmin / etc? Working in a different aspect of the field you know well has worked for me in the past to help keep things fresh.

Alternatively, you might just need a break to give your head a rest. How long have you been in your current job?

[thrownawayy]

Im paid as a developer, but do mindless work that doesnt relate.

Also, Ive been at my job for about a year and a half.