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by kirubakaran 2851 days ago
> you don't just "switch jobs or industries, or do something else" on a whim when you've become burned out

IMHO That's not at all what they're saying. I think they're suggesting making changes long before that, when one hasn't burned out but feels that it is just a matter of time. As far as general suggestion goes (i.e. not directed at you, though it was a reply to you; this is a public forum after all, so you're essentially a stand-in for a wider group of people), I think they're spot on. It may not be relevant to you specifically, since we don't know the details of your situation.
1 comments
toomuchtodo 2851 days ago
Hey, maybe I've got a blind spot in my thinking. How do you predict that you're going to burn out? It's clear it's an issue in the tech industry based on statistical data (see my above reply citation that almost 60% of tech workers are experiencing burnout), so people are not anticipating it and moving out of tech into less stressful careers, or for whatever reason, they can't move out of tech even if they're already burned out.

Having seen others burn out in both startups and enterprises, in and out of tech, my opinion is that the advice of the person I responded to is not sound.

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kirubakaran 2851 days ago
I don't have a good general answer. But for me personally, when I show early signs of learned helplessness and chronic stress, I need to make changes before I hit the inflection point, or I end up paying a great price. I agree that not everyone has the means to make significant changes to their life.
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toomuchtodo 2851 days ago
I appreciate the insight. Please don't misunderstand me: I'm not here to gripe, I'm advocating for mental health and wellbeing. None of this work is going to matter when most of us is dead, and if I'd hazard a guess, it won't even matter five years from now. Take care of yourself first.
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mooreds 2851 days ago
> Take care of yourself first.

Very true!

I saw a video about Warren Buffet and he used the analogy of a car. What if you could buy any car you liked, but you only got one car for your life. How would you care for it?

Well, you only get one mind and body (so far as I know). I try to take as good care as I would if I only had one car.

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