| Just like you, I started programming quite young (about 12 when I started) and last year, when I was 26, I was burned out on it for the first time. It started with me just getting my job done, but not really finding a lot of joy in it anymore and I'm sure the quality of what I did went down as well. A bit later, I stopped doing side-projects and didn't want to read anything related to it anymore for some time. It was around that time that I realised it's not my job, but the problem was me burning out (I just ended a stressful period in my personal life as well due to a family member passing away). My solution was to just 'allow' myself to _not_ do anything at home for some time and look for other things to keep myself busy. At first, if I wasn't doing something for side-projects I'd feel guilty, which was an unhealthy attitude. I started reading fiction (instead of non-fiction all the time) and bought a console for gaming - something I hadn't owned for a decade. Just so I wouldn't be in front of my computer after work, I also took a holiday for a few weeks. Eventually I started to miss my side-projects, though it actually took a few months before I'd really get into them again. Now I'm only really just getting out of it to be honest, but I'm did rediscover the fun of coding. I'm reading about it again, but alternate between fiction and non-fiction after each book, and I'm having fun programming both at home and at work [most days ;)] So maybe, as other posters said, you are suffering from (the beginning of) a burn-out. It sucks, but it's not forever. |