[jaw]

At several points in my life I've been so discontent that I felt I had no choice but to try something that felt (at least to me at the time) drastic and risky. This has included:

- pursuing romantic interests that I knew could get complicated

- reaching out for emotional support in ways that made me feel embarrassed and vulnerable

- confessing suicidal thoughts to my doctor

- quitting my job and taking >1 year off work

- moving across the country with no job lined up and no long-term plan

I've never regretted any such decision; I think it's always had a major positive impact on my life. Because when I'm trapped in my routine the world can start to feel very small. To shatter that illusion and remind myself how wide the possibilities in life really are, it's often necessary to behave in some way that violates inhibitions I normally have.

So... taking a break from coding could be a great idea, especially if you can build up some savings first. It doesn't have to be forever (I took ~15 months off then got another software job). You don't have to plan the rest of your life - find a direction that looks promising for the next year or two, and adjust course again as needed after that.