[hayst4ck]

This might be seen as glib, but this is actually real solid technical advice.

We are machines that require social connections to function. If you want to spend 5 years sprinting and burnout, go ahead and do that, but if you want to build a career and run the career marathon, you really need to build a foundation upon which you can grow.

Spending all of your time on technical pursuits will come at the cost of social pursuits, and that absolutely leads to being burned out and a stalled career.

[anon50118810]

If OP is young, like in their early 20s, then this is the time to focus on career. They have lots of energy and their age won't be held against them as a junior. Most of their social peers will be moving around constantly and uninterested in settling down. All of OP's softball pals or whatever will move away or start families and fall out of touch no matter what OP does. Much better to enter your 30s with a rock solid career than with a weak career and friends you never see.