Hacker News new | ask | show | jobs
by jareklupinski 1051 days ago
thinking about making a move towards management, for a similar reason: I really enjoy programming, but after slinging code for 8 hours at work, I can't justify working on my hobby projects when I come home anymore...

hoping that by using more of my "soft skills" and thinking about architecture at work, I'll be able to come home and work something like a solitaire solver without feeling like it's "non-productive"
4 comments
frabcus 1051 days ago
I think over the years it's healthy to switch back and forth between management and IC, and sometimes inbetween as a tech-lead manager.

Being recently hands on with the technology helps coach and assess reports and means you know the real situation of the software.

Being a manager, if you carve out enough space, lets you make a highly productive, happy, successful team, and sometimes you might be the best person to do that.

I think I'd find only doing one forever more a bit tiring!

link
BowBun 1050 days ago
Super funny, I went through the same swing.

I was able to eventually cool off on technical burn out as a manager and went back to working on some personal projects. Eventually though, sitting in meetings all day for 12+ months had the same mental effect and I lost motivation and burn out increased. I'm back as an IC now and balancing my time better.

I think the better solution may be to find a way to pace yourself at work so you aren't slinging code for 8 hours. It's unlikely many of your coworkers are doing the same. I think it's important to find a sustainable pace at work and to just say no to the rest. Hopefully your company supports that.

link
zgluck 1051 days ago
It will depend lots on the product/project. In my case the product we built went gangbusters for a decade. I ended up abusing/building Lego kits as form of mindless therapeutics while watching very-easy-to-digest sitcoms to wind down. I have quite the collection now.

Most products/projects aren't like that that though - but perhaps the pressure is still there?

link
pillefitz 1051 days ago
Funny, I thought the same before switching to a product role. Reality is, it's a lot more demanding than my previous engineering role and I do a lot less private coding than before.
link