I refer to:
"35, lost interest in programming, system administration sucks, don't want to go in management. What to do?" question got more than 600 replies.
http://www.reddit.com/r/programming/comments/73vm8/35_lost_interest_in_programming_system/
genuine question regarding the same, looking for the real answers. any thoughts?
For software development being my 4th career, all I can say is follow your passion. Ask yourself, if stuck alone in a room for infinity, with any objects you need (even TV), what is the thing you would probably do for the rest of your life?
If you're not interested in programming, maybe it's time for a career change. Think about what it is that you really are interested in and perhaps take a few steps in that direction.
P.S. Vincent Van Gough only started painting at age 35. Turned out well for him (apart from the ear thing).
I think that this could also be the beginning of a real burn-out, or maybe a light depression. A physician or psychotherapist may be able to help you with that.
When I am feeling burnt out on programming, I just look at other aspects that I don't know. Learn some cryptography, compression, or even just a new language. Try a programming paradigm you have not yet used, a language you have always wanted to try out, or even a completely absurd language like Brainf*ck.
The first time that happened to me it was really rough. I spent several months wishing I had chosen a different career path. It really affected my productivity, which made me feel even worse. I eventually got through it by taking a month off and traveling through Europe on a Eurail pass with my wife.
Since then, every time I start getting burned out, I take a couple of weeks off and make sure I don't touch or think about computers that whole time. When I get back, my passion for programming comes flooding back in.
Try teaching. Everyone else here seems to think that a career change is what's necessary, but maybe teaching what you know will not only re-ignite what you love (if you got into the field because you loved it, obviously) but also be such a change of pace that you'll find teaching what you know more valuable than practicing what you know. The world needs more mentors, especially ones that have real experience.
Sometimes things in life are not as easy as they used to be. Unfortunately, as we grow older, this happens more often. Our body starts showing more defects. (And this process starts earlier as we wish, but we are ignoring those signs at first).
But as we grow older, our experience with things in life grows. As youngsters, we made mistakes alot but we also learned from them (at least i hope we have). And experience counters the physical effects of growing older for some time.
Growing old is not bad. Growing old and bitter is a shame. So the moment you find out that you are unhappy, try to find the cause and find a solution. Take your time, we developers are a creative kind of people, trained to find the most beautiful solution for all possible problems. And sometimes it is needed to debug your carreer or even your life.
Good luck!
I think there should be a balance in life. We (programmers) spend too much time in front of screens which is "more than normal" and this causes "Burn Outs". If we make proper distribution of time and do some other things besides programming like some community work, taking vacations, sports, some useful hobby, etc then this burnout phase will never occur.
There are different causes for burnout; each would be treated differently. Sometimes you can't be sure of the cause and will have to try multiple things.
First, you are just mentally tired. For this take a vacation (prefeably more than a week if you can swing it). Don't touch a cell phone or computer or other electronic device that ties you to work. Do something different (I went hiking in Utah) than your normal activities. Meditate daily during your time off. It helps clear your mind.
If that doesn't work, decide if you are burned out because you don't like your particular job or if you are tired of programming in general. Has it lost the challenge or are you just tired of fighting the bureaucracy or internal politics. If your particular job is no longer challenging or you are coming to hate the sight of your co-workers, look for another job. Doing something different in the same field may be all you need.
If you've come to hate programming in general, think long and hard about what it is that you don't like. Are you tired of continually having to upgrade your skillset? Are the puzzles no longer a challenge to solve? Are you working too many hours for no real benefit? If you can't see a way to continue in the field, can you find a related field that you might find interesting, teaching programming, converting from programming to bntetworking or database admin? If so, those career fields may be easier for you to get the skills and break into. If not, what do you want to do? Make a plan to go back to school and get the skills you need (or make a business plan if owning your own business appeals) to become a psychologist or archeologist or restaurant owner. Then work the plan.
Finally is it really burnout or depression? Depression will affect everything in your life. Is is hard to do the things you enjoy outside of work as well as at work? If so, you might talk to a pschiatrist and get screened for depression.
I'm not burnt out on programming, but I'm getting there with my job. There's just so much to do, and so much seems to depend on just me...
Luckily I've been given permission to hire a minion, so the game is changing a bit...
The key to have one's life energy and happiness back is to find what makes you feel successful. If you're burnt out you need to take a break as others already suggested, and think through what work makes you feel you've done something great. Get to really know yourself in this area, and in orther to do that, you need to experience a lot of different things (travelling is a good way to do that). For me, I feel successful in software development when a project finishes, and everybody is satisfied with what we have created. Maybe you find success in creating art, healing people etc.
Once you find what motivates you, go and tirelessly pursue it. It will pretty much suck to get there, but if you were correct about yourself before, you'll realize that it totally worth it. Enjoy happiness for the rest of your life. :)
Haven't recently experienced burnout, I really tried to focus on what was causing it. I found that it wasn't really programming or my career choice, it was more the environment I was in and how it was affecting my lifestyle.
Love what you do - and the moment you stop is the moment you should change. Life is too short to be doing something for 8 hours a day that you don't like.
I am right there, I love software engineering, programming, software management, but I am fed up with my current job, and it's been a slow path to "success":
My company was acquired, I got offer a good position, but then development was moved mostly to China, so I learned about offshoring, and still working fine, so much that a new project came to my hands, now working with Europe and China, still the project went fine (at least to start with), then a third one, in Wisconsin this time !!, so now I find myself working on a few interesting projects, across 5 timezones, where is just impossible to succesfully lead them all, not just manage the projects, but actively participate on them, on the architecture, on the detailed level, on the support, i.e. on the things that I love about the job.
My plan ? Well as others have said, the job is not just the job, is the environment, is the group of people you work with, is the company values, is looking forward to work instead of looking forward to the weekends... So do follow your passion, follow the people you admire, balance your life and work, after all is a whole lot of time that is spend on work, so you better enjoy it, of find one that you do... which is what I am planning to do as soon as the release is done.-
When I got burnt out I picked up circuit design and started making small electronic things. Eventually I wanted to connect what I had learned in circuits with programming. I rejuvenated my interest in programming. So did the pay. :-)
Next burn out, I am determined to get into studying the law. Family Law to be specific. Several divorces of persons close to me have really piqued my interest. And, it doesnt even look to be that there will be a shortage of clients in that field - nor can it be outsourced.
Everyone has their high-points and their low-points, its just a matter of how you deal with them that shows how dedicated you are to your work. If you generally love what you do then persevere; if not, then try something new.
I love the ideology behind computer programming, but after a short time of doing it commercially: I came to hate it. I tried to sit it out, hoping beyond all hope that maybe I'd get into a different project, or maybe I'd see the light.
I genuinely gave up on doing codework for a living... for now at least.
But that isnt to say that the time I spent was a complete waste. Having the skills to solve problems and to visualize ideas helps immensely in other careers.
I switched over to working on cars and the knowledge I brought over from my programming days are a life-saver.
Career change may be the answer, but how do you make a better choice than the first time around?
Career counseling, specifically Strong's Interest Inventory. One of my former employers offered it free, which is why I left them and went back to school for a CS degree. My university also offered it free, as do many others, I've found. Or you can pay to take it online.