Surviving Burnout in the Tech Industry
Over the years, I've had the privilege - and the challenge - of carving out a career in the tech industry. It's a sector known for its innovation, dynamism, and potential for impact, yet it also has a darker side that's often swept under the rug: burnout. As someone who has faced this daunting experience twice, I want to shed light on the personal, mental, and physical toll it takes. In this piece, I'll share my journey through the highs and lows, explore the implications of a work culture that often prioritizes output over well-being, and delve into how we can find resilience amidst the disillusionment.
As a seasoned professional in the tech industry, I've experienced burnout not once, but twice. This second time, however, feels far more severe. Perhaps it’s the cumulative toll of my 25-year career, or the past decade spent performing repetitive tasks in the same role. Or perhaps it’s the stifling effect of the bureaucracy, egos, and personal issues inherent in the sector I work in.
What was once a passion, a craft at which I excelled, now feels reduced to the mundane by endless frustration. Colleagues used to seek me out for my innovative problem-solving abilities, my tendency to color outside the lines. These were the instances that ignited a sense of achievement within me. I derived genuine satisfaction from building solutions that addressed problems, improved efficiency, or simply made life easier. Technology, after all, exists to enhance our lives - to make things faster, more productive, more streamlined. When it falls short of these goals, that’s when you find yourself in a pit of disillusionment.
Today, I often feel as though my work is just ticking off binary tasks. The creativity, once a hallmark of my career, feels like it's been bludgeoned out of me through years of trying to appease the wrong people for the wrong reasons. I yearn for the days when, at the end of a workday, I felt like I had made a difference – to the world, the company, or an individual’s life – with my efforts. Those moments now seem like distant memories, fading in the rearview mirror of my current station.
So, how does one combat this creeping sense of burnout? Well, for me, it's about finding compensation in other areas of my life. If my job won't permit me the creative outlet I crave, I'll find it in my free time. I've turned to photography, music, and writing as avenues for this creative expression. I refuse to let burnout stifle my creativity; instead, I channel it into these pursuits with a fierce determination that borders on defiance. My message to burnout? You may affect one part of my life, but you will not take my creative spirit.
The tech industry needs to understand that burnout isn't a personal failing. It's a systemic issue that needs to be addressed for the betterment of all within its realm. And while we fight for this change, we can also seek solace and strength in our personal endeavors, maintaining our mental and emotional well-being, even in the face of adversity.
When younger people approach me for advice about venturing into this field, my response is brutally honest: "It pays well, but it can also be a soul-draining profession." Over the years, I've built an array of things from houses to communication towers and motorcycles. There's not much that I haven't tackled successfully, with the exception of a banjo—but that's a story for another time.
There have been moments when I've contemplated abandoning my 25-year career just for the sake of a single, liberating breath. However, let's not just focus on the mental aspect of burnout. There's a physical toll to be considered too. Sitting all day is a lethal lifestyle! Long work hours often lead to skipped meals and a deficiency of sunlight, assuming you even have the mental energy to do anything outdoors after your workday. Some evenings, I feel so drained, I could pass as a convincing extra on 'The Walking Dead'. That's how exhausting it can be.
Life is all about balance. If you can't find that equilibrium within your immediate environment, it's time to reconsider what is in your orbit. Make time for yourself. Ignore the allure of that promotion or raise if it compromises your well-being. Remember, time is the one thing you can never regain. And if you're worried about losing your job over this, let go of that fear. After all, you were looking for a job when you found this one.
While I haven’t figured it all out yet, I've recognized a need for change and am taking steps, however small, to pull myself out of the ruts that keep me stuck. This is part of the human condition—we're imperfect, diverse, and fallible. What works for me might not work for you, or it might not even work at all. But the key is to try, to experiment, and to be open to learning from our experiences.
