Battling Burnout as a Software Developer 
Tags: burnout, softwaredeveloper
Published: 2019-09-25 05:43:18

---
title: Battling Burnout as a Software Developer 
published: true
description: You’re a software developer. You love your job – in fact, you consider programming and coding to be your greatest passions in life. 
tags: Burnout, Software Developer
---

<p>You’re a software developer. You love your job – in fact, you consider programming and coding to be your greatest passions in life. </p>

<p>However, recently, you’ve felt a little… stuck. You aren’t getting enough sleep. You’re skipping meals. You lack motivation. Ideas aren’t flowing as clearly and rapidly as they usually do. </p>

<p>If any of these statements currently describes you, you might be experiencing burnout. Don’t panic – software development reports a higher burnout amount than practically any other field. What you are experiencing is a normal feeling which every software developer undergoes at some point in their career. </p>

<p>Once you’ve identified burnout, it’s time to fight back That “stuck” feeling, if left on its own, can persist and cause both your career and life to stagnate. Be proactive and adopt healthy coping strategies for battling burnout TODAY! </p>

 <h2>Check in With Your Coach</h2>
<a href="https://imgur.com/MK4INig"><img src="https://i.imgur.com/MK4INig.jpg" title="source: imgur.com" /></a>
<p>When it comes to fighting burnout, a business coach makes a valuable ally. This experienced professional has been through periods of burnout in their own career, and will be able to offer you valuable advice for getting through even the darkest times. </p>

<p>If you don’t currently have a coach, it’s time to seek one out - but look no further, as <a href="https://upskillcoach.com/" target="_blank">Upskill Coach</a> is the place to go. They can help with every stage of burnout, from noticing early signs to pulling you out of the darkest, unmotivated depths. Plus, a coach can assist you with many other steps in this guide, such as maintaining a regular schedule, strengthening your skills and keeping a positive, self-focused mindset! </p>

<h2>… And with Yourself, Too! </h2>

<p>Of course, it’s also important to learn how to detect signs of burnout in yourself. Take time every single day to do a “check-in” with your own brain. Shut off your electronics, disconnect, and ask yourself questions such as: </p>

<p>- How am I feeling right now? </p>
<p>- Do I feel like I had a productive day? </p>
<p>- If I didn’t, what do I feel went wrong? </p>

<p>This increased self-awareness will help you recognize even the earliest stages of burnout and take preventative action before things get too bad. Plus, speaking to friends, family or other members of your support network about your feelings will get a lot less stressful and intimidating! </p>

<h2>Return to Regular Hours </h2>

<p><a href="https://dev.to/jamesmh/the-stages-of-your-software-development-career-2dd" target="_blank">Software development</a> is an extremely flexible field which allows you to take your work anywhere – often with the help of just a simple laptop. However, that isn’t always a good thing. </p>

<p>A flexible work schedule can leave you feeling as though there is no longer a dividing line between your work and your out-of-office life. If you are experiencing this, try returning to a regular schedule for a few weeks. It doesn’t have to be a “standard” 9-5, but you should establish clearly delineated hours for “work” and “not work”. </p>

<h2>Get Out from Behind the Screen </h2>

<p>Once you’ve made that distinction in your schedule, start using the non-work hours for self-development activities – particularly those which don’t involve sitting at your computer. </p>

<p>Unfortunately, far too many software developers turn even their free time into “screen time,” totally neglecting the world around them. This isn’t good – natural light, exercise, and regular eating and sleeping are major anti-burnout weapons! </p>

<p>Spend your free time exercising, pursuing hobbies, or meeting up with friends outside of the workplace. Also, focus on getting plenty of sleep – you’re less likely to burn out if you are well-rested! </p>

<h2>Try Something Brand New </h2>

<p>Software development is an exciting, dynamic job – well, most of the time. Sometimes, you find yourself getting caught up in extremely dull, repetitive tasks while working on a single project or piece of code. </p>

<p>When you notice your workdays are getting repetitive, make sure to spice up your free time by learning or trying something new. This can be a job-related skill, a hobby you’ve always been interested in, or even trying out a new restaurant. Engaging in lots of varied activities keeps your brain alert and eager and prevents falling into the “same old patterns”. </p>

<h2>Don’t Get Caught Up in Competition </h2>

<p>Lastly, while it’s important to remain focused on self-development and reaching personal goals, you should try your best to avoid comparing yourself to or “competing with” others. Yes, software development is a competitive field, but constantly pitting yourself against coworkers – even just within your own brain – can lead to the development of an extremely unhealthy mindset. </p>

<p>Thinking of work as a competition results in feeling that “nothing you do is good enough” or that you are somehow “lesser” than your coworkers. This, in turn, leads to decreased productivity and an increase in negative thoughts. Thoughts like “what’s the point?” are the gateway to burnout. </p>

<p>Maybe you’ve experienced burnout several times before. Perhaps you are just starting to notice the signs for the first time. Wherever you are, however you are currently feeling, just remember – it’s never too late to start battling burnout! </p>