Burnout

I remember an old coworker of mine who was feeling like he was in a "hamster wheel". At the time it was a combination of things, we were working feature after feature but there were no defined milestones. You would rarely close the loop on anything and it felt like you were in a constant motion. At times I've seen ICs been challenged staying mentally engaged with long running projects, the more time goes by the harder it is to stay laser focused on delivery.

I always push my team to take breaks, unlike other managers I take note if someone does NOT take time off and encourage them to take a break. Someone on my team worked 6 months straight without taking a day off, we chatted about it and he started incorporating some longer weekends here and there to regain some sanity. Unsurprisingly, his productivity went up as he was quite refreshed after every break.

When you get in that foggy mental state where nothing seems to click, the first step is to recognize it's happening to you. Don't drag that along, go to step 2 and take a break. Get some rest. This often comes not just by working tirelessly but from more stressful situations where (for example) the future of a team is unsure (e.g. some major tech layoffs in 2023), the future of a company is unsure, ... This can take a toll and it's important to recognize that it will affect your day-to-day.

Thoughts

Recharging your batteries is important, taking a walk is beneficial and sciences backs me up here. I don't think burnout only manifests as a result of long-running issues, sometimes it's caused by small repetitive frustrations. When you get that overwhelming feeling, take a deep breath and find a way to take care of yourself. Add dimensions to your life like a hobby, cooking, or simply spending more time with friends and family. I found joy with baking and apparently making cakes! I have to stay focused on my recipe so I tune everything out. Having a child is demanding but also a very good way to disconnect and dedicate some focused time to your kids, it's a wonderful feeling and good memories. Win-win!

Staying mentally healthy and rested will take you far, build the habits that will allow you to be your best self day in day out. Start with a regular sleeping routine and then try to slowly add more to your life outside of work.