What do you do if your IT career is draining your energy?

If your IT career is draining your energy, start by pinpointing the causes of burnout, such as excessive workload or lack of fulfillment. Address these by setting boundaries, delegating tasks, and negotiating workload adjustments. Prioritize self-care through exercise, hobbies, and rest. Explore professional development or new roles within IT that better align with your passions to reignite your enthusiasm. Network for support and consider a career change if necessary, evaluating your skills and interests for a better fit. Actively managing your career and well-being is crucial in overcoming burnout and finding satisfaction in your professional life.

If your IT job drains your energy, approach it like a project. Firstly, assess the situation, identifying what tasks or aspects are causing the drain. Next, devise a plan of action, setting specific goals to address these issues. This might involve discussing workload concerns with your manager or seeking additional training or support. Implement your plan, making necessary adjustments along the way. Monitor your progress regularly and celebrate small victories. Finally, reflect on your experience, noting what strategies worked well and what could be improved for future projects. By treating your career concerns like a project, you can approach them systematically and effectively regain your energy and motivation.

A lot of people who work in tech also enjoy experimenting with tech in their free time. Sometimes you need to take a step back from doing so, and leave all tech related activities to working hours. This can help to create a separation between home and work.

En proyectos tecnológicos es más común de lo que se piensa que el tiempo se nos haga corto, y muchas veces con tal de avanzar más y más perdemos la noción de los límites que deberíamos poner. Algo que me ha funcionado es que a pesar de sentirme muy animado por un proyecto y querer avanzar cada vez más y más rápido, me desconecto totalmente por las tardes, estudio otros temas o simplemente tengo un hobby que me desestrese, puede ser deporte, algo de música o simplemente leer para que nuestro cerebro descanse y no nos genere una frustración laboral.

I cannot stress enough that you need to read Outlive by Peter Attia - it will change your life. We all need more energy, more motivation, just more. Very few of us put the effort into what we truly require to get what we want. Did you know that work productivity drops to the negative after a certain number of hours? That fatigue builds up, as measured by cortisol levels, and cannot be medicated away. You must find a way to "workout" everyday and that does not mean running only or lifting only. Find something you enjoy, that fits into your schedule, and commit to 5 weeks. Most things become habitual in that timeframe and this, more than anything else, will overcome your lack of energy.

Having a circle of friends/colleagues are the best way to attack problems or issues that would cause you to otherwise "pull your hair out." When faced with an obstacle, we as humans try to figure it out ourselves to the point where we are bordering insanity. If we seek help from our circle of friends/colleagues, we get multiple point of views regardless of background and experiences. This would be the spark that helps overcome many obstacles and brings us back to "homeostasis."