Ever been burnt out?

W Stewart · April 2014

For the past month, I've been feeling a little burnt out with the whole IT thing. Not just work, I mean completing my bachelors at WGU, my computer at home and everything. I suspect it's at least partially because I tend to immerse myself so deep in anything that I get involved in.

The situation I found myself in and am still in was working at a NOC with enough downtime to drive me crazy. What's worse is I got put on the other half of the week where there's even less going on. I've been using the downtime to finish school and occasionally do labs but I'm not the most patient person so that only gets me so far.

Just a month ago I was looking at other job opportunities and actually getting callbacks and interviews for better paying jobs. I had just completed my CCNA security and got an offer from a managed security provider for a security operations specialist position. The pay was slightly less than what I make now but was a much better opportunity to make more money in the future. I've been in a similar situation before and took the lower paying job which got me to the point I'm at now but at the last minute I decided that a job change wasn't the right move just yet. I decided I'd stay where I'm at and at least try to finish school first.

I don't know what it was but something happened after I made that decision and I just completely lost my motivation at work. I sold myself in the interview as the guy who didn't want to sit around watching netflix all day and then all of a sudden I was comfortable with all of the extra free time at work. I've still never been able to bring myself to watch netflix at work but my quality of work was definitely slipping and I found myself feeling like I was being inconvenienced any time real work needed to be done. Not sure if I was really burnt out or turning down that opportunity killed my motivation.

Maybe I just needed to take a month off or something because now I'm ready to start focusing on school and my career again but I'm still right back to where I was hating all of the extra downtime(12 hour shift btw). If nothing else, that little burn out period has motivated me to finish these last few classes at WGU and then start looking to move up whether at this company or somewhere else.

Now that I think about it, I haven't been on this board in awhile either. It's good to be back in more ways than one.

chopsticks · April 2014

yeah I think it's common to most of us. At times I do have the same feeling like yours. What I do is to back off from everything I'm doing and take a break. I will first have some good good sleeps without worrying things that I have to worry. I will also go for some good movies, get my butt off the ground to do some exercises, read some story books and anything that I normally do not have the time to do.

This retreat period usually last about a week or so, then I'm back and fully recharged. Then things get going again.

Cert Poor · April 2014

I've been burnt out before, but it was the opposite situation: working a million hours a week, sometimes staying past midnight while the entire office building was dark and empty, VPNing past midnight and every evening/weekend/vacation. There was enough workload to work 24/7 and still be behind, and because of this volume, there was literally zero downtime. I would kill for a job with some semblance of downtime -- then I could study at work and get paid to do so! What a joy that would be. I may look into a NOC position thanks to your experience.

I guess we're wired differently.

Regardless, best of luck on completing your degree and finding a job that satisfies you and doesn't burn you out or drive you crazy with boredom.

mikeybikes · April 2014

I completely understand being burnt out. I've been there.

When my wife was pregnant with our first child, I was working desktop support and was being paid very well for what I did. The position also came with a high level of bullcrap to deal with on a daily basis. It got to the point where I was ready to look for a new job but felt I couldn't. I had enough time at the position to afford a month off after my son was born with enough PTO for two weeks, and health insurance, while not a great plan, was paid for.

I felt like I was stuck.

What got me through it was focusing on the positive aspects of my job and centering my time-energy on those. The other, less enjoyable aspects of my job fell by the wayside for a couple months until I got my motivation back.

daviddws · April 2014

I feel your pain. The two extremes you don't want in a job are sitting around bored trying to look busy or working your tail off! My current job I have alot of downtime, so I take advantage and cert up, but it does get old!

gbdavidx · April 2014

time to move on? how long have you been there?

ande0255 · April 2014

I had a job where I literally had nothing to do when I wasn't on the phone, and I absolutely hated it. I wasn't studying more certs at the time cause my CCNA was getting me nowhere and I was MAJORLY burnt out on the entire idea of IT.

I'd move out of that job ASAP, as hating what you do for a living sucks, and I wouldn't let other opportunities pass by. I set my career back years not taking risks and opportunities with new jobs, and though I regret it, I finally took a gamble on a new job 5-6 months ago and by far the best thing I've ever done for my career.

Iristheangel · April 2014

I'm suffering from burnout at the moment: too many hours, understaffed department, wasn't learning/trying anything new, and juggling too many plates at once. Lots of unfortunate circumstances in the last few months that changed my job from the best job ever to a place I couldn't get away from. I still enjoyed IT and studying but I wasn't getting enough time to study. I'm in the middle of fixing it by jumping ship to a better job where I'll learn more

paul78 · April 2014

Every couple of years, I will get that burnt out feeling about my career/job/profession and begin to lose motivation with the daily grind and anxiety about the future. I don't know if it's normal but I've definitely encountered it several times in the last 20-25 years.

That feeling can last a day, a week, or a month. Usually, it's because of long hours or just feeling unfulfilled.

For me, to get out of that rut, I need to compartmentalize my work from the rest of my family life and just hunker down. Usually, I find that a change of scenery in a job will help. Sometimes, it finding a new project that will energize me.

It sounds like you are dealing well with it and taking all the right actions - I.e. finishing school, interviewing.

My only advice is that it will pass. And it will probably happen again in the future,

Best of luck to you as you weather this period.

W Stewart · April 2014

gbdavidx wrote: »

time to move on? how long have you been there?

about a year and a half. I'm starting to regret passing up on that opportunity. Wish I could have told them to give me a month to think on it or something.

Polynomial · April 2014

Yes. There was no growth potential in my previous position so I got a new (rather incredible for me) job.

It took 3 months but its reinvigorated me as a person. I am not the same person I was 3 months ago.

keenon · April 2014

yep, i did as well. had a major one lost alot of time but did learn alot on that hiatus .. unfortunate thing was ie lab went from v3 to v4 and now looking at v5 instead of having a 20k number i will end up with a 40k .. but an ie is an ie

ccnpninja · April 2014

Iristheangel wrote: »

I'm suffering from burnout at the moment: too many hours, understaffed department, wasn't learning/trying anything new, and juggling too many plates at once. Lots of unfortunate circumstances in the last few months that changed my job from the best job ever to a place I couldn't get away from. I still enjoyed IT and studying but I wasn't getting enough time to study. I'm in the middle of fixing it by jumping ship to a better job where I'll learn more

Same situation here. But I seized the "opportunity" to fix other areas of my life, like working out and rearranging my life priorities.

LionelTeo · April 2014

Yes I got a break down and almost suicide

Here is a breakdown of what happen
Work
Study on the way home
Study at home
Study on a way to work
Work
Study on the way home
Study on the way to meet gf
Gf scolded me
Study on the way to work
Work
Etc.

Now there is insane, I would recommend to insert some games in between.

100k · April 2014

LionelTeo wrote: »

Yes I got a break down and almost suicide

Here is a breakdown of what happen
Work
Study on the way home
Study at home
Study on a way to work
Work
Study on the way home
Study on the way to meet gf
Gf scolded me
Study on the way to work
Work
Etc.

Now there is insane, I would recommend to insert some games in between.

Mine is the about the same but I schedule 2 hours a day for gaming, League of Legends. Keeps me sane and relaxes the mind I find.

daviddws · April 2014

I agree 100k. Gaming keeps me sane as well, even if its only 30 minutes a day. If I play a game such as CoD I usually feel totally calm afterwards. My wife does not get it at all lol.

lsud00d · April 2014

I recently took a hiatus from computer gaming (a fellow LoL'er here, also FPS's) and have focused more time on going to the gym, being outside, playing music, and reading. Sitting at a computer all day to come home sitting at a computer just took its toll.

We've all been there @W Stewart, just keep your goals in sight and knock them out one at a time. Things unfold the way they do for a reason, often to better effect...insert patience is a virtue here.

chrisone · April 2014

daviddws wrote: »

I agree 100k. Gaming keeps me sane as well, even if its only 30 minutes a day. If I play a game such as CoD I usually feel totally calm afterwards. My wife does not get it at all lol.

Yeah I agree, 100k+ would keep me sane too hahaha Gaming can get you a little stressed out too if your raging when you lose lol

tcoppinger · April 2014

I was severely burned out after 13 years of programming. I changed jobs to testing, back to programming, and now pm/oversight. I like moving around in the different IT fields. I spend one year certifying and the next year I will build wood boats. I keep rotating the education so I don't get burned out, and I get to maintain my man-card.

Hypntick · April 2014

Iristheangel wrote: »

I'm suffering from burnout at the moment: too many hours, understaffed department, wasn't learning/trying anything new, and juggling too many plates at once.

Riding out my two week notice right now. Was exactly where you were, still kind of am until next Thursday, but it's not as stressful now. Just a little awkward. Good luck on the hunt, I know with your skills you'll find something amazing.

NetwrkRaynzz · April 2014

The world of IT is always learning and changing and its always good to take a vacation and then come back to it refreshed. Best of luck.

Regards,

Params7 · April 2014

I'm in the same position. I immigrated to the US, spent 5 years just commuting to college and finishing my degree. As soon as I graduated I starting working for a start up MSP that had no management, just a CEO who saw college grads as something to milk, company has a turn over rate. Did what I could there, spent more than a year (most leave early), then took another job. Now I'm working for an amazing independent software vendor, this organization has been growing even through the recession, but I just can't work anymore. I can't learn. Im just burned out. I'm thinking I'll just resign soon, go back, chill for a month or two, come back, study for certs when I'm recharged and try again.

rht · April 2014

I am currently burned out studying for 70-680, the GUI is click click clink & more clicking

... boring boring boring! i am thinking of getting linux+ when am done with MCSA win7. I was so bored i actually took a 7 day holiday a month early and traveled to a beach resort an hour away

. I should be back in 2 days fresh & feeling better, hopefully i don't get bored again and leave the whole exam aside.

I am also thinking of working out like i do every year for a few months, that should keep the pressure off!

darkerz · April 2014

I'm going through this right now, it's so strange - after 5 years, I never thought it would happen.

I've been going to the gym much more and trying new things at work.

"Sure, I've never used VMWare but it sounds like I can configure a cluster with 1000 vm hosts!"
"Sure, I've never setup a Redhat server nor configured SFTP, Open SSH, CUPS & NFS but I'll do it!"
"Sure, I've never used Powershell but I'll find a way to automate tasks A,B,C"

I don't know if I made my burnout worse or better.

abramsgunner · April 2014

World of Tanks... and tequila..

Did I mention we only get one week of vacation a year.... because we have too much work to do!? ...sigh

TheChameleon · April 2014

I do COD but a few people keep telling me about WOT.

Personally I'm constantly burned out, literally one year flows into the next in a never ending sea, tornadoes, tsunamis, hurricanes, flash floods of work and projects, weekends and stress and too many people that are in line to be your boss and do none of the work! Then you have a boss that sleeps in their office and acts like you don't do anything and you make to much. I work while on vacation, I work on holidays, I work from home, the car, the mall and systems and Email might as well be implanted in my brain! I can't do anything for fear that the next call or issue is coming.

For once in many years I'm forcing myself to get some certs to simply keep up with everyone else thought I have some experience. I'm tired of not being allowed to train and being worked until I die.

When I get 10-30 minutes at night, COD is the only thing that keeps my head from exploding from stress and luckily I'm not bad at COD or I would probably need Tequila also!

So if anyone is burned out from doing too little, please!

abramsgunner wrote: »

World of Tanks... and tequila..

Did I mention we only get one week of vacation a year.... because we have too much work to do!? ...sigh

W Stewart · April 2014

Well it looks like I've got two offers for either a Linux Admin position or a telephony/linux admin position so I'll post something after I make the decision of which one to accept. I'm glad to be moving on into a role where I can actually use all of the crap my brain is filled with.

Blackout · April 2014

I try and stay away from anything related to technology outside of work. I play football in the backyard with my Son, or I Work on my lawn. DIY projects around the house. Or I BBQ. I do occasionally play Titanfall or Plants Vs Zombies. But I try not to focus on work related stuffs.

kohr-ah · April 2014

Unfortunately yes. I still feel burnt out.
My case was
* Studying for my CCNP looking for new work.
* Found new work - Still working on CCNP - New work relocated and had to find a new job quickly
* New job found (Contract) - Finished CCNP - Told contract is going to end soon and paniced over that. Network jobs were very very slim for the suburbs -> Ended up staying here because they offered good pay and a job is a job at this point and it is at least somewhat networking related.

Now when I go home I occasionally game if my little one is a sleep and the Mrs is watching TV (like a quick match or 2 of titan fall or something) otherwise I spend all my time with my family and try to read non-IT books and exercise more.

VikingWarlord · April 2014

I know the burnout feeling well and am dealing with it right now. Three of the four years I've been with my company have been in the same position. Although I'm considered a top SME and I get paid very well here, there just isn't any more opportunity for growth, considering I got passed over for another position within the company I applied for.

The up side is that my wife got a very prestigious job in the DC Metro area that she starts on June 30, so we're moving and I have no choice but to make a change. Until then, I'll continue de-stressing by deadlifting, watching hockey, and enjoying my bourbon and cigars.

TheChameleon · May 2014

Hopefully she got "prestigious" salary too! DC Metro area is expensive. Houses are 350-800k+ and can go in the millions. High taxes, food, gas, utilities, healthcare, insurance, daycare and in general all prices.

Welcome to the neighborhood!

VikingWarlord wrote: »

The up side is that my wife got a very prestigious job in the DC Metro area that she starts on June 30, so we're moving and I have no choice but to make a change.

Ever been burnt out?

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