How to get more work done without BURNING yourself out

Table of contents:

• What is burnout?
• Signs that you are burned out and not just stressed
• How to avoid burnout?
• How to deal with it?

What is burnout?

Burnout or tech burnout refers to the extreme exhaustion and stress as a developer such that you no longer enjoy coding. It happens when you are subjected to chronic stress. It leads to a considerable loss in productivity at your job.

Signs that you are burned out and not just stressed

• Lack of energy

It can be challenging to identify a burnout in its early stages because it can be concealed by frequent conversations with coworkers or extra coffee breaks.

When working on a delicate project, a software engineer who is running low on energy will frequently stare blankly, be lost in thought, or even feel sleepy.

If your software team starts to display this pattern more frequently, it may be a sign that you have an overworked team member

• Declined productivity

A developer who is burnt out frequently submits code that is rife with errors.

Because they did not effectively manage their time, they frequently missed deadlines or had to work overtime to complete very simple functions.

If you or your teammate is experiencing this, it's important to find a solution asap.

• Pessimistic outlook in general

If you observe that you have been impatient, negative, and fleeing from coding, this might also be a symptom of burnout.

You also procrastinate more often.

You might end up in arguments with your co-workers or family members for reckless reasons.

• Physical symptoms

You may also notice physical symptoms like -

1. High BP
2. Depression and anxiety
3. Diabetes
4. Hypertension
5. Excessive sweating
6. Insomnia
7. Fatigue
8. Low immunity
9. Other diseases

Once burnout starts affecting your health, it is very important to take a step back and take immediate action. Don't wait until you get hospitalized. Good health always precedes everything.

How to avoid burnout?

• Plan properly

For this task, you can use Developer Diary, the minimalist progress-tracking and journaling app by Invide.

• Pair programming
• Have a healthy work-life balance
• Pay attention to physical and mental health
• Exercise, eat properly, and get enough sleep
• Take breaks

To ensure that you take breaks regularly while coding, you could use the Pomodoro Technique.

• Find other hobbies

You could look for other activities that help you calm yourself, it could something very simple as sketching, painting, baking, or bee-keeping.

How to deal with it?

• Visit a doctor to deal with physical health problems
• Go for a day-out
• If a short day-out doesn't help, take a long vacation 🏖️
• Do other activities to take your mind off of coding
• Try a different tech stack

For more:

• Read my other blogs on how to finish work at sharp 5 PM every day and imposter syndrome.
• For more productivity tips and tools, click here.