HACKER Q&A
📣 annoyingcyclist

Can you recover from burnout without switching jobs?


I've been at my employer (unicorn startup) for several years now, and have worked myself to a staff+ role. I burned out pretty badly last year. I've been slowly coming back from that: a moderate workload, better separation between work and not-work hours, etc. I'm better now, but the enthusiasm/enjoyment I had before is totally gone, replaced with a knee-jerk cynicism/fatalism that I don't really like. All of my personal expectations for performance are also anchored at what I did at an unsustainable pace, which makes it hard to feel good about what I'm contributing now (I still get decent reviews even if I'm not a star performer anymore).

Separately, I feel like I'm in a rut. I've done more or less the same thing for a couple years now, and I've done all the growing I'm going to in that function. I'm aware of other opportunities within the org, but the lingering burnout/cynicism/fatalism make it hard to get excited about them.

My first reaction is to take a couple months as a breather, and get a fresh start at a new job; leaving baggage behind, hopefully not working myself to burnout again. Aside from burnout, I do really like my company, though – the people are fun, the product is interesting, the pay is good, etc. If I could confidently address the issues above without leaving, I would.

I'm curious if anyone has managed to turn around a situation like this without getting a new job. What did you do? If you switched projects/roles within the same company, was that enough of a reset? Did you end up staying for a while afterwards, or were you gone anyway in short order?

  👤 julienreszka Accepted Answer ✓
It is possible to recover from burnout without switching jobs, but it can be difficult. If you have burned out at your current job, it is important to take some time to recover. This may mean taking a break from work, reducing your workload, or making some changes to your work schedule. Once you have recovered, you may find it easier to stay at your current job or to switch to a new job.

Furthermore, if you feel like you are in a rut, it may be helpful to switch projects or roles within your company. This can give you a fresh start and help you to find new motivation. If you do switch jobs, it is important to make sure that you are not simply running from your problems. Make sure that you take the time to assess your situation and that you are making a decision that is best for you.

In conclusion, recovering from burnout and finding motivation can be difficult, but it is possible to do without switching jobs. If you feel like you need a change, consider switching projects or roles within your company.