Lately I've been feeling extremely burnt out, and struggle to find motivation to work. As a result, my performance has been slipping and I find myself working nights and weekends to try to meet deadlines. I realize this is a negative cycle that leads to more burnout, but I don't know how to stop at this point with so much work to do.
I haven't found what keeps me engaged and happy outside of work and I am considering quitting my job to travel for a few months. I have a decent amount of savings and can afford this. But I feel like I'm letting myself down by giving up a chance to build a career. I also fear that I'm just being weak because most burnout stories seem to involve people who have been working for a while.
I know there are less drastic options (e.g. taking a week or two off, switching teams) but at this point I feel I need a considerable amount of time off to just reset things.
Does anyone have experience quitting a job to reflect and recharge, especially early on in one's career? How did it turn out?
p.s I've tried therapy and it hasn't helped so far.
At a certain point you just have to block these people out. It takes real inner strength to do that frankly.
One thing I've found helpful is describing the break as a "sabbatical". I think that's helped me not only feel better about it, but also reframe it in my mind as a purposeful (notice I didn't say "goal oriented" or somesuch) departure from working.
As for worrying about your career, you need to ask yourself whether you can continue to do this nonstop for the next 30-50 years. If the answer is no (which I would expect would be obviously the case, given your present state). Then it's really of no consequence to your decisions.
What I mean is, to summarise, if your chosen career is unattainable without working nonstop for the next 30-50 years, then you're already screwed, and it's a fact you'll be forced to accept when you have a full blown breakdown. So you should take the break now before you do yourself further damage.
Otherwise, if a sabbatical to travel and recover is not a career ending move, then go for it and come back to building that accareer afterward.
There are people out there with 15 years of experience who are having a tough time getting a job.
Sometimes works sucks and we have to power through the burn-out phase. It's possible to make it through to the other side without taking a break. I've done it in the past, although it was a rough couple of years to deal with.
Therapy seems to be offered as this like ultimate solution to all problems, but it doesn't always work. There are other things you can try as well. What about a change of pace? Maybe a different project at work? What is it about work that has you burnt-out?