undefined | Better HN

0 pointsChrisMarshallNY10mo ago0 comments

I'm 63, and still actively shipping "side" projects (quoted, because now they are my "day job"). Been doing it for at least a couple of decades. Probably more like 30 years.

Here's what I'm working on, right now[0]. It's a major rewrite of an existing app, that's been submitted to the App Store, and will probably go "live" in a day or so (unless someone at Apple has an issue with it, which happens, from time to time. Annoying, but not the end of the world). I'm working on the README and code documentation, now (I'll put together a docc catalog, as well as a Jazzy Docs site, and the supporting pages[1]).

[0] https://github.com/RiftValleySoftware/ambiamara (Just a timer app, but a pretty good one).

[1] https://riftvalleysoftware.com/work/ios-apps/rival-t/

0 comments

cjbgkagh10mo ago

I’ve been doing my ‘side’ project as my day job for 5 years, 10 productive hours a day, 7 days a week. Sunday is dedicated to side side projects for experimental ideas that are not on the critical path.

When working a normal job I could only work part time due to burnout that I later found out was in reality ME/CFS. After a Covid vaccine injury (long covid) I had to pause work for a few years while I found a way to treat it. Once treated I elected to work on my side project even though I make much less money as I considerer the regular workforce to be highly dysfunctional and liable to cause me to relapse into a fatigued state.

90s_dev10mo ago

> burnout that I later found out was in reality ME/CFS

In my experience, burnout is really just a subconscious realization that what you're doing is just not worth doing, even for large amounts of money, and it manifests itself in fatigue or pain, because your mind is trying to stop you.

cjbgkagh10mo ago

100% not true in my case and probably not true in the generally case, it’s a common misattribution. The cause of mine is hEDS which has ME/CFS as a comorbidity. I’ve done a WGS and found that I have 2 TNXB SNPs. By my math a lot of ‘burnout’ especially in tech is related to TNXB or CYP21A2 SNPs. The treatments that I take specifically targets IL-1B cytokines that are linked to brain fog.

I was able to predict that I had these SNPs before taking the WGS test and once confirmed able to divise a treatment that worked. The probability of that happing by random chance is incredibly small.

3 more replies

ChrisMarshallNYOP10mo ago

In my case, I didn't know I was burned out, until after I was -literally- forced out of the industry.

I was really pissed off, for a while, but these days, I have zero desire to return to the Rodent Rally. I have been talking with a friend about a possible effort to create an altruistic organization. I have a couple of bored, rich, retired friends. May not go anywhere, but ya never know...

datameta10mo ago

I think what you're describing is well encapsulated by a term I heard a few days ago - boreout.

1 more reply

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse

0 pointsChrisMarshallNY10mo ago0 comments

I'm 63, and still actively shipping "side" projects (quoted, because now they are my "day job"). Been doing it for at least a couple of decades. Probably more like 30 years.

[0] https://github.com/RiftValleySoftware/ambiamara (Just a timer app, but a pretty good one).

[1] https://riftvalleysoftware.com/work/ios-apps/rival-t/

0 comments

cjbgkagh10mo ago

90s_dev10mo ago

> burnout that I later found out was in reality ME/CFS

cjbgkagh10mo ago

I was able to predict that I had these SNPs before taking the WGS test and once confirmed able to divise a treatment that worked. The probability of that happing by random chance is incredibly small.

3 more replies

ChrisMarshallNYOP10mo ago

In my case, I didn't know I was burned out, until after I was -literally- forced out of the industry.

datameta10mo ago

I think what you're describing is well encapsulated by a term I heard a few days ago - boreout.

1 more reply

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse