Workplace Drama

Being 27 and having always admired my older brother, who has built a remarkable career, it’s hard to see him struggle to find motivation at work. He's always been the overachiever, the one with the Midas touch in the corporate world. But lately, he seems to have hit a plateau, and it's tearing him apart. He used to love his work, thrived on the challenges that came with being a senior VP at a major tech firm, and could always see the "bigger picture." But now, it’s almost as if he’s lost his "vision board." I'm genuinely at a loss trying to figure out how to motivate him, and I find myself questioning, have I ever been truly motivational myself? 🤔

I've always believed motivation is like that surge of adrenaline that propels you forward. However, it seems my brother has overdosed on it in the past, and now his reserves are empty. Should I remind him of the countless TED Talks we've watched, where experts such as Simon Sinek emphasize the importance of "starting with why"? Would that work, or is it too clichéd? I can't help but wonder what his "why" might be right now. Sharing personal stories can occasionally spark motivation, but whenever I start reminiscing about the days he would narrate how he closed million-dollar deals, he cringes. The memory probably feels like a distant dream. It makes me ponder, can we still ignite the same fire with mere recollections?

"Communication is key" is a phrase that rings in my head, akin to a mantra. But every time I attempt to broach this sensitive subject, he shrugs it off with a dismissive wave and changes the topic to movies or politics. It's puzzling because this isn't the brother I grew up looking up to; he wasn’t one to shy away from hard conversations. I once read in an article by Harvard Business Review that a supportive environment and professional coach could restore dwindling motivation, but suggesting that feels like walking on eggshells. How do you recommend such resources without making it seem like you’re overstepping? Do I suggest books instead? 📚

Perhaps the work-life balance equation needs reevaluating. My brother's career has been marked by unwavering dedication, sometimes at the cost of personal time. I recall instances where family get-togethers were subtly interrupted by work calls, and he pulled away into another room under the guise of "just one email." Reflecting on this makes me question, could this lack of personal downtime have compounded into a formidable barrier against motivation? Recent trends in workplace culture advocate for "mental health" days, and maybe I should encourage him to explore that avenue. But does one just "push pause" on responsibilities without feeling a sense of guilt or abandonment?

In facing such challenges, asking for advice seems natural, yet solutions aren't always clear-cut. Everyone has moments when motivation evaporates like a benign cloud on a breezy day; it’s just my brother hasn't experienced this before. I’ve read countless anecdotes of people who found their zest by exploring new hobbies or volunteering. Perhaps motivating others starts with oneself; sometimes, it’s all about nurturing an intrinsic motivation that circumvents external validation. As I endeavor to support him, I can't help but introspect — am I helping him unveil a hidden facet of his potential, or merely trying to reignite a spark that should burn of its own accord? So, dear reader, any thoughts on how you might navigate this delicate terrain of motivating someone who once knew no limits???

Huh I knew it they are watching me whatever I post here they are reading it 🙄🙄🙄

I've recently been asking myself why -the f*ck- am I so unmotivated? and, quite frankly, it's starting to bug me. I mean, I’m 32, and I feel like I should have it all figured out, yet here I am, stuck in this seemingly endless rut. one thing that always hits me is work. Like, seriously, what’s going on with work nowadays?! Year after year, I've watched as impossible deadlines have consumed my time and energy. It seems that the intensity only increases as I get older. Deadlines??? More like "dead-end lines" if you ask me. The pressure to perform and deliver feels crushing, and to top it all off, there’s this whole AI assistance thing now… It’s like I’ve forgotten how to do my job, and AI is just there to slap me in the face and remind me how inadequate I can feel.

Then there’s the future!!! It’s so uncertain. With AI doing everything these days, where do people like me fit in the grand scheme of things? 🤖 It's hard not to feel overshadowed. I remember when I started working - there was genuine excitement and purpose. But now? All I see are stacks of emails, projects that never seem to truly end, and an endless stream of tasks that just never fail to drain any ounce of enthusiasm I have left. How did we reach a point where human contribution feels diluted? Recently, I read a quote somewhere: "Technology is best when it brings people together." Well, sometimes it feels like technology is best when it sidelines people. 😟

When did AI become the new face of productivity and efficiency? I can’t deny its usefulness, sure, I mean, I’ve saved hours thanks to AI, but I can’t help but to remember a time when people were valued for their skills, not the speed at which they can get things done. I’m not saying I’m against progress, but there’s this nagging feeling that I’m just not cut out for the kind of change that’s happening. Am I wrong to feel this way??? I wonder if anyone else out there feels this looming sense of uncertainty about the future at work…

Sometimes, I think back to when things were simpler. A box of office supplies, a friendly chat with colleagues at the water cooler, and those celebratory Friday afternoons when everyone was excited for the weekend. There was a real sense of camaraderie back then. Nowadays? Everything’s just distant and digital. Is social interaction a thing of the past? 🫰 Maybe it's just one of those slumps that people go through in their lives, I don’t know. But all of this has made me really question not just the future of my career but what fulfillment means to me personally. After all, isn’t it possible that we’re supposed to navigate these transitions and uncertainties with grace and adaptability??? Or maybe, it’s truly time for a career change or a soul-searching sabbatical.

i’m 34 and honestly, i’ve put up with way too much crap at this job. harassment, gossip, constant side-eyes, and let’s not even talk about the disgusting comments from mark in accounting. my boss knows all of it. i told him straight up. twice. and what did he say? “oh, he’s just like that, don’t take it personally.” excuse me? the hell does that even mean? so now i’m done. i’m out. but here’s the kicker: i don’t even know how to say it. i want to walk in there, look him dead in the eye and say, “you failed.” because that’s what he did. he failed me. but how do you quit a job where the management doesn’t care about the people and just watches them drown? i keep drafting this email in my head and it always ends with “go to hell,” which is probably not HR-friendly, right?

anyway, i’ve been thinking back to all the little things. like the time i was working late and heard one of the guys say “she’s only here late to flirt with the boss.” what the actual hell. or how i wore a dress one day and someone asked if i was “trying to get promoted the old-fashioned way.” it’s been months of this garbage and not once did anyone step in. i even documented it. emails. screenshots. dates. times. nothing changed. my therapist told me, “you teach people how to treat you.” well, i guess i taught them i’m easy to ignore. not anymore. i’m not gonna play nice. but still, how do i tell him without flipping a desk? “dear boss, i’m leaving because you’re a coward and a spineless fraud who lets his team rot”? too much? maybe. but am i wrong?

maybe the right move is to just slide a letter across the table and bounce. no goodbye cake, no fake hugs, no pretending we’ll keep in touch on linkedin. just done. but there’s this tiny part of me that wants him to feel it, you know? to see that someone who gave their all decided it wasn’t worth it because he refused to grow a pair. if you know a better way to quit when you’re fuming and disgusted and exhausted, let me know; otherwise, i’ll just do it the way they deserve: quick, cold, and with zero explanation. maybe just one line: “you knew. you did nothing. i’m gone.”

so, i'm 23 and yeah, i have a driving license, but i just can't seem to get myself behind the wheel. it's like there's this invisible wall that i just can't break through. i know it's kinda silly, right? like, i went through all those driving lessons, spent all that time and money, and i can't even bring myself to drive. remember when you first got your license and felt all excited and free? well, let me tell ya, i didn't quite feel the same. the whole idea of controlling this huge hunk of metal freaks me out. it's a real bummer though 'cause not driving is kinda holding me back in other areas of life too. finding a job without being able to drive? that's like trying to catch fish without a fishing rod. you basically wave goodbye to any decent job that's not within walking distance or easily accessible by public transit.

i mean, i totally get it. people drive every day no biggie, right? but then my mind keeps running horror stories of accidents i've seen or heard about. cars skidding on icy roads, narrow misses, wild road rage. it just cranks up my anxiety sky-high. people often tell me, "oh, just go for a short drive, nothing to it!" but it's not that freaking easy, you know? sure, i've tried. there was this one time i managed to drive around the block. i was like, "whoa, look at me!" but then... panic city. palms sweaty, heart racing, you get the drift. i can't seem to break through it. do you ever feel like there's just this one thing that you can't get over no matter how much you try? sharing this in hopes someone out there gets it. maybe you had or have the same fear? i've heard of others overcoming it, so maybe there's still hope for me? any tips on getting over this scare would be super appreciated. thanks for hearing me out!

just been feeling completely drained lately, man. can't find the motivation to even get out of bed in the morning. i'm 37, you know, supposed to have my life together by now. but here i am, stuck in a job that doesn't excite me anymore. it's like i've hit a wall, and i can't seem to find a way over it. just lost all passion for what i do. ever happened to you? one day you're all fired up, and then, bam, it's gone.

i thought i was doing well for myself, but now, it's just a grind. everyday feels the same, nothing exciting or new coming my way. i used to look forward to tackling new challenges at work, but now it's just a chore. maybe it's the same old routine, or perhaps i've simply outgrown it. not sure what it is exactly, but it keeps bugging me. sometimes i wonder if it's time for a change, like a complete 180, you know?

guess i've started questioning what i'm really doing with my life. what happened to setting big goals, having dreams? seems like they vanished somewhere along the line. it wasn't always like this, though. used to be this guy who couldn't wait to jump into new projects, excited about every little victory. but now? just work, eat, sleep, repeat. i know, sounds a bit overdramatic, but it's genuinely how i feel these days. ever feel stuck in a rut, not knowing where to turn next?

so, i've been contemplating. do i need a new job, or is it something deeper? maybe it's not just about work. could it be that i'm dealing with some personal stuff too? who knows. all i know is that feeling unmotivated is frustrating. it's like i've got this constant cloud hanging over me, and i can't seem to shake it off. i've tried different things, like picking up new hobbies, but nothing seems to stick. they say it's part of life, but is it really supposed to feel this draining?

honestly, just needed to get this off my chest. i'm not expecting any magic answers or anything, but sometimes, sharing helps. just wish i could rediscover that fire, that push to keep going. anyway, thanks for hearing me out. maybe tomorrow will be different, maybe not. but i'll keep trying, and who knows, maybe something will click eventually. 🕳️

You know, I've always been a little awkward when it comes to talking to people, and now that I've started my first job at 22, you'd think I'd have figured it out by now. But no, socializing at work is still a mountain I struggle to climb, primarily because of my autism. It's like trying to decipher a language that I'm not entirely sure I understand, yet everyone else seems to speak it fluently. I see my coworkers engrossed in conversations about weekend plans, sharing memes, or even just working through the lunch break together, and I can't help but feel like an outsider looking in. I genuinely want to be part of this camaraderie, to share a laugh over a coffee run or engage in small talk like it's second nature. But man, sometimes it just feels like an insurmountable hurdle. Have you ever tried to speak up in a meeting, only to overthink every word and end up saying nothing at all? That's me most days. I remember reading somewhere that "conversation is an art that can be learned," and I'm holding onto that hope like it's my lifeline; it's about baby steps, right?

Yet, beyond my apprehensions, I've had moments that give me a glimmer of hope, little anecdotes that remind me that I can do this. Just the other day, I saw an opportunity while we were in the break room. They were talking about a Netflix series I've actually seen—one of those rare moments where my nerdy interests intersect with more mainstream ones. So, I dove in, cracking a joke about a twist from the show, and to my surprise, they actually laughed—genuine laughter, not just the polite kind. It was one of those small victories that can make a guy's entire week. I mean, who'd have thought that my encyclopedic knowledge of a Netflix plot would become my inroad into a conversation? Still, I'm trying to find more of those moments, where I can contribute something that doesn't feel forced or rehearsed. It's all about finding that sweet spot between contribution and comfort without feeling like a deer caught in the headlights of social interaction. Sometimes, I wonder if it's worth it to stress over fitting in when one of my favorite quotes by Maya Angelou is "If you don't like something, change it. If you can't change it, change your attitude." Maybe that's a hint that I need to adapt my own viewpoint rather than stress over societal norms, you know?

you know, at 50, one imagines life with a bit more zest. instead, i find myself clocking in to a job where i literally have nothing to do. "getting paid to do nothing" is, strangely enough, as dreary as it sounds. don't get me wrong, i appreciate the paycheck arriving steadily at my bank every two weeks like clockwork, but, man, can you believe the drag of it? when you're expected to produce, to innovate, you feel like a cog in a productive machine. but here, it’s like waiting for a bus that never comes, you know? a project deadline that's perpetually "in-progress," that’s my life now. i've got all the time in the world to binge-watch every show on Netflix or memorize entire catalogues of podcasts, yet—spoiler alert—it does not fill the void.

ever tried to detail your productivity in a team meeting, while knowing you have zilch to show? i sit there, nodding my head to folks discussing "quarterly KPIs" and "optimized strategies,” but inside i’m just hoping nobody asks for updates. a part of me thinks perhaps this is a lesson in patience or maybe even a karmic cycle from when i was overly busy and craved some downtime. irony, huh? sometimes i wonder if my situation is like one of those zen stories where when you seek nothing, you find everything. i mean, have you ever thought that maybe pointless tasks are just undiscovered forms of meditation? albeit ‘corporate zen’ sounds more plausible in theory, it doesn't feel entirely satisfying in practice. would love to hear if anyone else is dealing with workplace ennui. maybe trying to merge this twilight zone of nothingness with fulfilling activities outside work is the key. have any of y’all gotten out of a rut like this before? share some wisdom, would you?

i'm sitting here at my desk, staring at the blank document on my screen, wondering, am i really losing my edge? am i depressed or just lazy? it's baffling to me how, year after year, i've noticed this creeping loss of motivation at work, and the worst part? i can't pinpoint why!! for a 31-year-old guy working in IT, motivation is supposed to be my fuel, but for some reason, it feels like i've been running on fumes. i used to innovate, execute tasks with precision, and thrive in problem-solving scenarios. but now... it's like my engine's stalled and i can't find the damn key! why is that???

is it just age? i can't deny, as a male growing older, perhaps there are societal expectations that weigh heavily on my shoulders, but still, that shouldn't kill my drive... should it? my workflow has become such a mess. i manage to perform the minimal viable operations — barely making deadlines, ticking off tasks like a robot on autopilot. it's such a grind, and i find myself asking, what's the point? where'd my thirst for success in this industry go? is this some kind of existential problem?? i'm getting tired of hearing myself think all these "whys" without answers! getting ported from one project to another doesn't help either — continuity's dead in my professional life. but, truth be told, it's not external forces dampening my spirit; it's something internal.

could it be that i've hit a saturation point? is this how burnout feels? maybe i just need a break. stepping back might offer fresh perspectives, but i feel guilty! guilty for not being 100%... this loop's annoying — when i slack, i feel awful, but when i hustle, motivation peaces out. hell, it's a frigging paradox!!! is this common? do other people feel this tug-of-war? i think back to when i started in this field, enthusiasm sky-high. pipelines, coding, debugging — all were thrilling challenges. but now, they feel mundane. i'm not trying to be dramatic or entitled, i'm genuinely perplexed, questioning my state of mind. or perhaps industry's changes have left me jaded without realizing???

the worst part is, i'm caught in this limbo of indecisiveness. will making a drastic change fix things, or is it something i need to address internally first? therapy's crossed my mind, but am i ready to say i'm depressed? what if i'm really just a lazy bum??? but then, when i'm not working, this sense of guilt eats me alive. it's not like i hate my job — i still find aspects engaging, but the drive's disappeared. isn't that crazy?? people say, follow your passion, but what do you do when one's passion dwindles?? it's not encourage that i lack — colleagues and bosses have been supportive! it's like having all the resources with zero desire to utilize them.

this is the part where i'm supposed to figure it all out and give a massive, life-changing revelation. sorry to disappoint, but truth is, i'm still clueless!! am i depressed, lazy, or in need of a career pivot? can't tell. i'll keep pondering, trudging through, hoping answers will come eventually. for now, venting's all i got. meanwhile, i'll keep asking, do others deal with this crap too?? or am i an anomaly? would be interesting to know... let me know if you've been in a similar boat... and how the hell you managed to sail out of it! 🤔

Today I had a total meltdown at work and I asked to leave. I went home and now I’m sitting here trying to figure out how to keep living. How do people work normally all the time? I get so stressed and overwhelmed and breakdown. I have bad anxiety and depression so I don’t think that helps me at all. I just can’t do this anymore

Six months. That's all it took for me to go from "I can't wait to start my career!" to "I don't want to go to work!!!" How did it come to this, you ask? Let's roll back time. At 23, fresh out of college, I was thrilled to start my first job. An office job, no less. The dream, right? Suited up, coffee in hand, feeling all grown-up. But hey, spoiler alert! Turns out, cubicles and fluorescent lights aren't the vibe I thought they'd be.

Day in, day out, the same routine. Wake up. Hustle to the office. Sit. Type. Sip coffee (repeat). Breathe stale air until I'm out the door again. But doesn't it make you wonder? How does anyone find joy stuck inside four walls, going through the motions like robots? Maybe you're one of those rare ones who absolutely love it. If so, hats off! But for me, it's draining—absolutely draining. I used to think anyone opposing the traditional office environment was just being dramatic. Now, I've joined their ranks. Surprising, huh?

To be clearer, the work itself isn't atrocious. It's the setting! The lack of fresh air, the monotonous view, the awkward water-cooler conversations about yesterday's game that frankly, I couldn't care less about. It's like being in a scene from "The Office" without the fun crew. Do you know that feeling when you're stuck in traffic, bumper to bumper, just wishing to teleport somewhere else? That's how office life feels to me. Every. Single. Day. Surely, there's more to life than this monotonous routine, right?

I'm starting to consider alternatives. Can I pivot my skills to something more dynamic? Perhaps a job that gets me outside, working with my hands or interacting with people in a more lively environment? Maybe I'll try my hand at being my own boss. People keep saying it's the age of the entrepreneur! And while the thought of veering off the beaten path is terrifying, it's also kind of thrilling. After all, didn't someone famous once say, "Life begins at the end of your comfort zone"?

I’m trying to stay optimistic, reminding myself that it's all a stepping stone, even the dreaded office stint. It has its perks, sure. And I still hold the hope that soon enough, I'll wake up, excited for the day instead of dragging my feet. So, to anyone who feels the same—I see you, I'm with you, and let's figure this out! Because who said we had to settle for mundane when the world offers a splash of vibrant chaos? Let's trade those office shoes for something more adventurous and make the daily grind a bit less... well, grim.

i’ve spent my whole life chasing the dream of being a pro footballer, y’know? every day, training on my own, with the lads, at the gym, trying to push myself harder than yesterday. i’d wake up early, sleep late, never stopped thinking about the game. but now, i’m 23, and it’s finally hitting me that maybe, just maybe, i’m not good enough. no club’s ever taken me seriously, and i can’t even get a spot to earn a basic salary from this. it hurts, honestly, because i gave it everything i had. my parents, bless them, they’ve been my biggest cheerleaders, always saying “don’t give up,” but i can see it in their eyes too – they’re worried about what comes next. i should’ve studied more, kept my options open, but all i could think of was football. now it feels like i’m standing at the edge of a cliff, wondering what to do next. do i keep pushing for something that’s not happening, or do i finally admit i need a plan b?

the thing is, i don’t even know what i’d do if it’s not football. i’ve put all my eggs in this basket for so long, i can’t imagine doing anything else. i didn’t focus on school, didn’t get a trade, nothing. football was my life, my identity. now i feel like a fool, and it’s scary. but i guess life’s not over yet. there’s still time to figure something out, even if it means starting from scratch. i’ve been thinking about coaching, maybe working with kids, trying to pass on what i know. or i could look at fitness training or something else sporty – something that keeps me close to the game. it’s not the big dream i had, but it’s a start, right? i’m not gonna sit around and mope forever, i just need to get my head straight and make a new plan; maybe this was never meant to be my path in the first place. have you ever felt like your dream was slipping away from you and you had to start again?

sometimes i feel embarrassed talking about this, like i’m letting everyone down – my family, my mates, even myself. but deep down, i know they just want me to be happy. it’s not about how much money you make or the career you have, it’s about waking up and feeling good about what you’re doing. i don’t want to waste more years chasing something that’s breaking me down. i’m still young, i’ve got time to figure it out, and i’m not afraid to work hard – i just need to be smart about it. maybe i’ll find something that gives me the same buzz as football. maybe it’ll take a while. but i’m not giving up on life, not on my dreams either, just shifting them a bit. at the end of the day, it’s about finding your own version of success, whatever that looks like. so why am i not good enough? maybe i am – just not for the path i thought i wanted.

so here i am, 28, a freelancer consultant in this big IT company where everybody seems older and way more experienced than me… or at least they think so. 😔 every time i walk into a meeting or even just show up at my little cubicle (which by the way feels like a prison cell), i can sense the vibe. they don’t say anything directly, but it’s all there in the way they look at me, the way they nod without really listening when i suggest something. it’s like i’m just some annoying intern who got in by mistake. i keep trying to show i know my stuff, i read all the documentation, i stay late, i help whenever someone’s stuck. and still, there’s this wall, this invisible thing between me and them. do you ever feel that too? like you’re screaming into a void and no one cares?

sometimes, i even think maybe it’s my age, like they see me as this little kid trying to play in the big league. i mean, yeah, i’m younger, but that doesn’t mean i don’t know what i’m doing. 😤 i’ve had my own projects, worked with clients who were a nightmare and still pulled through, and now i’m here, and it’s like all that doesn’t matter. just because i’m younger and not part of their inner circle, it’s like they decided i don’t deserve to be taken seriously. what’s up with that? does age really decide how much you should respect someone in a workplace? or is it just some old-school mentality that’s still floating around? i can’t tell, but it makes me feel invisible, and no matter how much i try to integrate myself, it’s like i’m hitting a brick wall.

i’ve tried everything to fit in. i laugh at their lame jokes, i bring coffee when no one asks, i stay quiet when they clearly dismiss my ideas just to avoid conflict. i even took up this project no one wanted because i thought maybe it would earn me some respect. nope, same cold shoulders, same fake smiles, same nods. sometimes, i just sit there in meetings, pretending to take notes while my mind’s screaming, “what’s the point?” do you ever feel like that? like you’re stuck in this loop where no matter what you do, you’re always seen as the outsider? it’s not even about wanting to be best friends with these people; i just want a little bit of appreciation, a simple “good job” or even a real conversation where they actually listen.

every time i try to talk to someone, it’s like they’re always too busy, too stressed, or just plain uninterested. i get it, we all have stuff going on, but come on, how hard is it to be a little human? i don’t even expect them to throw me a party or anything; just some basic respect would be nice. it’s funny how i’m the one supposed to coach them, and yet here i am, feeling like a little kid trying to prove i belong. 😂 i know it’s not all about feelings at work, but man, it’s hard to stay motivated when you’re constantly ignored. and it’s not like i can just quit, i need this gig, i need the experience, and i need the paycheck. but every day it’s getting harder to drag myself out of bed knowing i’ll just be another shadow in the office.

so here’s my little rant, not looking for sympathy or advice, just needed to let it out. maybe you’ve been there too, feeling unappreciated and stuck in a place where no one seems to care. maybe you’ve tried everything like me, and still ended up being the outsider. or maybe you’re lucky and you’ve never felt this way. either way, it’s just something i had to get off my chest. because honestly, if i don’t vent here, where else? thanks for reading if you made it this far. guess i’ll just keep pushing through, hoping someday someone will finally see me for who i am and what i bring to the table. 🤷‍♀️

i’ve been thinking a lot about how i’m the only one in my team who genuinely cares about what we do at work, and i mean really cares about the quality of our projects, the deadlines, and even the tiny details that everyone else seems to gloss over without a second thought... 😩 it’s not even that i’m some sort of perfectionist, i just believe that if we’re gonna do something, we should do it right, ya know? but lately, it’s becoming obvious that i’m the only one pulling this weight while the rest are chilling, and it’s driving me nuts; i wake up thinking about work, i go to sleep worrying about emails, and when i’m finally off, i’m mentally drained and just staring at the ceiling wondering why no one else seems to give a damn. it’s exhausting, and it’s starting to make me question if i’m the problem or if i just care way too much for a job that probably won’t even remember my name in ten years...

like seriously, i keep telling myself that i need to chill, that i need to let go and just go with the flow like everyone else, but i find it so hard to do that! maybe it’s because i’ve been conditioned to believe that hard work and dedication are the keys to success, or maybe it’s just my pride whispering in my ear, telling me that if i let go, i’m giving up on myself. but can i really keep up this pace without burning out completely? i’m 33, for crying out loud, and i’m already feeling like i’m 50 with the amount of stress i’m carrying. i see my coworkers leaving early, joking around, barely meeting deadlines, and i’m here, staying late, double-checking everything, and picking up the slack. it’s not sustainable, and it’s not fair; yet, i feel trapped in this cycle of overcaring because i don’t want to be “that guy” who lets the team down.

it’s funny, though, because when i try to ease off, when i tell myself to relax and not care so much, i get this weird anxiety, like something’s gonna fall apart if i’m not there to catch it. but the reality is, nothing catastrophic happens; the projects still move forward, the clients don’t scream bloody murder, and the world keeps spinning. it’s just my mind playing tricks on me, making me think that i’m the last line of defense for quality and integrity, but maybe that’s just my ego talking. 😅 i’ve started practicing little steps to detach myself, like logging off exactly on time, not checking emails after hours, and even taking my full lunch break away from my desk. and you know what? it feels... good. like i’m slowly reclaiming my sanity, piece by piece. it’s a weird adjustment, but i’m beginning to see that the sky doesn’t fall if i stop caring as much as i used to.

so, what about you? have you ever felt like you’re carrying the team on your shoulders while everyone else is just cruising? how did you manage to stop caring too much without feeling guilty or anxious? i’m trying to figure this out, to find that balance where i can still take pride in my work without letting it consume my life. it’s a work in progress, but i’m hopeful that i’ll get there. 🌅 maybe the secret is to care just enough, but not too much, to know when to let go and trust that it’ll be okay. i’m trying to remind myself that my worth isn’t measured by how much i sacrifice at work, and that it’s okay to prioritize my health and happiness over a never-ending to-do list. wish me luck! 🤞

I'm 41, living in San Francisco, and working in IT—a field I used to love, or at least respect. But lately, it feels like I’m just drifting through loops of Jira tickets and endless Zoom calls, chasing deadlines that don’t mean anything. The money’s fine, the perks are shiny, and yet every morning I wake up with this dull ache in my chest, wondering, Is this really it? 😶 You ever look at your screen and feel like you’re coding your soul into oblivion? I’ve spent nearly two decades optimizing systems and building apps, but for what? At some point, I stopped building anything that felt like it mattered. I find myself googling “farm jobs in Portugal” or “how to start a tiny house Airbnb in the woods.” A part of me wants out, desperately, and not in a dramatic way—just a quiet pivot into something real. Something grounded.

I had a conversation last week with a friend who left his engineering job to become a school counselor. He told me, “I make half as much, but I sleep better and laugh more.” That stuck with me. What’s the point of security if you’re never mentally present to enjoy it? I keep picturing a life with fewer pings and more peace. I want to do work that aligns with my values, where I’m not just another node in a corporate network. Maybe I’ll teach, maybe I’ll run a coffee truck in a mountain town; I don’t know yet, and that uncertainty is actually kind of exciting. Even my therapist said, “Sometimes burnout is just your soul begging you to pay attention.” And I am. I’m listening—finally. I’ve started saving more aggressively, decluttering my place, and having the tough conversations with myself. Do I stay and numb myself with stability, or leap and try to rediscover meaning?

If you’re still reading this, maybe you’ve felt it too—that pull toward something different. Something simpler, more aligned. I’m not naive; I know leaving a career at this stage isn’t easy. But maybe what’s harder is staying in a space that quietly chips away at your spirit. I don’t hate tech, but I do resent what it turned me into—a guy who checks his Slack messages on vacation and calls it “being responsible.” 🤦‍♂️ There’s a whole world out there, and I’m finally curious enough to step into it. One of my favorite quotes lately is from Joseph Campbell: “The cave you fear to enter holds the treasure you seek.” So I guess the question is—what are you afraid to leave behind; and is it truly serving you, or just keeping you comfortably stuck?