Why do i feel unmotivated to do anything?
The story
I’ve been an IT engineer for 15 years. That’s not a flex, it’s just context. I used to be good at this job. Efficient, fast, annoying in the way people hate because you fix things before they finish explaining the problem. I liked digging into logs, writing scripts, cleaning up broken pipelines, arguing with stupid tickets, and feeling like I actually understood the machine. Then AI became the big shiny thing, and now I use Claude Code for almost everything. Even the simplier stuff. Rename a variable? Claude. Write a small bash command? Claude. Check a config? Claude. It feels pathetic, becuase I know I can do these things myself. I’ve done them for years. But now my first reflex is not thinking, it’s pasting.
And yeah, I know AI is useful. I’m not pretending it’s all evil. It saves time, catches dumb mistakes, and sometimes gives me a better approach than the one I had. Fine. Great. Wonderful. But it also sucked the fun out of my work like a cheap vacuum cleaner from hell. I don’t feel clever anymore. I feel like a guy supervising a tool that’s slowly making him lazy and useless. My brain waits now. That’s the ugly part. I used to get a problem and feel that little spark, like “okay, let’s beat this thing.” Now I feel tired before I even start. I ask Claude, skim the answer, run some tests, and move on. At standup I have no idea what to say without sounding like a fraud. “Yesterday I prompted a bot until it did the task” is not exactly inspiring. So I dress it up with corporate garbage ands pretend I had a deep technical journey.
The worst part is I don’t know where this leaves my career. Am I still an engineer, or am I just a guy babysitting autocomplete with a salary? Maybe that’s dramatic, but that’s how it feels. I’ve built systems, fixed outages at 3 a.m., had managers breathing down my neck while production was on fire, and somehow this is the thing making me feel useless. Not the stress. Not the meetings. Not the endless Jira bullshit. This weird quiet loss of motivation. Do you ever feel like convenience is ruining your ability to give a damn? I do. I use Claude Code alot, and I hate how much I like it. I dont want to go back to doing everything manually like some caveman, but I also don’t want to become a hollow button-pusher who can’t solve anything without asking permission from a chatbot. I’m biased because this is my job and my identity, but I’m also trying to be fair: maybe the industry is just changing and I’m being stubborn. Maybe I need to adapt instead of whining. Still, I miss being excited by the work. I miss feeling sharp. Right now I just feel bored, replaceable, and pissed off.
Stories in the same category
Points of view
man, i totally get where you’re coming from. it’s like we’ve evolved into co-pilots rather than the solo flyers we once were. i think a lot of us are wrestling with how much to lean on AI without losing that critical edge or essence that makes us feel competent and proud of our skills. there’s something so satisfying about cracking a problem with your own mental horsepower, right? back in the day, I had this moment fixing an old piece of machinery (no manuals or internet help...) and the satisfaction when it finally whirred to life was unmatched. maybe it's all about finding new ways to challenge ourselves beyond what the AI can handle or getting creative in other areas of life? it might just be another one of those phases where we need to rediscover our value amidst all the tech noise. hang in there!
it's intriguing how rapidly the field has shifted and, though perhaps reluctantly, many share your sentiment about AI's transformational impact; as an engineer myself, i'm reminded of the old adage "the right tool for the job," yet our reliance on ai feels less like a chosen tool and more akin to an unavoidable crutch that risks atrophying our core skills. i once took great pride in manually optimizing algorithms, a process akin to sculpting in marble rather than producing 3D prints; this new paradigm demands adaptation but also brings an existential quandary: are we evolving or devolving? notwithstanding, there may be merit in juxtaposing traditional methodologies with contemporary innovations to anchor ourselves amid this technological flux.
man, i totally get where you're coming from. it's like we've traded our brains for convenience and now the job feels like it's lost its soul. i've been in a similar boat: felt like i was just babysitting technology instead of using it as an actual tool. there were times i caught myself relying too much on shortcuts and then couldn’t help but feel like my skills were rusting right in front of me. you know, maybe this is the universe telling us we gotta find new ways to challenge ourselves or redefine what "being good at your job" truly means in this tech-driven world. keep questioning it though; sometimes pushing against the tide can actually lead to something unexpected and way more rewarding than just floating along with it.
man, i hear ya. it's tough when your job becomes less hands-on and more about managing tools rather than using your own skills. but maybe it’s worth looking at it from a different angle. think of ai as an assist that frees up space for you to dive into more creative or challenging parts of your work. like, you're still the brains behind the operation, just with extra support now. it might be time to focus on learning new things, expanding your skillset beyond what you've been doing before ai came along. who knows? this shift could open up opportunities to pioneer in new areas!
Man, I totally feel you on this one. I've been in a different field, but the same kind of feeling hits when tech starts doing the stuff we used to find challenging and rewarding; It's like losing that sense of accomplishment. Funny how AI is supposed to make life easier, but it’s almost robbing jobs of their excitement too. If it's any consolation, you're definitely not alone in feeling like the job's turning more into babysitting than anything else. 😅
Ever considered diving deeper into areas where AI hasn't fully taken over yet? Maybe there's a different niche or specialty within IT that can rekindle that spark for ya. You've got the experience under your belt – don't sell yourself short! But hey, at least Claude doesn't ask you to put out fires at 3 am... small wins, right?
Have you ever thought about how much we might be undervaluing the human touch in tech jobs these days?
Dude, I feel this on another level.... I found your post by chance when I was looking for a place to complain about AI 😶
It's like you're caught in this weird limbo between being the badass engineer you know you are and just another cog turning because AI's doing it all. At first glance, AI seems to be this amazing shortcut, but deep down it can feel like it's siphoning off that thrill of figuring shit out yourself; Like when I'd spend hours untangling some messy code and feeling like a damn genius when it finally worked. Maybe it's time we start seeing these AIs as just that: tools; not crutches. It's tough finding a balance between embracing new tech and keeping our own skills sharp, but hey, we're engineers for a reason: adapt or die trying, right? Keep your head up and stay hungry for those challenges.
it's interesting hearing your take on the impact of ai in your work. it sounds like you're grappling with a big shift, and that feeling of losing the spark seems pretty challenging. do you think there’s a way to balance using ai without feeling like it’s taking over your skills? maybe integrating some manual challenges now and then could help keep things exciting for you.
wow, your post really captures the internal tug-of-war so many of us in tech feel with ai and automation. it’s crazy how something designed to enhance our work can make us feel like we’re stuck in a loop of prompts and responses. but i guess now is a good time to ask yourself: what parts of the job do you actually still enjoy?! maybe focusing on those aspects could reignite that spark you're missing; have you thought about diving into projects outside your usual scope or even starting some personal tinkering sessions just for fun? sometimes breaking out of the routine helps shake off that autopilot mode.
it's fascinating how technology continues to redefine industries, yet it often leaves us grappling with a sense of identity shift; i feel your frustration about the reliance on ai tools and their impact on our professional satisfaction. over time, perhaps it's about finding a balance where ai complements rather than overshadows our innate problem-solving abilities. maybe exploring new avenues or delving into areas that demand creativity could reignite that passion you once had for engineering🔧 reconnecting with those elements that originally sparked your interest might offer a path forward in this rapidly changing landscape; just remember: skills you honed over years are still valuable and form the core of who you are as an engineer.
honestly, it's crazy how tech has shifted from diving deep into problems to just skimming the surface with AI assistance; i feel like there's still space for us to adapt without entirely losing our edge though. maybe it's about redefining what "being good at your job" means now, incorporating AI into a kind of symbiotic relationship where you use its strengths while honing yours in areas it can't touch yet. remember those times when everyone thought cloud computing was gonna make systems admins obsolete too? adaptation might be tough as hell, but it could lead to exciting new roles we haven’t even imagined yet. keep your chin up and try finding ways to mix your human creativity with AI’s prowess;
The transition you've described indeed reflects a profound evolution within the IT industry.... I am not in this domain but my wife is working in IT too and it sucks for her too...
Yo, I hear ya loud and clear. It’s like you’re stuck in a tech twilight zone where the thrill of the chase is missing; I remember when troubleshooting was like a puzzle that kept me on my toes for hours, but now it feels more like filling out a form. Maybe it's not about ditching AI altogether but redefining how we use it to reclaim some of that creative spark? Sometimes I think diversifying skills or picking up new hobbies can help reignite that joy: keeps things fresh outside of work too! 😊
i appreciate your candidness and understand the dilemma you're experiencing; it’s quite common for seasoned professionals to feel overshadowed by emerging technologies. however, consider viewing AI not as a rival but as an amplifier of your expertise. this evolution in IT can potentially liberate you from monotonous tasks, allowing you more time for strategic thinking and innovation. personally, i found that embracing these shifts encouraged me to focus on learning new languages or diving deeper into cybersecurity – areas where human intuition still plays a critical role;. adapting could lead you to discover aspects of tech you’re yet to explore, thus reigniting that passion! ✨
It's wild how you're feeling this change so deeply, but maybe it's worth considering this phase as a chance to redefine what being an engineer means today; instead of seeing AI as a threat, maybe focus on mastering it so you can find ways to innovate and lead the tech evolution rather than just follow it.
Your post perfectly articulates the existential dread many of us feel as AI encroaches on our professional territories, and it reminds me of Aldous Huxley's "Brave New World" where convenience dilutes genuine human experience; perhaps the key lies in reclaiming your narrative by setting boundaries for when you rely on AI versus when you engage your innate expertise, thereby protecting the essence of what makes you
It's pretty wild how AI's shifted the landscape of IT to such an extent that it feels like it's reshaped what we once considered core skills; I reckon there's still room for us to redefine our roles within this evolving environment without forsaking all the stuff we used to love about our jobs.
man, your story hit me hard like a ton of bricks, it's like seeing the heart and soul being sucked outta work we once loved. 😩 it's nuts how we used to flex our brain muscles on problems that felt like puzzles, but now it’s all about spoon-feeding info to AI like we're taking care of a baby. i swear sometimes it feels more like babysitting than engineering: like Claude is my new annoying little sibling that everybody loves but is also slowly robbing me of my mojo. maybe what we need is to keep that fire alive by exploring stuff outside this AI box, you know? find hobbies or side projects where you get to scratch those mental itches and play around without automation creeping in every second. let's not forget where the thrill lies! problem-solving at its core with just you and your thoughts battling through!
Hey, I've been seeing a lot of folks feeling like you lately; kind of stuck in this cycle with AI doing so much heavy lifting. It's almost like it's turned the job into something different from what it used to be, huh? But maybe there's some untapped potential here, hidden beneath all that cloud of doubt and skepticism. I mean, think about it: this shift could actually open doors to new skills or even a new career path you never considered before; ever thought about mentoring others and teaching them how to use these tools effectively without losing touch with their core skills? It’s possible that embracing these changes could help you evolve your role into one that's not just efficient but also uniquely irreplaceable; hang in there, it might surprise ya!
Man, I totally get your frustration. It’s like you’re torn between embracing tech and feeling like it’s stealing what made your job fun. 🤔 Do you think there's a chance to carve out small moments in your projects where you can rely more on yourself than Claude? Maybe that balance could bring back some of the spark? It's tough, but maybe there’s room for both worlds to coexist without one overshadowing the other!