posts/my-big-dream/

[utterances-bot]

My Big Dream | KIENLAB

What is your dreams? What is your big dream?

https://www.kienlab.com/posts/my-big-dream/

[gabru-md]

tldr; try to get a hobby that is not related to your passion, it helps reignite the spark when you feel you're missing it. tried and tested, works for me :D

Hi Kevin, it's so nice to read that you're full of excitement. And you're right, working does drain the energy at times. I have been where you are and I totally relate with you. I love developing random projects and this is the part of Software Engineering I like the most. The ability to be able to pick up my computer and turn on hackathon mode until something I like is finished, there is definitely no better feeling than that. I often feel like I miss something now that I have been "working professionally" for 5 years and what I miss is the excitement. It is true, once it becomes your job even your favourite thing can turn mundane. What I understand is that it is not development that is mundane but the processes that come with it when you work a job, often it is the bureaucracy and sometimes it's lack of exciting projects. But you know what that is fine Jobs are supposed to be mundane, boring and less exciting. How I combat this is by incorporating new hobbies in my day to day life. I picked up new instruments, which serve as an outlet for me after all the screen time that goes in every day. Not only is it a breath of fresh air, it is also a great escape from the constant screen-gazing. This has helped me channel my creativity beyond just computers and developing softwares.

It may sound counter-intuitive as an advice since you're looking for more energy to build things but picking up different hobbies (music in my case) has helped me relax and get over brain-drain that the job does. The really good part about it is that I find myself more motivated, that is, I don't get many chances to "hackathon a project" but whenever I do I find myself enjoying it more than ever.

I'd say what you're feeling is a shared feeling and job does that to people. You should look at it as an ongoing project to work till you can get the workshop of your dream and until then prepare yourself mentally for all the things you can do one you have it. Take it as a milestone to get the money you want and until then even if little by little keep yourself engaged so you don't lose the touch with "hackathon a project" or in your case "obsessive energy".

Happy to hear your thoughts. All the very best and keep going!

[kienvo]

Hi @gabru-md, I thought this post was just a small random thought in my lifetime. I was surprised that there were people actually reading this post =]

Being able to experiment with new hardware is always exciting to me. I feel motivated when doing it and enjoy the sense of accomplishment once it runs. The problem is that it needs a long burst of time. But my energy and time have been spent on jobs. Weekends are too short to focus on anything.

Picking up different hobbies feels more like not being productive at all and I will probably feel bad at the end of the day. But I’ll try testing a few. Maybe it would help.

Take it as a milestone to get the money you want and until then even if little by little keep yourself engaged so you don't lose the touch with "hackathon a project" or in your case "obsessive energy".

Tbh, I am doing it every day but not in a long burst.

Thank you for your advice. This is really meaningful to me. Cheers.