Feynman: I am burned out and I'll never accomplish anything (1985)
Richard Feynman’s account of feeling burned out at Cornell, then rediscovering physics by “playing” with a wobbling plate, prompts reflections on how pressure and metrics can kill curiosity in science, software, and other creative work. Commenters connect his experience to their own burnout in academia and industry, critiquing publish‑or‑perish cultures, career traps, and the loss of low‑stakes exploration. Many see deliberate “play” — side projects, hobbies away from computers, and removing the obligation to be productive — as essential both for mental health and for genuine innovation.
Feynman, play, and creativity
- Many highlight the story as a defense of “play” in science: dropping concern for importance and metrics can revive curiosity and lead to unexpected breakthroughs.
- His autobiographical books are repeatedly recommended, especially for showing a more vulnerable, human side and for stories like the shuttle investigation appendix.
- Some want funding/tenure committees to internalize this: great research often comes from curiosity, not pre-justified “impact.”
Burnout and loss of joy (software & research)
- Numerous commenters relate deeply: what once felt like playful exploration in programming or research now feels joyless and instrumental.
- Distinction is made between exciting early-stage work and draining maintenance/boilerplate.
- Several describe being unable to code at all, or only enjoying “useless” hacks, modding, or toy projects.
Academia’s structural issues
- Many researchers and PhDs describe severe burnout, depression, and disillusionment.
- Critiques include: oversupply of PhDs vs tenure slots; exploitative postdoc loops; politics and prestige over merit; noisy and often arbitrary review processes; metric-driven culture (h‑index, paper counts) that discourages deep, slow, or foundational work.
- Some argue academia is “broken but unfixable” due to basic supply/demand and entrenched incentives; others focus on reforming metrics and publication norms.
Career transitions and alternatives
- Several ex-academics report being far happier in industry or other roles, despite earlier seeing leaving as “failure.”
- Others feel trapped: industry seems saner but less aligned with their low‑TRL research passions, or golden handcuffs keep them in boring but well‑paid jobs.
Coping strategies and “play” recovery
- Suggested approaches: non-computer hobbies, accepting that hobbies needn’t be finished, short playful side projects, periodic “hack vacations,” meditation, walks/showers, and even mildly risky adventures.
- Pets are proposed as grounding and meaningful, with cautions about responsibility.
- Some note that in deep burnout/depression even hobbies lose appeal, making solutions unclear.
Mental health framing
- Debate over labels: some see “burnout = depression,” others emphasize causality is unclear.
- One side warns over-identifying with diagnoses or trauma can add pressure; another stresses awareness without constant rumination.
Technology, complexity, and nostalgia
- Several lament modern tooling and devops complexity, contrasting it with earlier, simpler “fun” hacking (e.g., IRC, small scripts) where stakes are low and play is easier.