Ask HN: Who else is working on nothing?
Many software professionals describe stepping back from side projects and career “hustle,” often out of burnout, disillusionment with big tech, or shifts in life priorities like family and health. Rather than seeing this as failure, they frame “doing nothing” as working on themselves: mental health, relationships, simple hobbies, and redefining what meaningful work looks like beyond external validation or the next big thing. Several argue that motivation and curiosity are cyclical, and that unstructured time can be a necessary neutral phase before new interests or more sustainable forms of contribution emerge.
Burnout, “Nothing,” and Working on Self
- Many describe feeling burned out, directionless, or unable to start projects, even when they have ideas and skills.
- “Doing nothing” often actually means working on mental health, routines, sleep, exercise, and basic life maintenance. Several insist this is real work, not failure.
- Some see this period as a necessary “neutral zone” or reset where the subconscious can reorient priorities.
Changing Priorities Across Life Stages
- Several note a sharp value shift in mid‑30s to 40s: less interest in side projects, more in family, relationships, and simple pleasures.
- Kids, caregiving, illness, and deaths reframe work as mainly a way to finance life, not a source of identity.
- Others without kids or big obligations lean toward minimal work to maximize free time and low‑cost living.
Meaning, Nihilism, and Equanimity
- One thread debates “do what makes you happy” vs focusing on reducing suffering and cultivating equanimity (often referencing Buddhism).
- Some argue meaning is self‑created (Frankl, Camus) and any chosen project or relationship can suffice.
- Others emphasize helping family/community over pure self‑happiness, noting that maximizing private pleasure can justify harmful behavior.
Disillusionment with Tech and Work
- Many feel tech has shifted from optimistic change to attention addiction, ads, and dark patterns; big tech is compared to “drug dealers.”
- LLM/AI hype and previous cycles (crypto, VR) are seen as repetitive and demotivating; some feel non‑AI software is now undervalued.
- Corporate jobs are described as monotonous, politically dysfunctional, and less rewarding financially; some mention industry ageism and falling value for engineers.
Pandemic, Remote Work, and Isolation
- Pandemic disruptions and remote work are widely cited as catalysts: lost careers, delayed life milestones, isolation, and re‑evaluation of work‑centric identities.
- Some younger posters say seeing governments and societies “turn on each other” made long‑term projects feel fragile and pointless.
- Others note that living alone + remote work correlates with emptiness; having partners, kids, or office contact can buffer this, but there are counterexamples.
Alternatives: Hobbies, “Small” Work, and Non‑Tech Paths
- Many redirect energy into cooking, baking, music, yoga, fitness, sailing, farming, travel, math clubs, or learning instruments; these feel more tangible and shareable.
- Some switch or consider switching to trades, healthcare, or low‑stress “boring” software in regulated industries.
- Several explicitly reject hustle culture and “the next big thing,” preferring the “small web,” local community, or just being a good parent/friend.
Anxiety About Productivity and Career
- Common tension: wanting to build meaningful things but doubting they matter, fearing obsolescence, or feeling any non‑monetized project is a waste.
- Others argue most online “everyone is building” is survivorship bias and performance; many ordinary people just work and live.
Coping Strategies and Advice Shared
- Suggestions include: therapy, meditation/Vipassana, Buddhism/Thich Nhat Hanh, journaling, long sabbaticals, strict rest, micro‑projects, and accepting seasonal cycles of energy.
- Some mention checking hormones (e.g., testosterone) or depression when apathy is long‑lasting.
- A recurring theme: stop chasing external validation; define success personally, focus on relationships, and accept that “doing nothing” for a while can be the healthiest choice.