I've read a lot of articles about burnout lately. Until now I'd considered burnout a type of luxury. Taking time off for mental health or a mid-life pivot seemed to have a high correlation with the onset of economic security. Like those razor commercials where they hire models with no whiskers to demo the product, outcome seemed to have more to do with the starting condition than the process. The Great Resignation proved me wrong. It was led by the economically vulnerable. Over the span of several decades, I've experienced my ups and downs. I'm not sure I've been through a burnout, but I've learned some tools that have helped me personally. Mental health and physical health are closely linked . Strive to stay physically fit. If you've let it go, work to get it back. Sitting at a desk every day is unhealthy.  Take breaks to move.  Posture matters. Don't decide by comparing yourself to others. Know your own body. Consider not just exerci...

As engineers, our effectiveness is often measured by non-technical metrics. Objective measures like lines of code can provide misleading results.  You'll likely be assessed by some subjective approximation of competence instead.  Sprezzatura , displaying a sense of ease while getting the job done, is perhaps the best name we have for this. It would seem intuitive to offer the advice, "appear confident." However, unwarranted confidence can itself be dangerous. There's a well known cognitive bias, the Dunning-Kruger Effect , that shows that confidence is often highest when ability is low.   It's better to coach for competence. When someone lacks competence they should lack confidence.Someone may also appear to lack confidence when they lack purpose. Conceding to someone with a higher purpose is a moral choice. When an ambulance comes speeding along, you yield the right of way.  Confidence should naturally follow when one has both competence and purpose ....