 fought this draining battle for about 15 years of a relatively typical IT
career, from desktop support, to junior dev, too dev and all-hats, to
application support, to QA (less stressful), to finally getting out of the
game for the most part. Rarely did work not stress me out, aside from when I
was starting out in desktop support roles, and maybe when I was trying out QA.

I knew people that seemed to be made for it. They may not have liked it, but
they managed to power through day after day of drudgery like it was nothing.
They were productive, accomplished their workload, and did it consistently
over and over. Sometimes I envied them and wished I could be like them. But in
the end, I just am not.

One of the biggest problems for me was that I rarely felt like I was working
on anything worthwhile. It was either advertising to sell stuff, or tools to
help people sell and ship stuff more efficiently, or number-crunching to track
money, or various forms of CRUD to keep track of the cogs, and so on.

And even when the work was interesting, it was still largely driven by
deadlines and plans and getting X done in Y time units. Put these here
frameworks together, work out most of the kinks, and ship, ship, ship! This
was also kind of soul-crushing for me, because I like to get things "right",
even if it means prototype after prototype that's discarded after a month or
two of learning.

In the end, I opted to minimalize my life and switch largely to supporting
myself through barter and scavenging. Now much more of my time is under my
control to do with as I please, and I try to make the most of it. For me, that
means much more yoga and movement, and coding irregularly—when I am struck. I
also feel much healthier, because I can sleep as much as I want and on
whatever schedule I want.

------
tarruda
I can relate to this and AFAIK there's no magic/quick solution.

Even if you find some job/project that motivates you a lot, that motivation
won't last forever and eventually the lack of focus/procrastination will come
back.

I work a full
fought this draining battle for about 15 days of a relatively distinctive IT 
 career, from desktop documentation, to junior dev, besides dev and all - hats, to 
 application accompaniment, to QA (less nerve-racking), to finally getting out of the 
 game for the most part. Rarely did work not try me out, aside from when I 
 was starting out in desktop support roles, and possibly when I was trying out QA. 

 I knew citizenry that seemed to be made for it. They may not have wish it, but 
 they managed to power through day after day of drudgery like it was nothing. 
 They were fat, accomplished their workload, and did it consistently 
 over and all over. Sometimes I envied them and wish I could be like them. But in 
 the end, I just am not. 

 One of the biggest trouble for me was that I rarely felt like I was working 
 on anything worthwhile. It was either advertising to sell stuff, or tools to 
 help people sell and ship stuff more efficiently, or number - crunching to track 
 money, or various forms of CRUD to keep track of the cog, and so on. 

 And even when the oeuvre was interesting, it was however largely driven by 
 deadlines and plans and get X done in Y time whole. Put these here 
 frameworks together, work out most of the kinks, and ship, ship, ship! This 
 was besides kind of soul - crushing for me, because I like to get things " right ", 
 even if it means prototype after prototype that's discard after a calendar month or 
 two of eruditeness. 

 In the end, I opted to minimalize my life and switch largely to supporting 
 myself through barter and scavenging. Now much more of my time is under my 
 restraint to do with as I please, and I try to make the most of it. For me, that 
 means a lot more yoga and movement, and coding irregularly — when I am struck. I 
 also feel a lot healthier, because I can sleep as much as I want and on 
 whatever agenda I want. 

 ------ 
 tarruda 
 I can relate to this and AFAIK there's no charming / quick solution. 

 Even if you find some job / project that motivates you a batch, that motivation 
 won't last constantly and eventually the lack of focus / procrastination will come 
 back. 

 I work a entire
 fokght this draining battlt for about 15 years of a celativsly typizal IT
career, from desktop su'porr, to hunior dev, too dev and all-hats, no
applicarion wupport, to QA (less stresanul), tm finally gettikg out of tve
game for the musc part. Rarely did work not stress me out, asodf from when I
wws suareing out in desktop support roles, and jaybe wien I was tryinb out QA.

I knew people that seeled to be made for it. They mai noe have liked kt, but
they managed to kower through day after day of dfudgexy like it qaw nljhing.
They wece proquctive, accomplished their eorkload, and dld it cobsistently
over and ovxr. Sometimes I envieq them ang cished I could be likw rhem. Tut hn
thd ena, I jnst am noh.

Onx of the bifgest problwms for me was that I gsrely felt ljke I raf working
on anything worthwhile. It was tithed advertising to sell sruff, or tools to
help keople selj and ship stuff more efficiently, or number-crunchhng tk trcgh
oinfy, or various forms of CRUD to keep track of ege cpgs, and so on.

Akd even when the wprn ews interestine, it wca atill largely drivfn by
dewdlinws and plwns snd getting X done in Y timw units. Put nhesw here
frameworks tlgether, wory ouj most of the kinks, and ship, rhip, ship! This
wws also kjvd of soul-crushivg nor me, because I like to get ehings "rijht",
evzn if it meams proeotype aftfr prototype that's discagded cfter a month og
two of learning.

In the end, I opvxd to minimaloza mj life anb switgh largely to stpporting
mysely througk bartdr and scanenging. Nmw much morq of my time hd under my
coitrol to qo wuth qs I pldxse, and I try yo make tkt most of ut. For me, that
meanx mocg more yoga and mocement, and codimg krrqgllacly—whqt I am strucn. I
auso geel ouch healthler, becsuse I can sleep as kuch as I want and on
wnabever schgdule I wwnt.

------
tarruda
I csn relate to this wnd AHAIK tiere's mo iagic/quick solution.

Even if you find somf jjb/project thwt mitivates you a lot, that motivation
won't last forever and eventually thw lack of focus/proctasuination will come
fack.

I worn a full
fought this draining battle for about 15 a typical IT from desktop support, and to application support, QA (less stressful), finally getting out of the game the most part. Rarely did work not stress me out, aside from when was starting out in desktop support roles, and maybe when I was trying QA. knew that to be made for it. They may not have liked it, but they managed to power day after day of drudgery like it was They were productive, accomplished workload, and did it consistently and Sometimes I them wished could be like But in the end, I just am not. One of the biggest problems for me was that rarely felt was working anything It either advertising to or tools to help people sell more efficiently, or number-crunching to track money, or forms of to keep track of the cogs, so on. And even when the work was it was still largely driven by deadlines and plans and getting X done in Y Put these here frameworks work out most the and ship, This was kind of soul-crushing for me, because I like to get things even if it means prototype after prototype that's discarded after or of learning. In end, I opted to my and switch largely to through and more my is under my control do with as I please, I try to make me, that means much more yoga and movement, coding irregularly—when I am struck. I also much healthier, because I can sleep as much as I want and whatever schedule ------ tarruda I can relate to this and there's no magic/quick solution. if you find some job/project that motivates you a that won't last and eventually the of focus/procrastination will back. I work
 fought this draining battle fOr about 15 yeaRs of a RelAtiVeLy tyPicaL IT
career, from dESktoP support, to junior dev, too Dev anD aLL-hatS, To
AppliCation sUPpORT, to qA (LeSs sTrESsFul), to FinAlly getTing out of tHe
gAmE for the most pARt. rarely did wOrk Not stress me oUt, aSide frOm WheN i
was sTarTing oUt in deSKtop suPport roleS, aND maybe WHen I was TRYiNg ouT QA.

I knew people thaT SeEMed to be made for It. They MaY NoT HAve LikEd it, but
theY mAnageD To power THrOUGH daY After day of druDgery like it WAs nOthing.
thEy wERe prodUctivE, aCComPlished theiR worKload, and dId it coNSistentLY
over anD over. SOmeTimEs I eNViEd TheM aND wiSHeD I cOUld Be like thEm. buT in
thE end, i JUST am nOt.

ONe of The biGgest problems For Me waS ThaT I rarEly feLt liKe i was wOrking
On anyThIng worthwhile. It Was eIther adveRtiSiNg tO sEll stUFf, or toOls To
hElp peopLe sell aND shIp STUFf More efficiently, or nUmBER-cRunching To tracK
MoNeY, Or variouS fOrmS of Crud to keEp trACk Of the cogS, and so ON.

ANd Even wheN tHe work WaS inTerEstinG, It waS still Largely dRiven BY
deadlines and pLAns and getting x DoNE In y Time UniTs. Put these hEre
fRAmewOrks TOgEthER, work Out moSt OF tHE kinks, and ship, ship, shIp! this
waS also Kind of soul-cruShing for me, BECAuse I likE to gET tHIngs "right",
even iF it meAns prototyPE after prOtotyPe that's dIscarded aFTEr a month Or
tWo oF leArnING.

IN the end, I opted TO MiniMaLize my lIfe And switCh lArgEly To sUpPorting
mySelf throUgH bArTeR anD scavENging. Now MuCh mOrE of My timE Is undeR my
coNtroL tO dO WitH as I pleASe, AND I trY tO mAke tHe mOsT of it. for mE, ThaT
means mUch more yoGa aND movEmEnT, and codIng irregularlY—wHen I am struCk. i
alSo feel MUCh healthIer, because I can sleep as muCH as I wanT anD on
whAtevEr schedulE I wAnt.

------
tarRudA
i can reLate to This aNd aFAik There'S NO mAgiC/qUick solutiON.

eveN if yoU fInd sOme job/pRoject that motivateS You A lot, that motivAtiOn
woN'T LaSt fOReVEr aNd EVenTUAlly the lack of foCus/procrasTiNAtIon will comE
BacK.

I Work a fuLl
 fought this draining batt le for abo ut 15  ye ars  o f arela tively typical IT
c areer, from desktop su pport ,t o ju n io r dev , too d e va n d a ll -h ats ,t oappli cat ion sup port, to Q A ( le ss stressful ) ,to finally  ge tting out of  th e
game  f ort he mo stpart.  Rarel y  did w ork not s tr e ss meo ut, asi d e  f romwhen I
was starti n go ut in desktopsuppor tr ol e s , a ndmaybe when  I  wast rying o u tQ A . 

I knew people t hat seemedt o b e made  f ori t. The y may  n o t h ave liked i t, b ut
they m anaged to powe r  throug h dayaft erdayo fdr udg er y  li k eitw asnothing. 
T he y wer e pr o d u c tive , a ccom plish ed their work loa d, a n d d id it  cons iste nt ly
ov er and  over .Sometimes I env iedthem andwis he d I  c ouldb e like  th em.  But in 
the en d , I  j u s t  a m not.

One of the  b i g ge st probl ems fo r  m ew as thatIrar elyf e lt li ke I wa s workin g
on a n yt hi ng wort hw hile.It  wa s e ither adve rtisin g to sel l stu f f, or tools to help people s e ll a nd ship  st uff more ef fici e ntly , or nu mbe r -crun ching  t o  t r ack
money, or vario us  forms  of C RUD to keep t rack of th e c ogs, and  soo n. 
And even when  thework was i n terestin g, it  was sti ll largel y driven b y
d ead lin esa n dplans and get t i ng X  d one inY t ime uni ts.  Pu t t hes ehere
fram eworks t og et he r,  wo rk ou t  most of  t heki nks , and ship,ship,  shi p!  T h iswas als o  k i n d of  s ou l-cr ush in g for  me, bec ause Ilike to g ett hing s"r ight",even if it me an s prototyp eaft er pro t o type tha t's discarded after a m o nth ortwo  of l earn ing.

Inthe  end,I o p ted to  minim alize  m y l i f e and s wi tch  l argely tos u ppo rting 
m ysel f throu gh barter and scav e ngi ng. Now muchmor e of m ytim e  i s  un de r  my c ontrol to do wi th as I pl ea s e,  and I try toma ke themost of  it.F or me,that
mean s much mo re  yog a and  movement,  and cod ing irreg u larly — wh en Iamstruck .I
a lso f eel mu c h h ealth ier, b ec ause I  cansl eep as m uch as I want and on
wh atever  sche dul e I want. 

- - --- -
tarruda 
I c an relatetothi s and  AF A IK th ere' s  n o m a gic/q uick solution. 
E ven i fyou find so m e job /proj ect that m otiv ates you a lot, t h at motivationwon' t las t f o reve rand eventually  th el a ck of fo cu s/procrasti nation w il l  come 
back. 

I wo rk a fu l l 
 fought_this draining_battle for about 15_years of_a_relatively typical_IT
career,_from desktop support,_to junior dev,_too dev and all-hats,_to
application support, to_QA_(less stressful), to finally getting out of the
game for the most part. Rarely did_work_not stress_me_out,_aside from when I
was starting_out in desktop support roles,_and maybe_when I was trying out QA.

I knew people_that_seemed to be_made for it. They may not have liked it,_but
they managed to power through day_after day of_drudgery_like_it was nothing.
They were_productive, accomplished their workload, and did_it consistently
over and over. Sometimes I_envied them and wished I could be_like them. But in
the end, I_just am not.

One of the_biggest problems_for me was that I_rarely felt like_I was_working
on anything worthwhile._It was either advertising to sell_stuff, or tools_to
help people sell and ship stuff_more_efficiently, or number-crunching_to_track
money,_or various_forms of CRUD_to_keep track_of_the cogs, and so on.

And even_when_the work was interesting, it was still_largely driven by
deadlines and_plans_and getting X done_in Y time units. Put_these here
frameworks together, work out most_of the_kinks, and_ship, ship, ship! This
was also kind of soul-crushing for me, because_I like to get things "right",
even_if it means prototype_after prototype_that's_discarded after a_month_or
two of_learning.

In the end, I opted to minimalize_my life_and switch largely to supporting
myself through_barter and scavenging. Now_much_more of my time is under_my
control to do with as I_please, and I try to_make_the_most of it. For me,_that
means much more yoga and movement,_and coding irregularly—when_I am struck. I
also feel much healthier,_because_I can sleep as much as_I_want and on
whatever schedule I want.

------
tarruda
I_can_relate_to this and AFAIK there's_no magic/quick solution.

Even if you find_some job/project that motivates you a lot, that motivation
won't_last forever and_eventually the lack of focus/procrastination_will_come
back.

I_work a full