“I’m not a REAL software engineer because I don’t have coding side projects after work.” I used to say this half-jokingly to friends— often because I compared myself to engineers I knew who would leave their work computer ???? and jump on their home computer ????for their side-hustle-future-startup-life-changing-hack. It’s okay if you enjoy life differently after hours. You’re just as much of a real engineer as anyone else. Enjoy it. Own it. Take a nice nap if you want to. ??
How real of an engineer you are depends on the quality, scope, and impact of your work. That engineers are doing side project seems to reflect a lack of satisfaction etc - it cant be the main metric of being a good engineer
Napping and recharging between long work days is the best side hustle ????♂???
Totally! Loving this! You define what after hours means for you...be it hiking...singing...binging tv shows or spending time with family. Do you! ??
I haven't had a side project in a long time. Though my free time is spent in a lot of programmer-like video games: satisfactory, Factorio, portal. Also I mod games! You don't have to have a side project for you to enjoy "if this then that" elements of many other activities. Many even away from the computer. At the end of the day, only you know if you dread programming, if it brings any joy to your life, and if you shut it out of your life as much as possible. It'd be worth interviewing those who left programming and are now PM's, IT recruiters, or are doing something else entirely. How did they come to this career change and was there ever something that could have gone different for them to stay
I lived in this same dilemma many years, feeling bad about not having side projects as I felt exhausted after work, until I realized that it’s ok and actually more important to relax, to spend quality time with family after work.
Being real to yourself is what that matter eventually.
This is a great post, Crystal. Especially for those with families. Being glued to your screen 18 hours a day is not the requirement
Dad. Tech Enthusiast. Innovator.
3 年If you write code, youre an engineer. Having a good work life balance, makes you a good and experienced engineer.