Software Engineer Burnout: Causes and Solutions

A 2021 study by Haystack Analytics found that 83% of developers suffered from burnout. This is a huge number. Why is software engineer burnout becoming increasingly common? What is the reason behind it? What is developer burnout?

This article answers these questions and offers some advice to tackle this phenomenon.

Are You Experiencing Burnout?

No matter how big or small your company is, burnout is a very real daily challenge for developers. Common symptoms of burnout include:

Less engagement at work

One of the first signs to look out for is disengagement at work. Most software engineers are passionate. They are often hungry to learn new things and look for constant ways to get better at their job. They also love to help where they can. In short, developers love what they do.

However, that is only the case when they are not experiencing burnout. Burnout takes away all the flame, passion, and drive - and this translates directly into how they write codes or interact with their teammates. They may find themselves not only lacking the motivation to start the job, but also no longer care about feedback.

Experience of fatigue

Physical and mental fatigue are warning signs of software engineer burnout. You may experience changes in your sleeping habits - you may feel like you need more midday naps. It is harder to fall asleep at night, even though you have probably gone through many nights without proper sleep.

Physical fatigue is only the beginning. From there, it is easy to experience mental fatigue. You will find it hard to concentrate. You then become disorganized, lose track of the tasks you are doing, or zone out multiple times.

You may find it frustrating to be unable to complete the tasks with the same productivity and focus as before. You might even express irritation toward your coworkers.

Reduction in the quality of work

Burnout in developers may cause a reduction in the quality of work. Feeling unmotivated by the tasks ahead, or feeling disengaged at work, might be the reasons behind this. From there, the coding speed slows down significantly, or you just want to get the work over with. Lastly, you may make more mistakes, some of which might even be the ones you normally avoid or catch easily at your optimal state.

Procrastination

It becomes harder and harder for you to actually sit down at your table and start doing work. You would much rather prefer another quick scroll through social media, small talks with friends and colleagues, or another midday nap. Sitting down to work becomes a dreadful thought.

This is a sign of burnout, or that you are approaching burnout. It is true that everyone procrastinates from time to time, but if procrastination becomes a trend, it is likely you are suffering from burnout.

Reasons Behind Developer Burnout

Understanding the causes of developer burnout is one of the first steps in acknowledging and tackling the issue.

Due to the demanding nature of the job and the long hours a developer has to put in, they are quite vulnerable to burnout. There are numerous causes behind software engineer burnout, but in this article, we will take a look at them in two groups: external and internal causes.

External causes of software engineer burnout

Most external reasons for developer burnout has to do with bad management. These are also the same reasons why a software project may fail. So make sure your tech team management is doing a good job managing your software engineers - they are crucial not just for your project success, but also for employee satisfaction.

Monotonous job

Repeating the same kind of job in the very same spot day after day can feel as if you are not moving forward or progressing. Even when a developer loves his or her job, writing the same kinds of codes day after day can be demotivating. It is easy to feel stuck, demotivated, less engaged, and then eventually, burnout.

Bad programming culture or working environment

Toxic working environment like bullying, gaslighting, or manipulation surely takes a toll on your mental health and keep you from even wanting to go to work. Bad communication, no clarity in roles, or poor leadership also can be possible factors contributing to burnout.

It is always comforting to have a software team that gives you constructive feedback, provides you with the recognition you need, and cares about your personal growth.

Tight, unrealistic deadlines

Software engineers often face strict, even unrealistic deadlines. Not only are they unrealistic, but they also cause frustration, poor results, and inefficiency. The long hours spent sitting and staring at the glowing blue screen generate a high level of stress.

If not addressed properly, chronic stress can result in burnout.

Lack of control

If a developer feels as if he has no influence or is unable to make a contribution during the decision-making process, there will be a detachment from the company’s vision or mission. Further down the line, this creates a gap between the employee and managers and results in tension.

Internal causes of burnout

This is not to blame the developers for the burnout they are suffering from, but certain internal traits or habits do contribute to their likelihood of going through burnout. Some of these may be:

A lack of healthy habits

One of the most common causes of burnout is the unhealthy habit of sitting at your desk for eight hours straight, staring at a glowing screen. The overwhelming amount of tasks and deadlines might have put many in the position of compromising their own health and sleep quality, to deliver the results a manager or client has asked for.

Overworking oneself has never been a sustainable way of doing one’s job. It only pushes you closer to mental and physical fatigue which ultimately leads to burnout.

Value conflict

A misalignment of the organization’s, the team’s, and individual values can quickly result in chronic stress. A constant internal struggle between maintaining one’s personal principles and following the company’s mission can be extremely exhausting.

Personality traits

Burnout can also partly stem from one’s innate personality traits like perfectionism, the inability to set proper boundaries and delegating work, the strong need for recognition, or over-commitment to the job.

Such psychological qualities might increase stress levels, making developers more susceptible to burnout.

Conclusion

Burnout is an everyday challenge. Every employee faces this challenge, but developers are more susceptible to it due to the stressful nature of the job. Make sure to prioritize yourself over your job, and be careful not to let it spill over into other important relationships in your life.