Start with getting excessive amounts of sleep, if you haven't already. I've found that burnout for me is caused by sleep deprivation. And when I get enough sleep, I feel really good and the burnout lifts greatly, even for things I don't like working on but it can take a week or two to actually catch up on sleep for me.

I can tell if I'm sleep deprived when walking up stairs. If I'm sleep deprived it just feels hard. And if I'm not sleep deprived I actually have a little spring in my step up the stairs.

There's a good video by levelsio and how he comes up with ideas for things he wants to work on.

I only have one month of runway and I'm working nights and weekends to build my first product now. So you are in a good position if you have that much runway!

35. Almost the same position as you!

Personally, before doing anything else, I would take at least 3-4 weeks and have a proper break. It will take you at least 1-2 weeks to get out of “work mode”.

Stop thinking about work, ideas, the next thing, etc. Get off social media, HN, Reddit etc. Try and distance yourself from all of the things that may have contributed to the burnout in the first place.

I’d probably do some travel in that time - maybe a week or two going to a country I haven’t been to before.

Once I was back, I’d then start to consider my next move with (hopefully) a fresher and clearer mindset.

Go travel the world. Now is a perfect time since you have money enough and it'd last more in many other countries.

Don’t have an existential crisis, because you’re thirty and it’s not the time. Right now you need to be recharged as much as possible so you can seem to walk up to any situation as a “likely yes if possible”.

I would encourage you to explore professions that you might find more fulfilling. I had found myself in a similar situation as you.

Some ideas that I explored were working for a church or non profit, starting an interior design firm with my wife (she’s a designer), advising startups, etc.

2 years later, I’m advising a couple start ups, on the board of two non profits, and back in tech.

I’m not thrilled about being back in tech. But the other ways I’m spending my time help provide me balance.

Go to Latin America for a few months and think about what career would make me happy.

Learn to fly hang gliders.

Travel cheap countries.

Make (more) kids.

Woodworking is always here. As is local politics. But you said you're not up to building something.

I also just quit a job, but on my own terms.

For me, I'm going to spend the next 6 months focusing on:

- Fitness and Eating right

- Baking bread

- Learning Spanish with my partner

- Travelling

- After 1 month, I'll pick up coding again - but for now my brain needs a big break. I have a few parked projects I want to revisit without the slot machine genies help

Just have a break from tech. It will still be here when you get back, look after yourself first. Just have the confidence that you will bounce back when you are ready. Thats what I'm telling myself.

If it doesn't work out, there are other careers, more to the world than computers

Go to countries with lower cost of living than where you are, travel around, avoid doom scrolling on the internet, and I think you will figure it out on the way.

consider a Peace Corps assignment. Besides the standard 27 month option, there are shorter term options in host countries and there are virtual volunteer positions where you serve from wherever you are. www.PeaceCorps.gov

Decompress. A few days, a week. Let your brain clear. Get good sleep, go for walks, eat well and hydrate. Do little things you enjoy and take time to reflect. Try not to stare at screens too much. Look at the sky.

The answers will come. Once you've had some time to process you'll know what to do. Don't overthink it. Just take some time to relax.

I've had a few of these breaks in my life. It's time to take stock and move on. Sometimes retrain or learn something new. But ultimately breaks are good. Just don't force the change. It will come. Slow and steady wins the race.