Hey, Astana Hub!

We at proEgo are residents, just like you. We're building a HealthTech platform, writing code every day, holding our daily stand-ups, and living in a world of deadlines. As experts in mental health, we see from the inside that burnout in our industry is no accident and not a sign of personal weakness.

Often, burnout is discussed as a personal problem: "you're just tired," "take a vacation," "you need to be more productive." But in reality, it's a predictable outcome of the very system we work in. Burnout in IT isn't a bug. It's a feature.

Let's break down the systemic "features" that cause it and how we can "patch" this system at both the personal and team level.

1. The Cult of the Deadline and the Eternal Sprint.

Our work is a series of sprints that often flow into one another without a break. A release, a hotfix, a new epic, another release. IT culture normalizes a constant state of urgency and racing against the clock. The body, constantly running on adrenaline, eventually becomes depleted and switches to survival mode on cortisol—the hormone of chronic stress. This leads to constant anxiety and the inability to relax.

2. The Overachiever Culture and Imposter Syndrome as an Industry Standard.

The tech industry attracts and rewards high-achievers—people driven to solve complex problems. This is great, but when combined with the abstract nature of our work ("I wrote 1,000 lines of code, but what did it change?"), it creates the perfect breeding ground for imposter syndrome. The persistent feeling of "I'm not good enough" forces us to overwork to "prove" our worth and devalue our real accomplishments.

3. Blurred Boundaries as the New Norm.

Flexible schedules and remote work are huge benefits. But they have also erased the boundary between the work laptop and the living room sofa. A Slack notification at 10 PM, an urgent edit on a Saturday, a "quick look at the code" before bed—all of this has become normal. The workday never truly ends, and the brain never switches into full recovery mode.

4. Abstract Value and Alienation from the Result.

A backend developer can work for six months optimizing a microservice and never see how their work impacts a real user. This detachment from a tangible, human result is a powerful demotivator. If you don't see the meaning in your work beyond lines of code, your internal motivation will inevitably run dry.

Fixing this system requires working on yourself and on your team's processes simultaneously.

Level 1: The Personal "Patch" (for Specialists)

1. Acknowledge the System: The first step is to stop blaming yourself. Understand that your fatigue and apathy are normal reactions to abnormal conditions. You aren't broken; you're working in a system that promotes burnout.
2. Set Your Boundaries: Define and (the hardest part) start communicating your rules. For example: "I do not respond to work chats after 8 PM." Turn off notifications. Make it a rule to have lunch without your laptop. This isn't selfishness; it's professional hygiene.
3. Find an "Offline Compiler": Pick up a hobby with a tangible, physical result that’s completely unrelated to screens. Pottery, assembling furniture, playing the guitar, sports. This is essential to compensate for the abstract nature of IT work.
4. Don't Ignore the "Error Logs": Your psyche constantly sends you signals—anxiety, apathy, insomnia, irritability. These aren't things to "push through." They are critical error notifications from your system. Discuss them with someone you trust, or with a psychologist.

Level 2: The Organizational "Patch" (for Leaders)

Conclusion:

Burnout is a systemic failure that requires a systemic solution. In our hub, let's build not only cool products but also healthy, sustainable companies where people want to work for years, not burn out in one.

At proEgo, we not only help IT specialists manage burnout individually but also work with tech companies to build healthy and productive corporate cultures.

If you, as a leader or HR professional, want to implement a systemic psychological support program for your team, we would be happy to share our expertise. You can learn more on our website.