Mental Health in Tech - OSS edition

Talk for OggCamp 2024
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This is a re-make of a talk about mental health and tech I did a while back: "In the fast-paced world of frontend development, burnout and stress are common challenges. Join me as I share my personal journey of overcoming these obstacles and achieving a healthier work-life balance. Drawing from my podcast "debug mind," where I discuss mental health with tech professionals, I'll provide practical strategies and insights to help you manage stress and prevent burnout. Let's bring mental health conversations to the forefront and support each other in thriving in our careers without sacrificing our well-being."

With an added extra sprinkle of Open Source specific notions and slides for the lovely folks of OggCamp 2024!

Transcript

1. Mental Health in Tech Overcoming Burnout and Stress
2. 👋
 I’m Lorenzo he/him ✦ Technologist @ Sovereign Tech Fund ✦ ex-Microsoft ✦ ex-React Native maintainer ✦ 🏠 kelset.dev 2 13-10-2024 - #OggCamp2024 - @kelset been seeing a therapist for 7+ years
3. Mental Health in Tech 3 13-10-2024 - #OggCamp2024 - @kelset
4. Mental Health in Tech WHAT WHY 4 13-10-2024 - #OggCamp2024 - @kelset
5. Mental Health WHAT 5 13-10-2024 - #OggCamp2024 - @kelset
6. Mental Health in Tech What “Burn-out is a syndrome conceptualized as resulting from chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed. It is characterized by three dimensions: feelings of energy depletion or exhaustion; increased mental distance from one’s job, or feelings of negativism or cynicism related to one's job; and reduced professional e ffi cacy. Burn-out refers speci fi cally to phenomena in the occupational context and should not be applied to describe experiences in other areas of life.” WHO de fi nition 6 13-10-2024 - #OggCamp2024 - @kelset
7. Mental Health in Tech What “Burn-out is a syndrome conceptualized as resulting from chronic workplace stress that has not been successfully managed. It is characterized by three dimensions: feelings of energy depletion or exhaustion; increased mental distance from one’s job, or feelings of negativism or cynicism related to one's job; and reduced professional e ff i cacy. Burn-out refers speci fi cally to phenomena in the occupational context and should not be applied to describe experiences in other areas of life.” WHO de fi nition 7 13-10-2024 - #OggCamp2024 - @kelset
8. Mental Health in Tech What PT de fi nition 8 13-10-2024 - #OggCamp2024 - @kelset
9. Mental Health in Tech What PT de fi nition “Some stress is necessary for all living systems” 9 13-10-2024 - #OggCamp2024 - @kelset
10. Mental Health in Tech What work + a lot of stress = burnout 10 13-10-2024 - #OggCamp2024 - @kelset
11. Mental Health in Tech What work + a lot of stress = burnout anxiety
 impostor syndrome 
 overwork
 toxic environment
 open source 🙃
 … 11 13-10-2024 - #OggCamp2024 - @kelset
12. …in Tech WHY 12 13-10-2024 - #OggCamp2024 - @kelset
13. Mental Health in Tech Why 81% developers reporting increased burnout due to the pandemic Haystack Analytics - 2021 13 13-10-2024 - #OggCamp2024 - @kelset
14. Mental Health in Tech Why 73% developers have experienced burnout JetBrains Survey - 2023 14 13-10-2024 - #OggCamp2024 - @kelset
15. Mental Health in Tech Why 20% developers happy at work StackOver fl ow Survey - 2024 15 13-10-2024 - #OggCamp2024 - @kelset
16. cult of personality lack of emotional intelligence buggy code hustle culture 16 13-10-2024 - #OggCamp2024 - @kelset Mental Health in Tech Why imposter syndrome un fi nished products
17. Mental Health in Tech Why link 17 13-10-2024 - #OggCamp2024 - @kelset
18. Mental Health in Tech Why it’s even worse in OSS 18 13-10-2024 - #OggCamp2024 - @kelset link
19. Mental Health in Tech Why it’s even worse in OSS 19 13-10-2024 - #OggCamp2024 - @kelset link link link link
20. My Experience 20 13-10-2024 - #OggCamp2024 - @kelset
21. <this is the slide where Lorenzo just rambles about his burnout>
22. My Experience toxic fl atmates a new country overwork 1h commute rage management 22 13-10-2024 - #OggCamp2024 - @kelset
23. cult of personality lack of emotional intelligence buggy code hustle culture 23 13-10-2024 - #OggCamp2024 - @kelset My Experience imposter syndrome un fi nished products
24. My Experience 24 13-10-2024 - #OggCamp2024 - @kelset
25. debug:mind 25 13-10-2024 - #OggCamp2024 - @kelset
26. debug:mind 26 13-10-2024 - #OggCamp2024 - @kelset link
27. debug:mind 27 13-10-2024 - #OggCamp2024 - @kelset imposter syndrome ADHD open source PTSD depression emotions chronic pain vulnerability burnout
28. “Practical” Strategies that worked for me a curated sublist 28 13-10-2024 - #OggCamp2024 - @kelset
29. “Practical” Strategies Mindset Shifts 29 13-10-2024 - #OggCamp2024 - @kelset
30. “Practical” Strategies Mindset Shifts A. I am more hurt by my expectation of someone than by their actions B. Procrastination is me not wanting to do something for some actual reason C. It’s ok to say no 30 13-10-2024 - #OggCamp2024 - @kelset
31. “Practical” Strategies 31 13-10-2024 - #OggCamp2024 - @kelset link
32. “Practical” Strategies Relationship To Work 32 13-10-2024 - #OggCamp2024 - @kelset
33. “Practical” Strategies Relationship To Work A. Noone will die if it takes me a bit longer B. Use tasklists to prove myself I am making progress C. Use my sick days for mental health days 33 13-10-2024 - #OggCamp2024 - @kelset
34. “Practical” Strategies Personal Life 34 13-10-2024 - #OggCamp2024 - @kelset
35. “Practical” Strategies Personal Life A. Get a therapist B. No coffee in the afternoon C. A routine is the best counteract to depression 35 13-10-2024 - #OggCamp2024 - @kelset
36. “Practical” Strategies Sleep 36 13-10-2024 - #OggCamp2024 - @kelset
37. “Practical” Strategies Sleep A. Ensure around 8hrs of sleep per night B. Bedroom = no phone zone C. Tools to help ensure good sleep (sleep trackers, better pillow, sunlight alarm) 37 13-10-2024 - #OggCamp2024 - @kelset
38. “Practical” Strategies many, many more 38 13-10-2024 - #OggCamp2024 - @kelset
39. “Practical” Strategies many, many more 39 13-10-2024 - #OggCamp2024 - @kelset link
40. “Practical” Strategies one more thing 40 13-10-2024 - #OggCamp2024 - @kelset
41. “Practical” Strategies Dealing With Burnout 41 13-10-2024 - #OggCamp2024 - @kelset
42. “Practical” Strategies Dealing With Burnout A. Acknowledge it B. Cut off anything that is not strictly necessary C. Give yourself time to heal 42 13-10-2024 - #OggCamp2024 - @kelset
43. Let’s close it off 43 13-10-2024 - #OggCamp2024 - @kelset
44. Closing off mental health is important 44 13-10-2024 - #OggCamp2024 - @kelset
45. Closing off talk to someoneyou can trust 45 13-10-2024 - #OggCamp2024 - @kelset
46. thanks for listening! ✦ Lorenzo Sciandra ✦ @kelset ✦ 🏠 kelset.dev ✦ 🧠🎙 debug-mind.com 46 13-10-2024 - #OggCamp2024 - @kelset
47. open table! 47 13-10-2024 - #OggCamp2024 - @kelset
48. thanks you for participating! ✦ Lorenzo Sciandra ✦ @kelset ✦ 🏠 kelset.dev ✦ 🧠🎙 debug-mind.com 48 13-10-2024 - #OggCamp2024 - @kelset