Why Do So Many Programmers Lose Hope?
Soft Skills • Software Development Career Advice

Programmers can lose hope in just a few years in the industry if they don't have the tools to cope with pressures unique to the job.
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In the first decade of my career, I would get angry at everyone around me and turned to the Internet to vent my frustration.
It seemed like managers and other people who didn’t understand software development had caused me to lose hope in my future.
In this episode, I share what caused me to lose hope, and many programmers I run across struggle with these symptoms as well.
If you’re a programmer who has turned to escapism and joining the chorus of complainers – I implore you to reconsider!
Skip To Points In The Video
What causes us to lose hope?
- We’re Forced to Cut Corners (3:00)
- Cognitive Overload (4:33)
- Low Perception of Value (5:17)
- High Income Forces Deeper Goals (6:50)
- Learned Helplessness (8:31)
How can you get your hope back?
- Say No With Grace (10:38)
- Communicate Uncertainty (12:45)
- Ask for Help Earlier (15:28)
- Develop Empathy (16:48)
- Surround Yourself with Positive Devs (18:24)
Resources
- Programming Estimation – Estimate Software Tasks With Caution
- Say NO on a Software Project – So They Will Listen!
About the Healthy Software Developer show.
On the show, Jayme shares all of his teamwork and leadership strategies, guidelines for healthy company culture, and stories about real projects so you can have a sustainable career in the software industry.
Develop a mindset and habits to keep you calm so you still love writing code - avoiding the traps most developers fall into.
Jayme Edwards
A family man and veteran of over 30 software projects, Jayme experienced many wins and losses that led him to helping developers succeed in their careers online.