Anyone else feel weird on weekends as a dev?

[Vikram]

You finally get some free time, but instead of relaxing your brain starts asking:
- Should I build something?
- Learn a new stack?
- Boost my income?
- Or just do nothing?
Then you open the laptop... stare at the screen... close it again.
What do you usually do when this happens?

[Anand]

Usually I spend weekends working on my side‑hustle projects or learning new skills. It's hard for me to just sit idle or be lazy on weekends.

[Madhav]

Throughout the week I jot down any ideas that come up, and on the weekend I try to experiment with them.

[Bhavya]

Sha, you're saying that on weekends everywhere is so crowded it feels like a Kumbh‑Mela, and if you don't go out you just end up watching reels all day. Even the screen feels worn out now.

[Bhavya]

Yeah, same thing happens to me. I think social media and low‑gratification apps like Insta reels and YouTube shorts are a big part of it. I don't watch Insta reels much, but I do binge YT shorts. It's completely rewired my brain. I still remember doing marathon coding sessions building something awesome. These days I procrastinate and give up much easier.

[Radhika]

I'm learning and building new projects every weekend so that when I create my own portfolio it looks impressive and adds value to my resume.

[Khushi]

Don't you have a life outside work?

[Sakshi]

Lol, same here.
I just open my personal laptop and start doing the things you mentioned or brainstorm with ChatGPT.

[Shashi]

Every weekend feels like an existential crisis. On LinkedIn it looks like everyone is miles ahead. With close friends I see the reality in our circle. But when I scroll social media or read news, I see headlines saying our jobs will disappear because Claude did something. So I stopped worrying and just focus on my job, trying to improve myself during weekdays. On weekends I just relax, do chores, help my parents, spend time with them, and try to watch one or two movies. I feel hustle culture has become normal, but when I talk to my non‑Indian managers they seem to have a perfect work‑life balance. I'm just trying to live until I can...

[Omkar]

At least you have a job and get Saturday‑Sunday weekends. I've been jobless for two years now. Every day feels like a weekend for me. I'm just waiting for my life's end...

[Mukesh]

This kind of anxiety raises stress hormones unless you learn to relax.