Striking the Balance: Work, Life, and Mental Well-being in Tech - Erik

This episode of the Mental Health in Tech podcast features Erik Andersen, also known as the world’s happiest software engineer, who delves into the mental health challenges faced by developers in the tech industry, and the importance of supporting junior developers and fostering a supportive tech community. Erik shares that while he does call himself the world’s happiest software engineer, this is more of a goal and a means to keep himself accountable. Erik continues to highlight the strategies he employs to not only cope with, but thrive while living with anxiety, and depression, dealing with burnout, and fostering a work-life balance. The conversation also explores the role of employers in creating a supportive work environment that values work-life balance and invests in their employee's mental health and professional development. Eric emphasizes the importance of finding a job that aligns with one's values, provides a sense of purpose, and allows for a healthy work-life balance. Additionally, the impact of AI on the job market and its potential effect on the mental health of junior developers is discussed, underscoring the need for support and empowerment within the tech community. Take care of yourself while listening. We touch on sensitive topics as part of this podcast. Those topics can include mental illness, depression, suicide ideation, death, and related mental health and mental illness topics. We understand that these subjects can be sensitive and may be triggering for some individuals. We encourage you to prioritize your well-being and mental health while listening. If you feel overwhelmed or need support, please get in touch with a mental health professional or a helpline in your country. Remember, you are not alone, and there is help available. Follow the link to find the help you need. Links * Erik Andersen on LinkedIn * The Junior Jobs podcast * Book: Extreme Ownership * Schalk Venter on LinkedIn * Schalk Neethling on LinkedIn * Mechanical Ink Studio Community * Join the community on Slack * Continue the conversation on GitHub or here on Substack * Support the podcast on Patreon * Recorded with Riverside.fm (Affiliate link) Help Others Find The Podcast * Rate and review on Spotify * Rate and review on Apple Podcasts Thanks for reading Mechanical Ink Studio - Open Source - Open Web! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit schalkneethling.substack.com