Can't perform like I used to 10 years ago

[sasguru]

I've noticed in last year or so my ability to grasp technical concepts, design decent data models or just get my head around any new system and data flows has gone down big time, things just don't synch in. Over the last few days I've been working on re-writting it an existing ETL process and I'm struggling with it, complex stuff but nothing I have not handled before. Looking back though 10 years I was working on more complex stuff and never had a problem.

Have others found the same as they got older, I can't tell if Im just getting slower to learn as I've got older or just had enough of IT and so bored it my brain is blocking it out.

I'm in my early forties and feel top of my game, mentally.
Am fixing the physical side which could be better.
And the reason, I think, is I've had some extra-curricular course or other going since my twenties.
The brain is like a muscle, use it or lose it.
It's too late for some on here.

[VectraMan]

I don't believe in that... I think the issue could be total boredom and disinterest, solution for that is take a break or find something else that interest you...

That.

I had a long period in my early 30s where I became completely bored, bored of programming, of IT or just work in general, didn't bother to stay up to date with things etc. I think it was just down to staying in one permie job too long. Then I became a contractor and the change meant I found it interesting again. 10 years later I think I perform much better than I did then.

[Troll]

I've noticed in last year or so my ability to grasp technical concepts, design decent data models or just get my head around any new system and data flows has gone down big time, things just don't synch in. Over the last few days I've been working on re-writting it an existing ETL process and I'm struggling with it, complex stuff but nothing I have not handled before. Looking back though 10 years I was working on more complex stuff and never had a problem.

Have others found the same as they got older, I can't tell if Im just getting slower to learn as I've got older or just had enough of IT and so bored it my brain is blocking it out.

Time to get into management....HTH

[MyUserName]

Unless it is something medical then you should be fine.

What has probably changed is your enthusiasm and drive to learn.

It also might be that the stuff you work on now is simply more complicated than what you did when you were younger and takes longer to learn?

[suityou01]

I've been off the tools for a couple of years. Recently had to get back on the tools. Built myself a VM, got a Microsoft Partner account and access to the MSDN.

Lots of new toys and unfamiliar things that turn out to be exactly the same as before but wearing a different dress.

Linq still mystifies me if I'm honest but I'm loving jquery and node.js.

So why not get a gig off the tools, then go back to it in a few months time and see how you feel.

By that time the .net framework will have it's on super framework where you draw applications on a tablet with your iCrayon

[Mich the Tester]

It also might be that the stuff you work on now is simply more complicated than what you did when you were younger and takes longer to learn?

I don't know if that's really the case. Systems are arguably much more complex now, because there are so many interconnected applications running within and outside of clientcos, and the drive for quick delivery makes it difficult to sufficiently analyse a situation. BUT, I don't think the tools are any more difficult to learn than in the past, and in fact some testing tools are much easier to use these days; trouble is, many hiring managers and HR numpties seem fixated on the tools, specifying experience with Something 8.4, and insisting that Something 8.2 is not sufficient experience, when in fact, if someone give you a 5 minute explanation with a diagram of the architecture, you'll probably understand it.

[TheFaQQer]

I've been off the tools for a couple of years. Recently had to get back on the tools. Built myself a VM, got a Microsoft Partner account and access to the MSDN.

Lots of new toys and unfamiliar things that turn out to be exactly the same as before but wearing a different dress.

Linq still mystifies me if I'm honest but I'm loving jquery and node.js.

So why not get a gig off the tools, then go back to it in a few months time and see how you feel.

By that time the .net framework will have it's on super framework where you draw applications on a tablet with your iCrayon

Are you seriously advising someone to follow your example as a guide to successful contracting?

[MyUserName]

I don't know if that's really the case. Systems are arguably much more complex now, because there are so many interconnected applications running within and outside of clientcos, and the drive for quick delivery makes it difficult to sufficiently analyse a situation. BUT, I don't think the tools are any more difficult to learn than in the past, and in fact some testing tools are much easier to use these days; trouble is, many hiring managers and HR numpties seem fixated on the tools, specifying experience with Something 8.4, and insisting that Something 8.2 is not sufficient experience, when in fact, if someone give you a 5 minute explanation with a diagram of the architecture, you'll probably understand it.

That might well be the case but it is not really what I meant. I work on C++, STL etc now and have done for several years. However, the complexity of the jobs I tackle now is far higher rather than the complexity of the tools, I was wondering if that might be the case for the OP.

[BolshieBastard]

Well, I managed two jumps this morning so Im performing as well as I did 10 years ago!

[MyUserName]

Well, I managed two jumps this morning so Im performing as well as I did 10 years ago!

Right AND left hand?