Summer can be a tricky season for software developers. The sun is shining. Cookouts, campouts, and family vacations are calling. Project timelines tend to slow down as teammates rotate in and out. If we are not cognizant of it, this seasonal shift can compound into something harder to shake: disengagement. I’ve been there. Still shipping good work, still showing up for my team, but feeling like the spark that keeps me excited about building software is flickering. This year, I’ve picked up a few strategies that enhance engagement, keep me learning and growing as a developer, even during the summer slump.
Why Engagement Matters
Our work as software developers is deeply creative, even if it doesn’t always feel that way. When I’m feeling curious, motivated, and connected to what I’m building, the difference shows. As an consultant and as an Atom, I strive not only for productivity, but for thoughtfulness and longevity in the solutions I craft.
Staying engaged with my work helps me steer clear of burnout and boredom. It allows me to bring fresh energy to my team, ask better questions, and craft better solutions for my client. It also helps me make better software. When I care deeply about the craft, I am more focused and I make decisions that lead to cleaner code. Most importantly, I it helps me to keep enjoying the career I’ve chosen, not dread coming in to the office every day.
What My Team Does to Keep Things Fresh
At Atomic Object, I’m lucky to work with thoughtful people who care both about exceeding client expectations and working at a sustainable pace. When a project stretches across months or even years, we make intentional choices to keep things dynamic:
Change up pairs
Pairing is a common software development practice. Rotating pairs each sprint helps keep conversations fresh and knowledge spread out. New perspectives often lead to creative approaches that reinvigorate a stale piece of code.
Revisit project rituals
We’re constantly adjusting team rituals to fit the current energy, helping us stay connected with each other and the project’s goals. We also share personal career development goals to find new opportunities for team members to stretch themselves within the current project.
These small adjustments help us stay aligned on project and personal goals and avoid the stagnation that can sneak in during long, steady-state phases.
How I Stay Engaged Personally
Even with the absolute best teammates and project structure, I’ve found I need personal strategies to stay sharp and excited. Here’s what works for me:
Side Projects
Having a small, low-pressure side project in the background (someting totally unrelated to my current project) lets me experiment, tinker, and play. These projects let me explore ideas that wouldn’t make sense on a client’s time and help me stay curious. As a Computer Engineering major, my early coding projects were all embedded, so I love a side project with some hardware components like when I built a MIDI controller or experimented with HTTP communication for IoT projects.
Another recent side projects came out of a desire to stay current with the rapid changes in AI tooling, especially around language models and agent-based systems. I built a simple application using LangGraph that merges my love of cooking with AI-driven intelligence. The app lets you input whatever ingredients you have on hand in your pantry, and it suggests creative recipe ideas on the fly. It was a fun way to experiment with emerging tools, and it reminded me how energizing it can be to blend personal interests with technical exploration.
Podcasts
Hearing about what other people are building can spark ideas or reignite a little excitement, and it never hurts to stay on top of trends.When I’m walking my dogs or cooking dinner, I’m often listening to software or tech podcasts.
A few of my favorites:
Conferences
I co-organize Merge, a tech conference in Grand Rapids, which gives me an amazing opportunity to connect with others in the software community. Whether I’m attending or volunteering, conferences always leave me energized and full of ideas.
This year, Atomic Object hosted a local “stay conference” that was equally inspiring. We set aside client work for a few days to dive into AI topics, share what we’ve been learning, and connect with Atoms outside of our usual teams. I used the time to hack on my AI-powered recipe generator and deepen my understanding of the current wave of AI technologies. Having dedicated space to explore and experiment like this not only sharpened my skills, but reminded me how fun it is to build for the sheer joy of learning.
Trying New Tools
Lately, I’ve been experimenting with Dia, a workflow-oriented IDE alternative. It’s amazing what a new interface can do for your motivation. Whether its a new tool or just a new CLI trick, trying new tools helps me stay aware of the broader evolution of our field. It also reminds me that software development is always changing, and there’s always more to learn.
A Season to Reset, Not Check Out
If summer is feeling slow or your project has lost its luster, you’re not alone. But this season can also be an opportunity to reset your habits, explore new ideas, and rediscover what excites you about software development. Burnout doesn’t always arrive as a dramatic crash. Sometimes, it creeps in quietly through disengagement. I’ve found that staying connected to the craft, my team, and my own curiosity is the best antidote.
If you’re feeling the summertime blues, try mixing it up. Pair with someone new. Explore a fresh tool. Attend a meetup or start that side project idea that’s been living in your notes app. Even small steps can spark the kind of motivation that lasts long after the summer sun fades.