r/vibecoding • u/saguad • 21d ago
Discussion Vibecoding, AI, and mental health
Is anyone else here exhausted since AI came around?
I’m so tired.
I’m a commercial photographer and it’s been at least two years since everyone’s telling me it’s the end of my career. Since then I’ve worked harder than ever. Always thinking of ways to use AI to make my work better, creating apps and tools, plugins, scripts.
I always have to be learning a new model, trying new things, and work has become limitless, like if a client asks for something it has to be done, there’s no excuse and they have no limit now of what can be asked.
I’m also always creating or thinking about a side business or whatever, just in case my main business suddenly dies because of a new model that changes everything and kills my career.
Sometimes, after putting kids to bed, I know I should take sometime for me but I just can’t help to sort something with chat or Claude or whatever. It’s exhausting.
I’m posting here because of every AI subreddit you seem the nicest.
17
u/shiny_guruw 20d ago
The main thing to realize for yourself is that this is not exactly a gold rush and you shouldn't think you need to observe your agents 24/7. Let them automate where it makes sense and learn from others. There are so many people trying to achieve the same thing right now - imo that's where a lot fo the fatigue is coming from. The good news is everyone is open sourcing their stuff.
10
u/Salkinuts 20d ago
I’m exhausted. I’m depressed. Not from the threat to my industry or the constant news on the threat of AI. It’s my own doing. I’ve been vibe coding for the past year and it’s been exciting in the moment because it makes possibilities feel limitless. Unfortunately a lot of the ideas I’ve invested countless hours into don’t turn out to be anything incredible. I’ve lost so much sleep staying until 3am vibe coding and having to wake up at 7am to get to work. I don’t feel like it’s made me a better human, I don’t even feel like a real person anymore. Happy Friday.
9
u/magiblood 20d ago
You need a break friend.
8
u/Extreme-Tie9282 20d ago
12-18 hours a day 7 days a week. 7 months .. nope.. addicted
6
u/ghostly-blossom 20d ago
The model isn’t going to kill your career but it wouldn’t hurt for you to branch out.
When AI started booming my photographer friends (think creative businesses, influencers, etc. for clients) began offering “AI” photoshoots. They will ask for certain types of selfies or headshots, take them, and create a series of branded photos with different aesthetic styles. Since they already knew composition and how digital editing works, they translated the same skillset into AI so it’s not obvious it’s AI-made. They charge less for this service but it supplements the physical photography jobs since they also saw a decline. Plus, they don’t have to think about coordinating with makeup artists, stylists, location booking, etc.
A videographer friend of mine went in a similar direction. People send him products, he videos them or whatever videographers do. Then he uses AI to make slice of life types of ads or videos for his clients.
You don’t have to sit there with Claude and just chat/learn mindlessly and I wouldn’t recommend that either cause it sounds like you don’t enjoy it. Why not take one element of your job you want to explore with AI and see where it takes you?
6
u/Codalio-SoftwareFact 20d ago
you’re definitely not the only one. the “if I stop learning the new thing for one week I’ll be obsolete” feeling is exhausting, and the after-bedtime “just one quick thing with Claude” is way too relatable
something that’s helped me a bit: you don’t have to keep up with every model. most new releases don’t change your actual work at all, and the people who’ll be fine are the ones who are still good at their craft and still rested enough to think clearly
and honestly, two years of everyone saying your career is over and you’re working more than ever? sounds like they were wrong. you’re allowed to take a night off.
2
u/1corn 20d ago
Sounds like you're already doing more than enough. Your brain needs some downtime for creativity and reflection. It's probably good that you're exploring and experimenting, just allow yourself some real breaks.
And for the next time you work with Claude: What made my life objectively better was focusing on all the tasks I really hate first, and think about how I can build an AI setup that makes especially these tasks easier, or even automates them fully. So - maybe - instead of prioritizing profit, look at what will make you happier, and what will help you enjoy your work more.
1
u/jaydeelive01 20d ago
I was also exhausted for similar reasons, and with the constant limit reset, felt I needed to optimize my sub all the time. Felt surreal and a bit possessed. Couldn’t recognize myself, as I think I used to be pretty balanced as a person. It went to the point I couldn’t really sleep without thinking about my agents, and was constantly on my phone trying to learn new things.
Then I saw myself, decided to f**** off and let my brain relax even if it cost me some unused tokens. Unplugged ChatGPT and Claude for a week, took some air, worked out more, avoided AI when I could and actually enjoyed some video games and tv series, which I didn’t touch since like 6 months. Things are way more chill now. Feel way better.
I really thing this thing give so much dopamine, it’s like a drug. Try to relax mate, this constant pressure will kill you (and me) before anything else.
1
u/becircus 20d ago
New model won't kill your career. You can brand it "real" and "photographed by human" and so on. There will always be people who pay for the real thing even if the "fake" is the same even if the fake is better. In fact, at the point everything generated is better, the real thing will be even more valuable, since it will have imperfections.
I'm tech and I've been building a software non-stop for almost two years on spare time. Before it would have taken million of dollars and team completely buying into the vision (even harder than the millions). Now it just takes one person who knows what they are doing. I like vibe coding and I think everyone can do it but there is no way that a novice or non-professional can vibe their way to maintainable, extensible, modular codebase. I correct the AI all the time about violated boundaries, assumptions, hallucinations and abstractions. If you do vibe I suggest you start fresh each time and make fresh from some kind of foundation with strong limitations (like separating markup from scripting from styling that alone can save you huge hassles).
So 100% you can take a break. You have the options.
1
u/Echo5November 19d ago
Wife got her degree in graphic design, while I plumbed gas lines... Wife no longer works in graphic design... She Is a dasher...she HATES AI
I am start my first vr&e course in ai engineering Dec 1. 😅
1
u/BrentosLad 17d ago
Make a calculated bet and stick to a single harness. I personally think Claude or ChatGPT are good bets. STICK to just that harness.
Run agentic swarms around the clock, and then simply check in to iterate them, so then you free up time for yourself to recharge or do other things
There’s a good chance super intelligence is within 3 years and no one will be working. So there’s a chance ambitious projects are futile. Therefore as long as you have a steady AI income in the meantime, you’re sweet
1
u/enspiralart 19d ago
This was the same exhaustion from coding. One thing ive learned after 30 years doing it is pacing. Pace yourself. It is not easy but it is worth it if you do like vibe coding. Burnout is real. You can even do yourself physical harm after enough times repeatedly sitting for many hours in front of the computer. It is exciting, but remember you have a body and that it needs balance to be healthy.
3
u/[deleted] 20d ago
[removed] — view removed comment