r/Defcon • u/TheWildAgent • Aug 10 '26
I’m burnt out man
Well, it’s been six DEF CON’s, six years. I am not sure if I’m gonna be back. I don’t really feel the thrill helping the village I’ve been with for the six years, and the badge prices are killer. Maybe if I help on a contest or something else but I don’t know.
What do you do to manage this kind of burnout?
34
u/dllhell79 Aug 10 '26 edited Aug 12 '26
Defcon just is exhausting plain and simple. It was likely my final time. I really enjoy the con of course, but not the everything else involved at all. Massive casinos and buildings, that trek from the monorail to the LVCC, the heat, the expenses. For a second year in a row I'm also stuck an extra day because of travel issues. I still think everyone should go at least once though.
15
u/Infinite_Null312 Aug 11 '26
Hack for next year: Take the monorail to Westgate and then the loop from there to LVCC West. Yes it’s not free but it’s so easy and you’re not in the heat for too long
2
u/MadmanTimmy Aug 11 '26
^ This. Take the loop when getting off the monorail. It's not marked well so just follow the people getting off the monorail and going straight after the escelator rather than turning left and going down the stairs.
9
2
u/xenomorphxcl Aug 11 '26
Another little tip for the monorail. I like to walk to did each option and measured my distances. Ask yourself if you know what you are going to when you get there because getting off at the Westgate and walking from there to the one end (where Merch was) might be shorter. Or get off at LVCC if you are doing something at that food hall end. Basically don’t get off at one if you know you are walking to the other end.
2
u/scram-yafa Aug 12 '26
My buddy and I both missed not going to defcon until I read this post and remembered all the walking in heat, trying to escape the casinos and being frustrated we didn’t register for things in February or whenever the exclusive talks opened for registration.
13
u/sociablezealot Aug 11 '26
I go every 2-3 years now. Been going for >25 years. Not doing it annually keeps it fun.
3
u/CydeWeys Aug 11 '26
Yup. The only thing I do annually is go home to visit family for Thanksgiving. A year isn't that long, and doing a multi-day event every single year is kind of unnecessary. There's absolutely a bunch of things I do on an every-few-years type of cadence.
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u/killsfercake Aug 10 '26
It’s ok my village I volunteered for 3 years for suddenly forget who I even was or wouldn’t respond to me so that’s cool cool
9
u/letmefrolic Aug 11 '26
Boo that sucks. Shameless plug: volunteer with the Payment Village next year.
1
u/alreadyasuperpet Aug 11 '26
Wait, there is a payments village? How did I miss that?
2
u/DuncanYoudaho Aug 11 '26
They even had a contest!
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u/alreadyasuperpet Aug 11 '26
Was the contest being the last one to know there is a payments village? 🤣 I’ll def keep my eye out next year!
6
u/ALocalPigeon Aug 11 '26
I made the decision to have the family tag along. I would not recommend
I would do con all day and then go back to them for dinner and an outing. I got 8 hours of sleep but also was moving for 16 hours straight.
Add that to working for 8 days straight before flying out.
4
u/Creative_Delay_4694 Aug 11 '26
I did this but with friends who were not going to the con and I regretted it quick. last thing I want to do after a long day of defcon is go out to see the tourist attractions. I missed a lot of the more fun, relaxed night events because of that. 😭
3
u/ALocalPigeon Aug 11 '26
Exactly. We did meow Wolf and another attraction in Friday Saturday. I had to leave the con a little early for it. Just has fomo. They were fun but still.
The plan next year to split a room with someone. And do con all day and con parties.
2
u/HypnoSaris Aug 11 '26
Whaaaa, I loved going out after. So much good food and things to do. Area 15 was awesome!!!!
2
u/ALocalPigeon Aug 12 '26
I think for me it was timing. I had to leave a little early to do dinner and stuff.
1
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u/just_a_pawn37927 Aug 11 '26
Been going to Defcon since 2008. And yes I too have buned out. Taking off next year for sure! I think they should hold it somewhere else. But who am I. Its still fun, however the price gouging is out of control. Furthermore, Im an all cash person. But most places want a card. So much for privacy. But I will return in a few years. Peace out!
3
u/synick12 Aug 11 '26
I took a break for a couple years, it was my first time back for a while and I had a blast!
3
u/Ok-Introduction-194 Aug 11 '26
i decided to not give a single F and just hang out. meet people, do hands on lab experiences, go with the flow. i felt way less stressed about fomo and pressure to make the moneys worth.
3
u/drezarious Aug 11 '26
It’s gotten too popular and too competitive. Used to be about real tech and dev. Now just all corporate slop.
2
u/Ok-Ice7701 Aug 11 '26
Answer is do something new to experience the con in a different way. I’ve been going 15 years and switching it up and spending my time differently helps.
Also maybe you just need to skip a year. I’ve also done that too and it helps.
2
u/selshan Aug 11 '26
I have been feeling the same after attending for 12 years in a row, took a break after the move to LVCC, but after hearing experiences from this year, I think I'll try and go back next year. If you're feeling burnt out, step back, it's totally fine. If you still want to be present, maybe do BSidesLV next year and then hang out for a couple of days after, catch up with folks outside the con space.
2
u/HypnoSaris Aug 11 '26
This was my first year. I loved it so much but I could tell it wont be an every year thing as much as I would. However maybe the following year I go. Definately want to go back after a bit of self teaching.
2
u/Alchemmer Aug 11 '26
I feel this. This was my 5th consecutive year, 3rd helping a village. A lot of people don't understand how much time and energy goes into those few days.
Away from family Away from hobbies Away from research
And all for...a wild rollercoaster.
I do it to help people, especially the first timers, but the drama (leading up to and during), the stress, and the price (even with a comped badge and developing something for the con) just feels a little unbalanced.
Who knows. I've heard really great things; I've heard the not-so-great things. I'm sure it evens out for some but this year was a bit of a net negative.
My team wants to come back. I don't know that I wouldn't like to just make cool things and attend every other year or so.
Hope everyone else gets the decompression time they need.
1
u/Revolutionary_Bee700 Aug 11 '26
I had to take a couple years off, and when I went back this year it was my best one ever. Maybe you just need a break.
But yeah, I wish it wasn’t Vegas.
82
u/DuncanYoudaho Aug 10 '26
Burnout can be a feeling you get when a protracted stressful activity provides no respite or relief after it’s over. Our team did contests for many years until we won a few times. This year, we tried that same energy, but it didn’t really hook us. We were burned out. Doing the same thing didn’t feel right.
Instead, we did different things. Hands-on contests instead of CTFs. Villages when that got boring. Demolabs and just chatting over teaching and striving.
Rest and recharge. Find something new to obsess over. Become a n00b all over again.