how do you avoid burnout and getting taken advantage of?
sid: Feeling like what you have is the first step in your evolution ! I felt exactly the same way. Now your at a crossroads where you decide next what you want to do. First of all do what is more important. If you have the $$$ to do it, take a break, do whatever you need to do with your GF, with family so things are back on track.Like someone said earlier, sit on a rock and decided what you want to do next (i have a warf that i did that very thing on here in sydney).From a career point of view you usually only ever come up with two solutions. That you want to relax now, dont care about work and all you want to do is easy street. If thats your choice then find a big company, do support work get paid for your on call overtime, melt into the crowd of people  and live your days out restarting applications, writing scripts and doing things that require no brainpower. Start and 9 when your shift starts and leave at 5 when your shift ends. Hey presto, all the time in the world !Start a business, doesnt have to be a startup that is technology based or it can be. If you have a hobby maybe it can become a business, make you good income and you will have a happy life. I knew someone that actually left australia and went to bali and started a surfing safari in bali ! pays alright but he is a very happy man. Sun everyday   surfing every day, lives in a modest house, no stress.Or you can start a technology company, something along the lines of what your familiar with , work your ass off for a couple of years with the hopes of making it big and then opening the surf safari with all the money you made by either your profits or flipping (whatever you choose).The main point is i seen those old disgruntled people who work at the large companys complaining about their bosses and how they are just viewed as a resource, yes i empathise with them but what i dont tell them is it was their choice. They could have done it when they were younger but probably didnt cause they were having to much fun or work was very comfortable that they didnt need to look else where.Getting pushed and shoved so that it makes you realise that work is crap sooner then later is sometimes a blessing in disguise.