I had a similar issue, it started 5 years ago, I was training and got a spasm in my back, it happened a few more times over the next year.
The spasm would take 10-30 seconds to fade, but it left behind a discomfort in my back, and the discomfort wouldn't go. especially when I approached work. if I was gaming or having fun, the pain would go.
it was chronic, stayed with me for 3-4 years, until I couldn't sit for longer than 5 minutes without my back killing me.
I tried posture exercises, sitting straight for long periods of time with a good posture, shoulders back and down, 90 degree elbows, 90 degree knees, monitor right infront of my eyes instead of looking down on a laptop.
But the pain only got worse, and I got depressed, then had to quit coding for 1.5 years.
until someone here I think mentioned a book called "Heal your back", I thought it was BS but read it anyway, and I found a cure to my back there. Turns out its in a totally another place.
I was extremely stressed, and I was not taking care of my psychology, and my perfectionism was contributing lots to the stress and therefore more pain.
It's called TMS "tension myositis syndrome", basically when stress becomes real pain that you feel in your body. and now I'm seeing more and more therapists for it, search Pain Reprocessing Therapy on youtube
So can I conclude from what you said, that I should have my contributions profile ready for when an opportunity is open at a company I'm contributing to, I have a higher chance to get the opportunity compared to non-contributors?
no, the conclusion actually is to make friends with the core developers. contributing good code is one way to do that, but writing excellent documentation, or filling some other need in the community can also work.
I don't think "more than once" can get you a job, my goal was to contribute a LOT, like full-time for 3-6 months on issues that no one wants to work on so I actually impress.
"regular jobs" where I live, offer very bad compensation packages. I see a lot of remote companies offering good pay along with a good environment and good benefits.
The spasm would take 10-30 seconds to fade, but it left behind a discomfort in my back, and the discomfort wouldn't go. especially when I approached work. if I was gaming or having fun, the pain would go.
it was chronic, stayed with me for 3-4 years, until I couldn't sit for longer than 5 minutes without my back killing me.
I tried posture exercises, sitting straight for long periods of time with a good posture, shoulders back and down, 90 degree elbows, 90 degree knees, monitor right infront of my eyes instead of looking down on a laptop.
But the pain only got worse, and I got depressed, then had to quit coding for 1.5 years.
until someone here I think mentioned a book called "Heal your back", I thought it was BS but read it anyway, and I found a cure to my back there. Turns out its in a totally another place.
I was extremely stressed, and I was not taking care of my psychology, and my perfectionism was contributing lots to the stress and therefore more pain.
It's called TMS "tension myositis syndrome", basically when stress becomes real pain that you feel in your body. and now I'm seeing more and more therapists for it, search Pain Reprocessing Therapy on youtube
I hope this helps someone :)