I understand you. I am also self-taught webdev working in small company with loooots of legacy/scary code behind us.
I somewhat lost interest in new cool frameworks/technologies and somewhat stagnated in "JQuery era".
For me, these three ideas helped:
1) have life outside work. Have some hobbbies/friends/social activities. Do not try to find meaning in work.
2) do something completely different with computers. For example - I started making computer music, coding my own VST instruments in Csound etc...
3) try new technologies in meaningful project. Not just code for code sake. For example: I am currently implementing custom point of sales system for friend who is curating gallery. In this system I have tried to use Vue.js and found it very useful.
I think I actually agree with your #1 item but also find it sad as 8-10 hours a day is a lot of time to just grind for the sake of supporting your other activities. I'd love to find a middle ground but it may not exist.
I somewhat lost interest in new cool frameworks/technologies and somewhat stagnated in "JQuery era".
For me, these three ideas helped:
1) have life outside work. Have some hobbbies/friends/social activities. Do not try to find meaning in work.
2) do something completely different with computers. For example - I started making computer music, coding my own VST instruments in Csound etc...
3) try new technologies in meaningful project. Not just code for code sake. For example: I am currently implementing custom point of sales system for friend who is curating gallery. In this system I have tried to use Vue.js and found it very useful.