4 ms·

Semi-true; it depends how the extra 20 hours are spent for myself. I've had weeks where I program 60 hours or more and it's all spent well, and then the next we

Semi-true; it depends how the extra 20 hours are spent for myself. I've had weeks where I program 60 hours or more and it's all spent well, and then the next week I might be a little more burnt out.. take it a little easier and then sprint again.

JustSomeNobody 9y ago
Which goes towards 60 hour weeks are not sustainable...
- monk_e_boy 9y ago
  60 hours weeks aren't sustainable, but just look at teams during crunch weeks. They sure get a lot of work done. Sometimes you've just got to put the hours and effort in to get the work done on time. Now I quit very quickly after doing stupid hours a week. But I'd like to think the work produced was fine. Not that much different to a normal week. The work was all planned in detail, there weren't any big surprises, just lots of code to type in, lots of tests to write and run. I was just more tired.
  - learc83 9y ago
    How much of that extra work was because of the extra hours put in and how much was because people work harder when deadlines are close?
    - sokoloff 9y ago
      I was talking with a colleague the other day about "strategies for how to focus for 4 straight hours". The one that works best for me is for the deadline to be 4 hours and 15 minutes away.
      - majewsky 9y ago
        That's a popular adage: "I have a motivation problem until I have a time problem."
- jcranberry 9y ago
  A have a couple friends who work dawn until dusk for their startup. After several months they struggled with depression and managing their work life. After a little over a year they've adjusted and it's just routine.
  - ikeyany 9y ago
    > After a little over a year they've adjusted You mean they developed depression and gave up having a healthy work-life balance?
  - justbaker 9y ago
    I can sympathize, as this recently provoked myself to take a vacation for my mental health to recover. I went to an island with horrible internet and phone service and disconnected.. this helped me restore the fragile work/life balance I require. ^
- justbaker 9y ago
  I agree. This leads to burnout and it is not a pattern for a lengthy or successful career. I had to recently take time off in order to recharge from burnout... avoid getting to that point at all costs!
- luispedrocoelho 9y ago
  Which is a good reason not to work 60 hours regularly over the long term, but not a reason to never put in a 60 hour work week or even a few in a row. Elsewhere, I've written how it may be better to switch between periods of very long hours and downtime rather than a steady pace: https://metarabbit.wordpress.com/2014/02/26/average-work-week-is-over-a-few-thoughts-on-productivity/ https://metarabbit.wordpress.com/2014/02/26/average-work-wee...

JustSomeNobody 9y ago

Which goes towards 60 hour weeks are not sustainable...

monk_e_boy 9y ago
60 hours weeks aren't sustainable, but just look at teams during crunch weeks. They sure get a lot of work done. Sometimes you've just got to put the hours and effort in to get the work done on time. Now I quit very quickly after doing stupid hours a week. But I'd like to think the work produced was fine. Not that much different to a normal week. The work was all planned in detail, there weren't any big surprises, just lots of code to type in, lots of tests to write and run. I was just more tired.
- learc83 9y ago
  How much of that extra work was because of the extra hours put in and how much was because people work harder when deadlines are close?
  - sokoloff 9y ago
    I was talking with a colleague the other day about "strategies for how to focus for 4 straight hours". The one that works best for me is for the deadline to be 4 hours and 15 minutes away.
    - majewsky 9y ago
      That's a popular adage: "I have a motivation problem until I have a time problem."
jcranberry 9y ago
A have a couple friends who work dawn until dusk for their startup. After several months they struggled with depression and managing their work life. After a little over a year they've adjusted and it's just routine.
- ikeyany 9y ago
  > After a little over a year they've adjusted You mean they developed depression and gave up having a healthy work-life balance?
- justbaker 9y ago
  I can sympathize, as this recently provoked myself to take a vacation for my mental health to recover. I went to an island with horrible internet and phone service and disconnected.. this helped me restore the fragile work/life balance I require. ^
justbaker 9y ago
I agree. This leads to burnout and it is not a pattern for a lengthy or successful career. I had to recently take time off in order to recharge from burnout... avoid getting to that point at all costs!
luispedrocoelho 9y ago
Which is a good reason not to work 60 hours regularly over the long term, but not a reason to never put in a 60 hour work week or even a few in a row. Elsewhere, I've written how it may be better to switch between periods of very long hours and downtime rather than a steady pace: https://metarabbit.wordpress.com/2014/02/26/average-work-week-is-over-a-few-thoughts-on-productivity/ https://metarabbit.wordpress.com/2014/02/26/average-work-wee...