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I use a similar technique, combined with meticulous time tracking of every and any minute I spend professionally. As somebody who is self-employed, I quickly re

I use a similar technique, combined with meticulous time tracking of every and any minute I spend professionally. As somebody who is self-employed, I quickly realized that working 8+ hours per day is an absolute myth. I count any day where I spent more than 4 hours in a state of focused work as a great day, and weeks where I spend more than 20 hours a week are rare. My personal goal has shifted from trying to work as many hours as possible to compressing these 4 productive hours into the smallest time window possible. Arriving at 10am at work, and leaving at 5pm is close to the optimum in my experience, due to coffee breaks, lunch, and the occasional goofing off on HN. So no, you're not cheating the system, you are probably running at optimum efficiency. The efficiency of the average employee in terms of productive hours per day spent in chair is ridiculously low. As a side note: I'm very much wondering whether I should insist on 40 hour work weeks when I get to the point of hiring people. I know there is a movement going for the 4-day workweek, but I personally see more in a 6 hour work day.

Lightbody 5y ago
Related: https://twitter.com/tobi/status/1210242188870930433?s=21 https://twitter.com/tobi/status/1210242188870930433?s=21
milesvp 5y ago
I have found similar results in my time tracking. At best 2 flow hours before lunch. 2 flow hours after lunch. Sometimes bonus 1.5 flow hours after ‘tea time’ (not sustainable). Sometimes bonus 1 flow hour after dinner (completely unsustainable). Basically 4hrs is sutainable. 5.5 is pushing it. Also I’ve found if you don’t take at least a whole day off (hobbies that look like work don’t quite count as time off) then daily concentration with quickly deteriorates as well. edit: I should note that these are high concentration hours, my data isn’t as good for non heads down work.
netjiro 5y ago
> As a side note: I'm very much wondering whether I should insist on 40 hour work weeks Productive h/w varies way too much from person to person and by circumstance. I let ppl set their own expected work schedule for the next few weeks by themselves as long as they keep the prediction up to date and their accuracy is reasonable. I have had ppl get solid 40-60h/w effective time on target, and I have also seen <10h/w. The ppl I bring in are better at predicting their productivity and current life situation than I am. They are competent adults. Let them plan, structure, coordinate by themselves and only interfere if evidently necessary. One size fits all is nonsense. If in doubt: measure and analyse.

Lightbody 5y ago

Related: https://twitter.com/tobi/status/1210242188870930433?s=21 https://twitter.com/tobi/status/1210242188870930433?s=21

milesvp 5y ago

I have found similar results in my time tracking. At best 2 flow hours before lunch. 2 flow hours after lunch. Sometimes bonus 1.5 flow hours after ‘tea time’ (not sustainable). Sometimes bonus 1 flow hour after dinner (completely unsustainable). Basically 4hrs is sutainable. 5.5 is pushing it. Also I’ve found if you don’t take at least a whole day off (hobbies that look like work don’t quite count as time off) then daily concentration with quickly deteriorates as well. edit: I should note that these are high concentration hours, my data isn’t as good for non heads down work.

netjiro 5y ago

> As a side note: I'm very much wondering whether I should insist on 40 hour work weeks Productive h/w varies way too much from person to person and by circumstance. I let ppl set their own expected work schedule for the next few weeks by themselves as long as they keep the prediction up to date and their accuracy is reasonable. I have had ppl get solid 40-60h/w effective time on target, and I have also seen <10h/w. The ppl I bring in are better at predicting their productivity and current life situation than I am. They are competent adults. Let them plan, structure, coordinate by themselves and only interfere if evidently necessary. One size fits all is nonsense. If in doubt: measure and analyse.