Software Developer, Technical Lead here. First, it helps to define "work". I am in the office for 8 hours in a day, but I'm not working that entire time (like

Software Developer, Technical Lead here. First, it helps to define "work". I am in the office for 8 hours in a day, but I'm not working that entire time (like when I'm writing a comment on HN). In terms of actual work performed, it will always vary day-to-day, but I tend to be actively engaged in thinking about work-related items about 6 hours a day. Everybody has different body and mind chemistry, so working 12 hours for some is more productive than working 6 hours for others. I've overworked myself before, doing 14-16 hours a day for a year, and burned out. In hindsight I also realized that, although I was vigorously working for 14 hours, I wasn't being very productive and the recovery time takes a lot longer than if I had mentally paced myself. It was actually better for me to work less and be more productive (a "work smarter, not harder" sort of thing). But as I prefaced before, YMMV.