Work/Life Balance Will Make You a Better Software Engineer

Re:Work/Life Balance Will Make You a Better Software Engineer by StavrosK on Thursday November 10, 2016 @07:51PM (#12926348)

I don't know about 60 hours per week, but I work 32 hours (four eight-hour days), and it's fantastic. I noticed that Friday was the day I couldn't wait to end, but now I end the week right before it becomes boring. Every Thursday afternoon is "oh, it's the weekend already? Nice!" and I've been doing this for a year or so.

I definitely recommend it if you can take the salary hit.

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Re:Work/Life Balance Will Make You a Better Software Engineer by dahart on Thursday November 10, 2016 @08:10PM (#12926450)

I'm jealous, that's my goal and I feel like four 8 hour days or even five 6 hour days is a sweet spot. I'd take the salary hit in a heartbeat, most employers I have experience with don't want to deal with part time (I've asked).

Being self-employed at the moment, I'm contracting to pay bills and working on my company, it's the same thing as a never ending crunch time! I certainly feel like I'm getting more done than a 40 hour week, but maybe I'm not getting enough rest to know the difference. :P

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Re:Work/Life Balance Will Make You a Better Software Engineer by StavrosK on Thursday November 10, 2016 @08:19PM (#12926508)

What you're doing now is very very harmful. I used to do it too, and, because I didn't have specific hours, I would feel like I had to work all the time, and would feel guilty when I wasn't working.

The way I solved it was by setting actual work hours and sticking to them. Anything that came in outside work hours could wait until the next day.

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Re:Work/Life Balance Will Make You a Better Software Engineer by dahart on Thursday November 10, 2016 @08:42PM (#12926658)

Yep, I do feel like I have to work all the time, and I do feel guilty when I'm not working. Pretty sure you're right that I'm doing some damage.

I feel like one of the worst parts about a compressed work schedule is that I've mostly stopped playing & exploring, and exploring is where the good stuff happens. Many of my most important personal developments and achievements were on "fun" time, even if it was work. Doing overtime and working too much like I'm doing now mutes that.

I have some commitments in the short term that mean I can't fix this very quickly, but long term I aim to be where you're at for sure.

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