Re:Ask HN: Are most of us developers lying about how much wo...
by berkes on Friday December 17, 2021 @03:34AM
(#29589479)
Intellectual and physical work differs a lot. True. Writing a book may take years, while writing the words mere days.
This, however, should not be an excuse, but a cue to get better at that 'thinking stuff'. Improve it. Train it. Learn.
And with all that, strongly ask yourself if that 'backburner time' must be paid. A bricklayer needs 10+ hours off to rest his body, so he can lay bricks for another 8 hours tomorrow. Should we pay him 18 hours?
My answer to both is that when I efficiently ponder and backburn ideas, it is 'work'. But when I'm binging Silicon Valley Episode 5, it is not (unless I can prove that this helps me bring the problem closer).
This, however, should not be an excuse, but a cue to get better at that 'thinking stuff'. Improve it. Train it. Learn.
And with all that, strongly ask yourself if that 'backburner time' must be paid. A bricklayer needs 10+ hours off to rest his body, so he can lay bricks for another 8 hours tomorrow. Should we pay him 18 hours?
My answer to both is that when I efficiently ponder and backburn ideas, it is 'work'. But when I'm binging Silicon Valley Episode 5, it is not (unless I can prove that this helps me bring the problem closer).