Work Work balance

seodave · #1 (**permalink**) 25-10-2006, 09:37 AM

I think you should add a forum called work / work balance, because these days it seems all I'm doing is working, between day job and my own part time stuff there really isn't much time for a life as such.

I think particularly when someone works with the internet and computers, its so easy to come home from work and then switch on the PC and start working somemore, wheras if you were a builder, creche worker, postman etc. you do your 9-5 and then thats it.

Oh well this is the life we've chosen i guess.

richardo · #2 (**permalink**) 25-10-2006, 09:50 AM

Quote:

I think particularly when someone works with the internet and computers, its so easy to come home from work and then switch on the PC and start working somemore, wheras if you were a builder, creche worker, postman etc. you do your 9-5 and then thats it.

And it's a hell of a lot harder when you work from home. When there isn't an official clocking off time, it takes a lot of resolve to quit. Particularly if you are in the middle of something complex...

Gavin · #3 (**permalink**) 25-10-2006, 10:38 AM

Yeah I know what you both mean. I currently work 16hrs a day online but if it wasnt for making money I would be at local park sniffng the flowers.

Anyway, it sure beats hard grafting or dealing with the general public face - face.

ButtermilkJack · #4 (**permalink**) 25-10-2006, 07:41 PM

Interesting forum topic to start up, nice one!

I've just decided (after months of going back and forth) that I'm going to go out on my own full-time. I'm going to hand in my notice this Monday I think and finish up at Christmas. I'll be working from home so any advice on getting the work/life balance right from the strat would be great

BTW I'm a graphic/web designer so the temptation will be to keep working past 5 or 6 in the evening. I'll need to nip that in the bud before it starts...

EDIT: Ha, I just looked at my sig... if I follow Ted Turners advice I'll be pretty alright I reckon.

blacknight · #5 (**permalink**) 26-10-2006, 01:06 AM

I know how you all feel

It's all too easy to end up working 7 days a week and close to 19 hours a day ...

/me goes back to rsyncing two servers

seodave · #6 (**permalink**) 26-10-2006, 09:24 AM

buttermilkjack in reality i think it will be very hard to stop at 5 or 6, well unless you have to do something else or be somewhere, but if you where in the middle of graphic work and then if you stoped you would just actually be relaxing or lazing around the house I think most time s you would say to yourself 'ah sure I'll get this out of the way, a take tomorrow off' but of course tomorrow brings its own set of problems.

When I go full time self emplyed I'm going to make sure my evenings a scheduled off to the gym, pub, family etc. so I haven't really got the option of working night hours.

richardo · #7 (**permalink**) 26-10-2006, 10:36 AM

Quote:

in reality i think it will be very hard to stop at 5 or 6, well unless you have to do something else or be somewhere, but if you where in the middle of graphic work and then if you stoped you would just actually be relaxing or lazing around the house I think most time s you would say to yourself 'ah sure I'll get this out of the way, a take tomorrow off' but of course tomorrow brings its own set of problems.

I couldn't have put it better myself!

The easy bit is setting the alarm in the morning. And the alarm is important - no giving yourself that extra few minutes in bed. There is nothing worse than a client phoning and waking you out of a deep sleep.

The hard bit is knocking off. My solution is simple - get yourself a Missus who nags the hell out of you if you aren't out of the office by a certain time. That works for me.

seodave · #8 (**permalink**) 26-10-2006, 10:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by richardo

get yourself a Missus who nags the hell out of you if you ....

Are we speaking from experience? hopefully she isn't a regular here. Of course the quote above is an example of how something can be completely taken out of context.

richardo · #9 (**permalink**) 26-10-2006, 10:57 AM

Of course I'm speaking from experience. And no, she isn't a regular.

If it weren't for herself, I'd probably work way too late. And regular times are important. I've been playing this game for the last five years, and if I'd allowed myself to work all hours, I would have burned out by now. Not to mention having no life.

ButtermilkJack · #10 (**permalink**) 27-10-2006, 02:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by seodave

buttermilkjack in reality i think it will be very hard to stop at 5 or 6, well unless you have to do something else or be somewhere, but if you where in the middle of graphic work and then if you stoped you would just actually be relaxing or lazing around the house I think most time s you would say to yourself 'ah sure I'll get this out of the way, a take tomorrow off' but of course tomorrow brings its own set of problems.

When I go full time self emplyed I'm going to make sure my evenings a scheduled off to the gym, pub, family etc. so I haven't really got the option of working night hours.

Excellent advice, and very true... I know from present experience that I just keep working if I've nothing else to do. I'm not the type of person that can sit down and do nothing easily and I'm damned if I'm going to waste my life watching other people live theirs (my take on watching TV

).

So, I think the first step is to move the 'office' out of my bedroom and into the spare room. At least that way I'll have a door to close behind me before I go to bed

.

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