"mkbruin, Atlas VP" (mkbruin)
08/19/2014 at 01:32 • Filed to: None
1
9|
"mkbruin, Atlas VP" (mkbruin)
08/19/2014 at 01:32 • Filed to: None | 1
| 9 |
Does anyone here have issues with a work-life balance?
I am a self admitted workaholic. I average 60-70 hours per week, and I don't mind. I feel immense anxiety when I work anything remotely resembling a 40 hour work week. Hell, I'm working right now.
However, it's beginning to interfere with my family life. For anyone who has gone off the deep end, how did you bring yourself back?
RMudkips
> mkbruin, Atlas VP
08/19/2014 at 01:36 |
|
This summer I've felt the opposite; that I relax too much. However, three weeks of volunteering at a science museum helped it. After that though I'm still kinda back in that relax loop.
Reigntastic
> mkbruin, Atlas VP
08/19/2014 at 01:36 |
|
60-70 is kind of a bit much, you should see your family more. I've been doing 45, and I manage, but I don't particularly enjoy spending extra time at work. If you're payed salary, you're hurting your wages.
Manuél Ferrari
> mkbruin, Atlas VP
08/19/2014 at 01:38 |
|
Yes
Wish I had all the answers on how to control it but I don't.
One thing I noticed is that the more you do the more comes back at you. It's like a boomerang.
So sometimes you have to force yourself to relax more and work less just to have the possibility of some normal weeks in the future. When you work two months in a row of 70 to 80 hour weeks you'll have to keep working hard for a while. Because you create so much new work that you can't just slow down. So you have to kind of gradually slow down.
What I try to do his work less when things are under control at the office and only work the crazy hours when absolutely necessary. I try to let the flow dictate how many hours I work, instead of putting crazy hours every week because I feel obligated. I did that for years and it wore me down.
themanwithsauce - has as many vehicles as job titles
> mkbruin, Atlas VP
08/19/2014 at 01:54 |
|
Nope. I refuse. I'd rather work less hours than have to answer emails at 11pm at night. Call me "lacking in dedicateion" all you want, no job is worth that BS. I'd rather work harder during work hours than have to have conversations from 11pm to 2am just because my boss doesn't show up until 3pm when I have to be there by 8am to start my day. The way I see it, as a salaried employee who has gone without raises for a few years, my "pay raise" is to work fewer hours to make each hour I'm there worth more :P
Jordaneer, The Mountaineer Man
> mkbruin, Atlas VP
08/19/2014 at 02:10 |
|
balanced, bah, no such thing as balance in my opinion. Either work, or don't work, work at work, and don't work at home.
Gamecat235
> mkbruin, Atlas VP
08/19/2014 at 02:14 |
|
at this point I would rather work a more menial job than have to put in 60 hours a week. I work 45 or so hours per week. And that's pushing it. I have kids, I want to spend time with them, and with my wife.
I married her to spend my life with her. Not with my job. Does it bother me that I don't have as much money as I once did? Occasionally. Would I trade any of it for more money? Never.
But, different people have different priorities. If it works for you, good for you. If it doesn't though... Time to figure out how to reel it in. If it's delegation, or time management or choosing your battles, you'll have to adapt. Good luck, it's not easy to change. And with a senior position, I would imagine it is even more difficult to walk away and ignore work. But if you need to, then take care of you and yours first.
jkm7680
> mkbruin, Atlas VP
08/19/2014 at 02:50 |
|
Fuck yeah, I've had major balance problems in the past. I wasn't spending near enough time relaxing.
That's all changing though, expect a post soon!
E92M3
> mkbruin, Atlas VP
08/19/2014 at 07:01 |
|
Becareful doing that. My wife is a workaholic. She often works till midnight, and on weekends. Even when we go on vacation she has to work. Her job kind of requires it (asia sales manager). There's a 12 hr time difference between her customers and here. So at 8pm they are just starting their day. At the same time her coworkers all get to work at 8am. So she can't get to work at noon either to offset the hours. She can never take a week off because her company (food industry) has a certain plant production # every day that has to get sold. She also has to travel about 5 months out of the year for trade shows overseas. As understanding as I am it has still taken it's toll on our relationship, and our family. Because she travels so much and our son gets out of school at 2:30 I've had to quit my full time job in IT and work part time so I can pick him up (he's in pre-k so no bus option). Thats been really hard for me sacrificing my own career for the family. I'm spending more time with our son because she can't. The saddest part is shes missing out on the best years of him growing up. Your kids are only young ONCE, and they grow up so fast. Eventually they will have their own friends they would rather spend time with. The first few years are so important in a childs life. After they leave for college you'll have plenty of time to work yourself to death.
48 Spoons
> mkbruin, Atlas VP
08/19/2014 at 07:31 |
|
I do my best to keep a good balance. I keep track of time and adjust what I'm doing based on what time it is. I generally shoot for a good stopping point for like 10-15min before I need to leave so that if something it taking a bit longer, I don't stay late. Do I stay late sometimes to finish stuff? Of course, but it should not be the norm. There is no job worth working yourself to death for.
One thing I learned really early in my career is that the company usually doesn't really care about you, even if they treat you decently. So I do what I'm paid to do an nothing more (roughly) as the company is not a charity, they are paying you to do work. The more hours you work, the less you effectively get paid, if you are salaried.
Finally, spend time with your family is far more important than any job. Last year my wife's job had her working 2nd shift and sunday to thursday. This meant I only saw her a little on friday and sunday and only had saturday as a full day together. It sucked, a lot. Thankfully this was only for around 8 months before she found something better, but I know of people in similar situations and it has ended up in breaking up/divorce. Its just not worth it.
Sorry for the long rant, hope you can find a way to work less and enjoy life more.