Have I been working too hard?
-
I have been working 9 to 10 hours a day on the same project, trying to finish it. I'm starting to get burned out, but can't quit until it's done. Have you ever been in this situation? what did you do about it? :confused::confused:
"Now they know how many holes it takes to fill the Albert Hall" - the Beatles "Everybody knows this is Nowhere" - Neil Young
You've got to ask yourself (and probably management too)... What's worse, delivering late because you're a human being and not a machine, or not delivering at all because you're burned out at home? There's no harm in peaking before deadlines, but they have to be realistic. Also, if this is, or has become, the default mode of work, go sit down with your team and/or manager and talk it out. I know people who make these kind of days (heck, I used to be one of them), but not everyone can handle the same amounts of stress. If you're in the EU and you're getting a burn-out it's simply paid sick leave that can go on for months, no one wants that.
Best, Sander Azure DevOps Succinctly (free eBook) Azure Serverless Succinctly (free eBook) Migrating Apps to the Cloud with Azure arrgh.js - Bringing LINQ to JavaScript
-
You've got to ask yourself (and probably management too)... What's worse, delivering late because you're a human being and not a machine, or not delivering at all because you're burned out at home? There's no harm in peaking before deadlines, but they have to be realistic. Also, if this is, or has become, the default mode of work, go sit down with your team and/or manager and talk it out. I know people who make these kind of days (heck, I used to be one of them), but not everyone can handle the same amounts of stress. If you're in the EU and you're getting a burn-out it's simply paid sick leave that can go on for months, no one wants that.
Best, Sander Azure DevOps Succinctly (free eBook) Azure Serverless Succinctly (free eBook) Migrating Apps to the Cloud with Azure arrgh.js - Bringing LINQ to JavaScript
I appreciate the advice. I am in the US, but the most European like city, New Orleans. Sadly, there is no paid sick leave. :( I guess I will just do the best I can and continue to haunt the Lounge. You folks are indeed my main source of srtess relief, and pleasure. :-O
It's hell getting old.
-
I have been working 9 to 10 hours a day on the same project, trying to finish it. I'm starting to get burned out, but can't quit until it's done. Have you ever been in this situation? what did you do about it? :confused::confused:
"Now they know how many holes it takes to fill the Albert Hall" - the Beatles "Everybody knows this is Nowhere" - Neil Young
Can't quit because you get forced to finish ASAP externally, or can't quit because it's just so good in tickling your nerd brain, so you can't let go off it?
-
I have been working 9 to 10 hours a day on the same project, trying to finish it. I'm starting to get burned out, but can't quit until it's done. Have you ever been in this situation? what did you do about it? :confused::confused:
"Now they know how many holes it takes to fill the Albert Hall" - the Beatles "Everybody knows this is Nowhere" - Neil Young
Time to quite.
Nothing succeeds like a budgie without teeth.
-
I have been working 9 to 10 hours a day on the same project, trying to finish it. I'm starting to get burned out, but can't quit until it's done. Have you ever been in this situation? what did you do about it? :confused::confused:
"Now they know how many holes it takes to fill the Albert Hall" - the Beatles "Everybody knows this is Nowhere" - Neil Young
Try 16-hour days, seven days a week. When I'm heads down, I forget to eat or sleep. But that's just me. I love this shit. At work, they started shutting down the dev VM's on weekends and holidays to save money, so I had to find something else top do with my time because I have no coding at home going on. :(
".45 ACP - because shooting twice is just silly" - JSOP, 2010
-----
You can never have too much ammo - unless you're swimming, or on fire. - JSOP, 2010
-----
When you pry the gun from my cold dead hands, be careful - the barrel will be very hot. - JSOP, 2013 -
I have been working 9 to 10 hours a day on the same project, trying to finish it. I'm starting to get burned out, but can't quit until it's done. Have you ever been in this situation? what did you do about it? :confused::confused:
"Now they know how many holes it takes to fill the Albert Hall" - the Beatles "Everybody knows this is Nowhere" - Neil Young
If it's not your company, that means you have a bad manager: preserve you health because when it's gone you will not get back and you will regret it. Do not tell me that a developer cannot find another job quickly because I don't believe it, or just change country, or renew your tech stack. And I don't think in your contract it's written that you MUST work so many hours. Also... why they don't give you more resources? If instead it's your company, then you did a bad job with the estimation, learn the lesson for the next time, but you can agree with your customer about a compromise, or earn less. Then when you are done with your job, it will be sleep in the limbo for weeks/months, and you will understand that your health was not worth it.
-
Can't quit because you get forced to finish ASAP externally, or can't quit because it's just so good in tickling your nerd brain, so you can't let go off it?
A little of both I guess. Also not many folks would be willing to hire a 72 year old programmer, so that worries me too.
It's hell getting old. It beats the alternative only marginally.
-
Try 16-hour days, seven days a week. When I'm heads down, I forget to eat or sleep. But that's just me. I love this shit. At work, they started shutting down the dev VM's on weekends and holidays to save money, so I had to find something else top do with my time because I have no coding at home going on. :(
".45 ACP - because shooting twice is just silly" - JSOP, 2010
-----
You can never have too much ammo - unless you're swimming, or on fire. - JSOP, 2010
-----
When you pry the gun from my cold dead hands, be careful - the barrel will be very hot. - JSOP, 2013I'd not sure if you are my hero, or I should feel sorry for you. I am sure you are mush younger than I am. :-D :confused:
Wow!
-
If it's not your company, that means you have a bad manager: preserve you health because when it's gone you will not get back and you will regret it. Do not tell me that a developer cannot find another job quickly because I don't believe it, or just change country, or renew your tech stack. And I don't think in your contract it's written that you MUST work so many hours. Also... why they don't give you more resources? If instead it's your company, then you did a bad job with the estimation, learn the lesson for the next time, but you can agree with your customer about a compromise, or earn less. Then when you are done with your job, it will be sleep in the limbo for weeks/months, and you will understand that your health was not worth it.
Please check my response to Member 916057 just above. Also, I work for my best friend and it is a small business. I am the only dev in the company. As far as moving to another country goes I would got to England in a heartbeat, if I had a job there doing as well.
It's never asa good or bad as it seems.
-
A little of both I guess. Also not many folks would be willing to hire a 72 year old programmer, so that worries me too.
It's hell getting old. It beats the alternative only marginally.
72 is such a sweet, flexible, number: divisible by so many factors. It's at this tender age, and beyond, we can understand what Marcus Aurelius said:
Quote:
Duration: momentary. Nature: changeable. Perception: dim. Condition of Body: decaying. Soul: spinning around. Fortune: unpredictable. Lasting Fame: uncertain. Sum Up: The body and its parts are a river, the soul a dream and mist, life is warfare and a journey far from home, lasting reputation is oblivion. "Meditations"
And ... laugh, rather than reach for Prozac :wtf: cheers, Bill (age 77)
«One day it will have to be officially admitted that what we have christened reality is an even greater illusion than the world of dreams.» Salvador Dali
-
I have been working 9 to 10 hours a day on the same project, trying to finish it. I'm starting to get burned out, but can't quit until it's done. Have you ever been in this situation? what did you do about it? :confused::confused:
"Now they know how many holes it takes to fill the Albert Hall" - the Beatles "Everybody knows this is Nowhere" - Neil Young
Yes, I've been there. About a year before the big dot com bubble tanked I was working 7 days a week, 10-12 hour days to get our first demo done for the VC's. To relieve the stress, I went to the gym every night after work. It really help to take my mind off of work and it helped me sleep better. Unfortunately, a couple weeks after our successful demo, the bubble tanked and all the VC money evaporated.
-
Sorry for your pain. My wife of 48 years bitches at me about it all the time. Thank God she feels like she can't live without me!
Dying is not an option. But I could really use the rest.
My wife of 45 years, worked alongside me at her own job as a marketing assistant and then as a legal assistant. Both of her jobs entailed overtime so she understood what I had to go through.
Steve Naidamast Sr. Software Engineer Black Falcon Software, Inc. blackfalconsoftware@outlook.com
-
I have been working 9 to 10 hours a day on the same project, trying to finish it. I'm starting to get burned out, but can't quit until it's done. Have you ever been in this situation? what did you do about it? :confused::confused:
"Now they know how many holes it takes to fill the Albert Hall" - the Beatles "Everybody knows this is Nowhere" - Neil Young
fear of being unemployed got me through those type of projects; when you live in a rural area with not much hope of finding another development job, with a one income family, you do what you need to do to get it done. one of the worst jobs were being flown out of town (Washington state) to a remote Alaska town to create some software to work around hardware (control IO) issues, and power issues (town ran on big generators) that a fish processing plant was having. I had a bucket to sit on a cardboard box for a table, a 60w bulb above me to light the 40°F room. me and my laptop worked generally 12 to 14 hours a day+ running around all over the plant to verify tests/equipment. this lasted about 2 weeks straight with no time off. The entire time people at the plant were trying to work as the plant was starting up for the season and boats of fish were coming in. I'm glad I don't have that job any more.
-
fear of being unemployed got me through those type of projects; when you live in a rural area with not much hope of finding another development job, with a one income family, you do what you need to do to get it done. one of the worst jobs were being flown out of town (Washington state) to a remote Alaska town to create some software to work around hardware (control IO) issues, and power issues (town ran on big generators) that a fish processing plant was having. I had a bucket to sit on a cardboard box for a table, a 60w bulb above me to light the 40°F room. me and my laptop worked generally 12 to 14 hours a day+ running around all over the plant to verify tests/equipment. this lasted about 2 weeks straight with no time off. The entire time people at the plant were trying to work as the plant was starting up for the season and boats of fish were coming in. I'm glad I don't have that job any more.
I have never had it quite that bad. But I can feel your pain on the worry front. Hope you are doing better now. Washington and Alaska are both way to cold for me.
dude!
-
My wife of 45 years, worked alongside me at her own job as a marketing assistant and then as a legal assistant. Both of her jobs entailed overtime so she understood what I had to go through.
Steve Naidamast Sr. Software Engineer Black Falcon Software, Inc. blackfalconsoftware@outlook.com
My wife is a Nurse and routinely works 10-12 hours a shift. When she is off she wants us to spend more time together, so she can tell me all of the things I should and should not be doing. :(( Having said that I know I could not live without her.
Marriage, like Technology, Is wonderful, when it works.
-
72 is such a sweet, flexible, number: divisible by so many factors. It's at this tender age, and beyond, we can understand what Marcus Aurelius said:
Quote:
Duration: momentary. Nature: changeable. Perception: dim. Condition of Body: decaying. Soul: spinning around. Fortune: unpredictable. Lasting Fame: uncertain. Sum Up: The body and its parts are a river, the soul a dream and mist, life is warfare and a journey far from home, lasting reputation is oblivion. "Meditations"
And ... laugh, rather than reach for Prozac :wtf: cheers, Bill (age 77)
«One day it will have to be officially admitted that what we have christened reality is an even greater illusion than the world of dreams.» Salvador Dali
It's great to know someone in the Lounge is older than I am.:cool: Are you still working?
Time is na allusion, just a way of measuring change.
-
Yes, I've been there. About a year before the big dot com bubble tanked I was working 7 days a week, 10-12 hour days to get our first demo done for the VC's. To relieve the stress, I went to the gym every night after work. It really help to take my mind off of work and it helped me sleep better. Unfortunately, a couple weeks after our successful demo, the bubble tanked and all the VC money evaporated.
After my open heart surgery (Anuerysm repair, not a heart attack) several years ago, I spent a couple of years in a Cardiac rehab group, walking in a gym, I got up to 2 miles a session. You and the others here that recommended exersize are right. I need to get back to walking to reduce my stress, and improve my health. :sigh: :sigh:
Sweat can be good, as long as it is not a product of grubbing in the dirt.
-
After my open heart surgery (Anuerysm repair, not a heart attack) several years ago, I spent a couple of years in a Cardiac rehab group, walking in a gym, I got up to 2 miles a session. You and the others here that recommended exersize are right. I need to get back to walking to reduce my stress, and improve my health. :sigh: :sigh:
Sweat can be good, as long as it is not a product of grubbing in the dirt.
Walking is a great exercise. As a 68 year old, I pretty much exercise 6 days a week. On Monday, Wednesday and Fridays I do weight training (free weights and bands). Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday are cardio cardio days (elliptical trainer, spinner bike and stair climbing). All this helps me stay healthy.
-
A little of both I guess. Also not many folks would be willing to hire a 72 year old programmer, so that worries me too.
It's hell getting old. It beats the alternative only marginally.
I know this "fascinating problem"-problem all-too-well. When it comes to deadlines, pretty much everyone in my company is in for "do it right, not fast". But in home office, pulling oneself out of something I actually like doing at 17:15 when the task itself (so excluding the at times bullshitty formalities surrounding stuff) feels like hobby, that's a psychological challenge.
-
I have never had it quite that bad. But I can feel your pain on the worry front. Hope you are doing better now. Washington and Alaska are both way to cold for me.
dude!
I liked the weather much better up in Alaska, after about 75/80 degrees, I become pretty worthless, my ideal working temperature is about 60, and right now Washington state is 110 in my area. My new job requires zero travel, and that is wonderful and can work from home or my small office. demands vary, but this has to be the best job I've ever had.
