Allan & Steve are the chubby founders of LessEverything. This is their blog, hear them rant, praise, give advice and talk about Just Stuff, Less Accounting, Lovd by Less, More Honey, Less Memories, Code, Business, Design, Marketing
I wanted to jot down some things we (less everything) work towards to keep our personal lives in balance with our work. Our industry is unique in the fact we love what we do and sometimes we feel it's acceptable to work 80+ hours. While some weeks you must kick out some work, overall it's not a positive thing to be that unbalanced. In the past months, we have added a few company rules.
1) First, no one is productive for +80 hours a week (except Steve, he's a freaking machine, 110+), something isn't right if you spend that much time working. If you can't make a living working less than 80 hours a week, you need to change careers.
2) Around 5pm you must be looking for a place to pause work. Many of us have small kids and they go to bed early. If you must finish a task do it once they're in bed. During evening hours, family time is #1, work is far down the list of priorities. We usually do three to five hours of more work after the kids go to sleep
3) Dinner time is important. This follows the first rule of stopping around 5pm, take a few hours, play with your kids, interact with them. Talk to your wife, family, parents something but get away from the computer and be social with the people important to you. Talk to someone besides your co-workers.
4) Leave the house. It's imperative that you get out of the house/office or place you work. Personally I have been trying to go to beautiful places, parks, lakes, any place I can take pictures of. It's another form of creativity that lets my mind feel free. Creativity isn't something I can turn off but I can be creative without staring at pixels.
5) Try to do something to get the blood pumping. I'm fat and lazy but I try to ride my bike around the neighborhood while pulling my son in his baby trailer. This is a time that I can have complete silence and clear my thoughts, plus sweat a little.
Remember that work is your tool to make money, it's not your life. Money is only a temporary justification for not being there for the people you love. Time is fleeting, memories are priceless, choose life over work any chance you get. As long as you get your work done. ;)
6 Responses to “Life over Work”
Leave a Reply
·
Very well said
I love this. This should be a manifesto for all professions, especially in design.
Simply super
Hey Allan great post. I hope you guys keep these values in check as Less keeps growing and growing. It’s refreshing! :D
I’m developer who works for myself from home with 4 kids! (I’m mad I know). I’ll be rich (in terms of money) but often I take a half day off go out with the kids.
Can I add somethings? 1.) Take time to choose. Choose the right coding with smart tools which are going to get the job done. Even buy commercial RAD tools. Life is too short to invent the wheel.
2.) Invoice or Bill as soon as possible
3.) Only buy hardware when you absolutely need it (I keep break this one!)
4.) Learn to cook and cook for your family once or twice a week to give your partner a break. (I mean cook not just bung-it in the microwave!)
5.) Have at least two hobbies your passionate about and gets you interactive with the real world – ( this does not including techie stuff)
ANB is very lucky to have you. I love the rules :) Oh and the pic of you and JTB is very very cute!
Wow, a lot of people read these posts, huh?