How Much Time Do You Spend?
Published by ColourMod October 3rd, 2005 in DesignIt’s question day! I was sitting here thinking about all the different projects that I’m involved with when I’m not doing my normal job and how much time I spend on those projects. I realized that I spend quite a bit of time doing side projects. I’m guessing I put at least 5-10 extra hours at a minimum on my typical 40 hours a week. I’m interested in how much extra time people spend outside of work on projects, design, etc.
ya, that sounds about right - 5-10 hrs if I’m actually on a side project, maybe more.
Recently, while wrapping up the latest side project, it seemed like every night I was working on it and my wife and I were not spending time together and that was starting to cause some unsettled-ness in our relationship.
We came up with an arrangement that I think will work in the future. I designate 2 nights a week for doing side projects or even working on my own personal stuff (like my portfolio) if there are no side projects going. That way, I can plan better knowing when I’ll be able to work on stuff and we’ll both have expectations that certain nights we’ll not spend as much time together.
That’s awesome that you’ve worked out a plan with your wife! It’s pretty easy sometimes to get caught up in work and forget to spend time with the wife.
I guess I average 10 hours a week on my own projects.
My wife and I like to watch a number of TV shows: Numbers, Amazing Race, Deparate Housewives, Gray’s Anatomy. Sometimes I’ll work on my projects while we are watching the shows, on the couch, using the laptop (Who said guy’s couldn’t multitask! Every wife out there!!). Thank God for the DVR.
Most of the time though, I have to wait until she goes to sleep so I can work from 10 to Midnight. If I plan on going to the Y the next morning, I stop at 11.
I guess I need to keep better track of my time so that I can justify working on these projects. My Dream Job would be to work in an office on my OWN projects. Then I wouldn’t have to work on “side projects”.
Yeah, working on my own projects would be a wonderful dream job, or working on cool projects for someone else!
I do have a cool STATS site idea and CALENDAR site idea…
I probably work on other projects somewhere between 5-12 hours extra a week. But then again my jobs are really laid back and allow for spare time.
I ditto the comment about working on own projects as my job.