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Work/Life Balance Will Make You a Better Software Engineer

codewithoutrules.com

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Re: Work/Life Balance Will Make You a Better Software Engineer

#2
How many people out there really keep working on the weekends voluntarily as the author seems to suggest? I'm pretty clear with my coworkers/boss that the only time I'm going to work after-hours or weekends is in case of rare, extreme emergency. There's no expectation that I work weekends, so I'm definitely not going to do it voluntarily. I like programming and like learning new things so I often do work on a side-project of some sort, but that's firmly my time, not my employer's.

Re: Work/Life Balance Will Make You a Better Software Engineer

#3
> You need a hammock to solve hard problems

Tangentially related to this point (less so the section itself) is the benefit of a comfortable working environment. Personally, i have found that a curved chaise is the absolute peak of laptop coding comfort, especially for late night sessions.

If you have space and are in the market for some new furniture, i would urge people to give them a try.

Re: Work/Life Balance Will Make You a Better Software Engineer

#4

How many people out there really keep working on the weekends voluntarily as the author seems to suggest? I'm pretty clear with my coworkers/boss that the only time I'm going to work after-hours or weekends is in case of rare, extreme emergency. There's no expectation that I work weekends, so I'm definitely not going to do it voluntarily. I like programming and like learning new things so I often do work on a side-pr…

I've found this is a culture that's easily visible before hiring—perhaps people who value work/life balance avoid it.

Re: Work/Life Balance Will Make You a Better Software Engineer

#5

> You need a hammock to solve hard problems Tangentially related to this point (less so the section itself) is the benefit of a comfortable working environment. Personally, i have found that a curved chaise is the absolute peak of laptop coding comfort, especially for late night sessions. If you have space and are in the market for some new furniture, i would urge people to give them a try.

I don't even want a hammock or chair—just a quiet room would be a good start.

Re: Work/Life Balance Will Make You a Better Software Engineer

#6

> You need a hammock to solve hard problems Tangentially related to this point (less so the section itself) is the benefit of a comfortable working environment. Personally, i have found that a curved chaise is the absolute peak of laptop coding comfort, especially for late night sessions. If you have space and are in the market for some new furniture, i would urge people to give them a try.

I'm looking at pictures of them trying to imagine how this wouldn't kill your neck with a laptop. Can you post a picture of yours (or something similar)?

Re: Work/Life Balance Will Make You a Better Software Engineer

#7

How many people out there really keep working on the weekends voluntarily as the author seems to suggest? I'm pretty clear with my coworkers/boss that the only time I'm going to work after-hours or weekends is in case of rare, extreme emergency. There's no expectation that I work weekends, so I'm definitely not going to do it voluntarily. I like programming and like learning new things so I often do work on a side-pr…

That's great if you are working for a single employer regularly month after month. But lots of people work for many different employers/clients. They go through some months with no work, and others with far too much. Sometimes the only way to stay afloat is to work like a maniac when you can and hope that you have a few bucks to spend when the downtime comes. It isn't healthy, but is how you pay the rent.

Re: Work/Life Balance Will Make You a Better Software Engineer

#8

> You need a hammock to solve hard problems Tangentially related to this point (less so the section itself) is the benefit of a comfortable working environment. Personally, i have found that a curved chaise is the absolute peak of laptop coding comfort, especially for late night sessions. If you have space and are in the market for some new furniture, i would urge people to give them a try.

Any recommendations? My back has been killing me for the last few months.

Re: Work/Life Balance Will Make You a Better Software Engineer

#10
You know what makes me the most productive? Working when I have the motivation to do so, I don't mean "I only want to work when I want"..

But sometimes it'll be midnight, and you'll get that brainpower flowing for some reason (I tend to be a night owl)...

Thankfully my position is flexible enough to then take the associated breaks the following day if I need to, or just go home if I'm not super productive (meetings permitting anyway)

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