work to live

work to live

38 hours week + 200% efficiency

Now that the team leader is gone, I was requested to step up as the lead in the interim of them hiring someone with the right experience for the type of works we do. With the nightmare we went through with an incapable leader, they now realised the importance of right experience.

Over night, my scope of works now includes design reviews, give technical input, and attend meetings with the clients and project managers; at the same time managing and working on another project which dues in 2 weeks.

No matter how busy work is, I believe in working efficiently within the 'standard' working hours of not more than 8 hours spent at work (including time spent for lunch), maximum tolerance is 8.5 hours. Anything more than that, I'll feel like life is meaningless and I then need to throw a sickie to readjust mentally.

Whenever people ask what time can I make it for dinner (after work), I always say ANYTIME. Even if it's 5.30pm, I'll make it there. Working hours should be adjusted to suit personal commitments, not the other way round.

It's been a struggle to keep up with my no-OT philosophy lately. With deadlines, random meetings, and random tasks popping up here and there. Also suddenly been grabbed into a 1 hour interview and last minute meeting invites.

The alarm used to be 6.45am.
Then 6.30am.
Recently, it's 6 or 6.15am.

Finishing hour used to be BY 5.30pm. Then 6pm. Then 6.30pm.
Now 7pm seems normal.

Things only feel worse without Daylight Saving Time,
Catching the sun when it's at its meanest position - shining right in front of your eyes.
Missing the romantic sunsets.
Leaving the office only when the street lights are on.
Going home to junk for dinner because it's too late to make proper food.
And laundry is left out for half a week, and another 1.5 weeks in before it gets sorted and ironed.

This is UNSUSTAINABLE.

At the same time, the housemate thinks it's perfectly NORMAL to work 11 hours a day, regardless of the efficiency and the crap (or no) dinner after work. I could never understand this concept, until I recalled, she gets paid by the hour. The more inefficient they are, the richer they get. Oh well...

If I ever became a boss, I shall never condone working OT in my business.
Get your job done and get out of the office after 5pm. Shit. Don't bludge around and expect to get paid extra.

The lengthy working hours make me a lifeless fish on weekdays.
I only come alive after I step out of the office on Friday night.
So bad.
Life should really be 24/7 not 24/2.

When I left at 6.20pm on Thursday for a Birthday dinner, my colleague was surprised.
You leave early today!, he said.
6pm = early?
Should I be happy that I actually left 'early' or I should mourn cos I haven't left earlier than 6pm in a long time? :(
He then asked, Do you work to live, or live to work?
I startled.
My motto has always been eat to live, work to live.
Based on my recent records, it now seems funny if I told him I work to live.
So I said, I live to work for now, but it won't be long. And forced out a smile, while mourning inside.
It hits me at the right spot. I'm literally living to work now.

Goal set.

For the coming weeks, I'll work the normal 38 hours cos I want my life back!