Working on the weekend
I’ve finally resigned myself to the fact that working on the weekend isn’t a bad thing at all.
Historically, I’ve shunned the thought of working weekends because after all, it’s my weekend!–If I were not to rest and relax on the weekend, then when would I?
However, there comes a time when one realizes–if I don’t do it, it’ll never get done. It’s sad but true. Plus, there are some things (aka ‘pet projects’) I want to get done that I simply cannot prioritize for one reason or another, or because there are things waiting to get done that are incredibly more important to the business as a whole. With that, comes the weekend. The weekend is when I’m allowed to sleep in, get rested up, and allows my creative juices to flow more freely than normal. This is the perfect time to get things done for work that I don’t have time to do during the week. It isn’t about being able to say “Hey, look what I’ve done”. It has more to do with fulfilling some unexplainable internal need for satisfaction. In particular, the satisfaction I get out of doing things I think need to get done for the company that haven’t been done for whatever reason. These reasons include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Complacency within the workgroups that need the particular toolset(s)
- The “We’ve asked for it forever and finally gave up” syndrome that plagues all businesses (I hear this one the most)
- Others’ ignorance about what data is available to them (it isn’t their fault, or is it?)
- Fear of asking (This is more due to culture than anything)
I’m not making a big deal about it. If I were so inclined not to work on the weekend, I wouldn’t have chosen this line of profession—being a programmer.
I actually get quite a bit done on the weekends. I’m not hounded by a hoard of incoming emails, meeting requests, or incessant phone calls from technicians, accountants, or managers.
I’m not griping. I love my job. I love what I do. I’ll say it again: I’ve decided that working on the weekend isn’t a bad thing at all, in fact, it’s quite efficient.
What are your thoughts on this? I’m interested.
July 30th, 2005 at 8:27 pm
I’ll admit I’m the first person to bitch about how I never want to work on the weekends…so I cram everything into Monday - Friday, up to 12 hours a day. But going in on a Saturday is a pretty good thing. You can wear what you want, your phone never rings, there are never any urgent emails, you can crank the stereo as loud as you want and you don’t have to agree with your officemates about which CD plays. So basically - I agree with you. And you can still sleep in.
July 31st, 2005 at 3:30 am
If I get paid, yes. If I don’t get comp for overtime cause I’m on salary, you probably won’t find me on the weekends.
July 31st, 2005 at 8:19 pm
I have no problems working weekends (late Friday and Saturday). I do my best not to work on Sundays.
For personal projects I have worked every weekend for years now since college. With the exception on an annual conference break I might go too. Honestly, I am starting to get a little burned out and am looking for other projects to do that do not involve a computer.
Currently exploring building a 2 story apartment/garage and raising Goats for milk
August 1st, 2005 at 8:32 am
Yeah, I better see a journal about that :p
August 1st, 2005 at 11:08 am
Its coming
I’ve been planning it out
I’ll let you know.
August 1st, 2005 at 11:26 am
I think yall are just trying to look good, Saturday’s Suck Royally.
I may be biased though.
WHen I was in college I worked every freaking saturday 8-5, and by the time I graduated I didnt want to even leave the house on Saturday. thats just me though. If you do have to work saturday, it is better to get paid.
August 1st, 2005 at 7:13 pm
I think if you’re young, not married, no kids, and it’s truly your passion, then do whatever you like. I on the other hand… specifically took my current job because it didn’t involve anymore on-call weeks, ridiculous hours, weekend work. I have my passions that take up all of my spare time. My daughter, church, my music, sports, friends, family, etc. etc. It’s a balance we all look for. There was a time in my life when I was just like you ramdac (as far as this post goes). And it was fulfilling for a while. But my priorities are much different now.
If I want to get a lot done on a certain day without all the phone calls and meetings… I just work from home that day. Doesn’t get me out of ALL the meetings, but it helps. Or I’ll simply take my laptop to a different building on our site where no one knows me.
August 1st, 2005 at 7:59 pm
Oh, and by the way… I think you’re full of stinky baby diaper shit. You love life too much to waste it working on the weekend. I think you made this post just to stir up some discussion.
August 1st, 2005 at 10:23 pm
“Oh, and by the way… I think you’re full of stinky baby diaper shit.”
for some reason that made me laugh so hard.
August 2nd, 2005 at 7:52 am
Trust me I have a 2 month old, Stinky baby diaper shit has a whole new meaning.
And I have been told to wait to he gets older, it only gets worse.
August 2nd, 2005 at 8:21 am
Jim, you’re just jealous I have free time on the weekend
August 5th, 2005 at 6:36 am
Ha ha. “am not”. lol. I have tons of free time on the weekends. Free from professional obligations. I just wish I could train my body to sleep late on the weekends, stead of getting up like normal at 6:30. Oh well, mowing is always easier at 8a.m. than at 10a.m. Not so hot.
Seriously though… no working on the weekends except in “crunch” time.