Do you *really* work 60+ hours per week?

[Anonymous]

I work a lot but examining my time for real, I never really work more than say 35 hours per week. Yes, pre pandemic, there was work that was spent at the water cooler, reorganizing things in my office, clicking away from what I was writing etc. Now that much is on zoom I might be “in” a meeting and maybe I’m really working because I am actually answer an email, but maybe I’m actually zoning out. I can also either work early in the morning or later at night but realistically as I get older, I only really focus between 10-6 unless there is extreme pressure.

Those of you who really believe you are *productive* for many hours a day, not just at work physically, how do you do it? Any tips?

For the record, I got two degrees from a HYP, a PhD and am broadly considered very successful by my peers. So I do work. But I feel like others must be working harder and I think they are — they produce more work by volume than I do, I think, and I always feel like I am scrambling to meet deadlines or mulling that I should be working when I am not.

[Anonymous]

The majority of people that "work" more than 60 hours a week tend not really use their time efficiently. They also tend to be the type of people that think it is a badge of honor to say they work a lot of honors like it wins you some sort of award.

[Anonymous]

My previous company refused to staff teams appropriately so there were 4 of us doing the work of 10. So yes, we easily worked 60 or more hours per week.

[Anonymous]

hahahahah......maybe like 5

[Anonymous]

Well, I generally come in at least fifteen minutes late. I use the side door – that way, Lumbergh can’t see me. After that, I sorta space out for an hour. I just stare at my desk, but it looks like I’m working. I do that for probably another hour after lunch, too. I’d say, in a given week, I probably only do about fifteen minutes of real, actual work.

[Anonymous]

Yes I do. I manage a coffee shop and am always working between helping run day to day operations, doing the ordering, the cleaning, the restocking, it's constant work.

[Anonymous]

Yes. Research. No set hours. Cancer not cured. Fed (paid half market rate, but trade own salary for mission). Agree gets harder with age.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My previous company refused to staff teams appropriately so there were 4 of us doing the work of 10. So yes, we easily worked 60 or more hours per week.

Op here. It sounds like this wasn’t sustainable, which makes sense. But asking honestly, how did you do that every day? After a certain number of hours, I’m just .. tired. There is always more I could do, but I have just a few hours a day I can do high level writing and even emails that involve logistics become just too hard after dinner, putting the kids to bed,etc. What reservoir were you drawing from or do you just have that much energy?

[Anonymous]

In my 20a, I legitimated worked those hours, because these were billable hours for the clients.

My health suffered and left after three years.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Well, I generally come in at least fifteen minutes late. I use the side door – that way, Lumbergh can’t see me. After that, I sorta space out for an hour. I just stare at my desk, but it looks like I’m working. I do that for probably another hour after lunch, too. I’d say, in a given week, I probably only do about fifteen minutes of real, actual work.

I believe you have my stapler.

[Anonymous]

I’m in a Union. 40 hours. Nurse. Will never work more unless an absolute necessity. Self care is as important as finances. Health is wealth.

[Anonymous]

There are periods of time where I do. Usually no more than a month at a time, and then it's 40-50 hours for a couple months. It just depends on when proposals drop and what else is going on at the same time.

[Anonymous]

Back when I was traveling pre covid I was working 60 hours a week if you count travel as work. Which I did - it was exhausting and part of the job. Now I work probably 45-50 hours a week but there is definitely unproductive time in there.

[Anonymous]

No they don’t. Most people who claim to put in 60 or more hours a week are actually only working 50. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/stop-lying-about-how-much-you-work/

[Anonymous]

Well, my husband as an medical intern back in the day worked close to 100 hours a week.
And my boss, principal investigator of a scientific research lab, worked 80 hours a week.
Real work. Paid peanuts, when you factor in years of training.
But the former saved lives as he went, the latter has saved future lives, through cancer research.