harisrid Tech News

This is actually a really valid question!

Valid, not only because software engineering jobs can be occasionally stressful, but also because work-life balance is a trait that others select more strongly for before joining an org.

Personally, I like to create and to enforce strong boundaries separating work and home. I strive to respect my team’s working hours during the standard eight-hour work day of 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m., especially the core six working hours of 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. I’ve learnt from others that it’s ok to communicate to my immediate team when I need to set a hard stop. There are some nights that I work late, but that’s because I may have been out and about in the day managing errands, or because I’m “in the zone” – I feel motivated and energized to knock out my tasks.

When I step away from work, I actively engage and seek out hobbies that enable screen-free, device-free time – art classes, cooking, exercising, fitness, hiking, and spending quality time with friends. I also seek out sources of fulfillment outside my day-to-day work. Engaging in activities outside work rejuvenates and revitalizes me.
There are occasional times – usually coinciding with the boom-and-bust-esque cycles of my job – where I have to shill out more work. This happens in a couple of scenarios – I need to take over for folks outside on PTO, there’s a lookimg deadline for a major production release, or I need to fast learn new skills. It’s during these periods where I work more than your standard 40 hours per week. But I’ve never worked a 9-9-6 esque role, nor have I committed more than approximately 50-55 hours per week. I have my limits too. I figure that if I want my co-workers to prioritize good WLB, I myself have to practice it too – it’s a feedback loop, where your co-workers emulate your practices and vice versa.