If I work on my own project, in my free time, I prefer to binge on work. It is easier for me to continue than to start, so if I have already started, I better continue working for as long as possible.
(Note than “working as long as possible” includes breaks, if my brain keeps thinking about the work in background. Like, I may leave the computer and take a walk outside, looking at trees and thinking about nothing. Suddenly an idea “I should do X” pops in my head. Later, “I should do Y” and “I should do Z”. Then I return to the computer, and do the X, Y, Z. The important thing is that I didn’t start working on a different topic. Such breaks actually often increase productivity; the right moment to take the walk is the moment when I run out of ideas.)
This way, unless I am interrupted, I can do a lot. Then at the end of the day (or a weekend) I feel satisfied with my achievement. And then I take a long break, until I feel like starting again.
When I am at work, we have daily “agile” meetings, and bi-weekly “sprints”. No matter what I did in the past, it is not an excuse to take a break today. Knowing that I can’t take a break when I need (vacations need to be negotiated in advance), it makes sense to make sure that I never get too tired, so I aim for a sustainable speed… and my bosses try to increase this speed by imposing artificial deadlines, or removing members from the team if everything goes too well. When I burn out, I quit; starting at a new job typically resets the pace.
It is difficult to compare which approach actually gets more done. I often procrastinate at my projects, and the job projects typically get done, so seems like an argument if favor of the job. On the other hand, I spend 8 hours a day at job, and my free time is split between family, taking rest, socialization, and my projects… so maybe the productivity per hour is actually higher in my projects, dunno. (Also, I don’t know the perspective of the employer; how much productivity is gained by squeezing out your employees, versus how much is lost by employee turnover.)
What are the external rewards and punishments?
If I work on my own project, in my free time, I prefer to binge on work. It is easier for me to continue than to start, so if I have already started, I better continue working for as long as possible.
(Note than “working as long as possible” includes breaks, if my brain keeps thinking about the work in background. Like, I may leave the computer and take a walk outside, looking at trees and thinking about nothing. Suddenly an idea “I should do X” pops in my head. Later, “I should do Y” and “I should do Z”. Then I return to the computer, and do the X, Y, Z. The important thing is that I didn’t start working on a different topic. Such breaks actually often increase productivity; the right moment to take the walk is the moment when I run out of ideas.)
This way, unless I am interrupted, I can do a lot. Then at the end of the day (or a weekend) I feel satisfied with my achievement. And then I take a long break, until I feel like starting again.
When I am at work, we have daily “agile” meetings, and bi-weekly “sprints”. No matter what I did in the past, it is not an excuse to take a break today. Knowing that I can’t take a break when I need (vacations need to be negotiated in advance), it makes sense to make sure that I never get too tired, so I aim for a sustainable speed… and my bosses try to increase this speed by imposing artificial deadlines, or removing members from the team if everything goes too well. When I burn out, I quit; starting at a new job typically resets the pace.
It is difficult to compare which approach actually gets more done. I often procrastinate at my projects, and the job projects typically get done, so seems like an argument if favor of the job. On the other hand, I spend 8 hours a day at job, and my free time is split between family, taking rest, socialization, and my projects… so maybe the productivity per hour is actually higher in my projects, dunno. (Also, I don’t know the perspective of the employer; how much productivity is gained by squeezing out your employees, versus how much is lost by employee turnover.)