The 9-5 experiment - suggestions...

[Uhfgood]

Okay since me and a few other people are attempting this, I would like suggestions on what I should include as work and what not to include.

Obviously anything I have to do on a computer is going to be considered work ie part of the work day, includes programming, doing image manipulation etc...

Should I consider say, drawing art when it's not on the computer as part of my work. In an effort to be more efficient i'm going to attempt to start drawing while watching tv (5-9 when my Dad is home). Would I consider that work? Or is it just that from 9-5 with exception of breaks and lunch I don't get on the internet or on games but "work while at work", and then I can include anything after that as my own time to do what I want (whether considered work or not) ?

Any suggestions?

[Escotia]

I would suggest that if it's work related then it's work. Try to have an office space. While you're in that space you're working. While you're not there - don't do anything work related. Then just make sure that you are in that space 9-5.

In an effort to be more efficient i'm going to attempt to start drawing while watching tv

I've never seen any studies about watching tv's effect on efficiency but I would guess that on average it tends not to increase it.

[Artinum]

I've never seen any studies about watching tv's effect on efficiency but I would guess that on average it tends not to increase it.

Oh, I dunno about that. I find my work becomes much more appealing when soap operas come on...

Seriously, there is a lot of sense in associating a certain place and a certain time with your work. Make it comfortable, make it as enjoyable as work can be - but don't start using it to play online RPGs. In fact, if you can, remove all games from that computer except those you're working on. Remove temptation! In fact, why not create a user account for work on that computer? You'd sign in as if at the company office, and then you'd have a very basic desktop with no games, no distractions and a heck of a lot of parental controls preventing you from accessing distracting websites. The fact that you can remove all this again is besides the point!

Working nine to five is a good way to get your work done. You're setting yourself a time frame and giving yourself a definite goal. It's much easier to exercise willpower and say "I will work until 5pm" than to say "I will do more work." The latter sees you writing one bit of code, fiddling around with a few minor graphics and then thinking "I've done more work, that'll do."

My problem is that I get distracted by other work. I'm at home - and as well as this work which I don't feel like doing, there's the vacuuming, the washing up, the laundry... suddenly I'm houseworking, and then the day's over. Oops.

[Gasproof]

In fact, why not create a user account for work on that computer? You'd sign in as if at the company office, and then you'd have a very basic desktop with no games, no distractions and a heck of a lot of parental controls preventing you from accessing distracting websites. The fact that you can remove all this again is besides the point!


This is what I'm doing at the moment... But I don't have the luxury to work 9-5 except the weekends... (but ... I still want to live so 9-5 doesn't really happen).
I can't say whether or not I work more efficient this way... but I did document alot more than in the past...

[Uhfgood]

I wasn't trying to say watching tv would help increase efficiency. I should have explained more fully what I meant. Right now I do nothing while watching TV. So how much more efficient would I be if I did something while watching tv. If you're comparing say drawing in front of the tv verses not, i'd say you don't do as much work watching tv as you do when you're not. However there's not really a not option (I would explain it but I don't think I have to). Either I veg out in front of the tv, or I constructively work on something while watching it.

I have sort of a goal here, to make this game by the end of the year, that is finished and ready for release. I also have an impetus to work on this 9-5 day stuff to see if it helps my productivity. (Which includes no distractions like the web or games). So i'm sort of inbetween a rock and a hard place, if I don't spend the time I won't get the game done, but if I do spend the time then I may go out of the 9-5 ideal work day.

Probably the only important thing is the distraction thing. That is at times I get bored or sometimes programming is too hard and I surf the net or play games. Then my productivity goes way down. A long time ago when I was working on a few of my other games I wanted to quit, because it became drudgery, due to some friends and a will to finish I managed to muddle through it to finish those games. I then formed a saying "You got to go through the crap if you want to get to the good stuff." essentially meaning you have to work on those hard things no matter what. It may seem boring it may be hard, but ultimately to reap the rewards of the work you have to work. So in this experiment i'm going to force myself to work instead of screwing around. Even on my breaks I leave the computer and go for a walk or clean house or something. If I do get to a hard or boring part, I do have multiple projects that I can switch to and still be working.

Now when the day is done I can screw around or I can work. There's not a negative to this. You might say getting burned out. But if i'm stopping work, then chances are i'm going to at least take a small break before I get back to doing work (if I want to do work at the end of the day). Plus I will be watching tv anyhow. More than likely i'll watch a movie and eat supper with my Dad, he'll go to bed, i'll stay up and then do some more work on something I need to optimize that requires the computer. But then there's still no requirement that i do work. I could just surf till bedtime if I wish. That's the beauty of this thing :-)

In conclusion you might say i've already made up my mind. Well yes and no. I usually go with a majority. If any more people post and it's one thing or the other i'll go with majority rules. So if a bunch of people here say you don't want to work at all during your "off time" then I am much more likely to pay heed, especially since there's alot of professionals that post here in the forums. Keep in mind I value pretty much anyone's opinion.

Keith

[turbo]

In my past when people would visit and watch movies or do whatever the socially inclined like to do,
I would have my sketch pad out and while away the time creatively.

Some of my best detailed pen renderings were produced during those times.

Whether its about work is really irrelevant if you are the productive type.



The other thing I feel compelled to comment on is:
... and to quote someone I greatly admire (Walt Disney)

"The best way to get started is to stop talking and get doing."



... I believe the rest will fall into place ... :)



...

:cool:

[electronicStar]

Watching TV or having other "casual" occupations might be one of the best times to draw actually. As you are entertaining your reptilian brain, your artistic side is not distracted by it. You are more "connected" then.
Didn't you notice that you can think better and more creatively when watching TV, watching through the window in a car (passenger) or even reading a magazine.

[Jeroen Stout]

"The best way to get started is to stop talking and get doing."
Yes, I agree and I thought of this g-...

*starts doing*

EDIT: Oh, this is bad, I've watched Homestar Runner too much and I read 'doing' as 'doi-ng' (the bouncy-sound). That is really bad.