"Sometimes you manage to sleep quietly": People who work a lot, about the rhythm of life
We are often told how important it is to keep balance between work and personal life and master the skills of effective time management. But do such tips work for those whose employment greatly exceeds the standard forty hours a week? Anyone who is forced to combine work and study from day to day, or stay in the office until late at night, it is often difficult to find time and energy for something else. We asked people with a busy schedule to tell how they manage to cope with the load, find motivation and manage to live.
Interview: Alina Kolenchenko
Irina
Works 50-60 hours a week
Almost ten years I work in a media agency. I am an engineer by education, but I decided to change the scope of activity to a more creative one - and I have never regretted it. When I got a job at the agency, I clearly understood that I would have to work a lot - in fact, I had to master one more specialty. Fortunately, I did not have to pay for housing and help my parents, which allowed me to concentrate on the process.
It’s hard to imagine working at an agency without the “24/7” prefix. This is a client service with all the consequences in the form of urgent requests and life from deadline to deadline. A working day of ten to twelve hours is the norm. Work on weekends, on vacation, especially if you participate in the struggle for a new business or there are unfilled positions in a team - as well.
I consider myself to be the lucky ones who can say with confidence: "Yes, I love my work." This, of course, does not cancel the difficult periods, crises, but the interest in the chosen field does not disappear from this. The only negative is overloading. When you live a profession, the only chance to achieve results and not to burn out is to develop self-preservation schemes and learn how to regulate the volume of cases.
On weekdays, I see my husband only late at night, but we always try to sit at least a little with tea or a glass of wine without telephones and the Internet. It is important for me to devote time to my relatives. Life in the capital is greatly facilitated by the ability to order food and food delivery, call a cleaning service and even a manicure master. I believe that this can and should be spent when you work at a high pace. If you can not exchange the rubles earned for quality of life, then why all this?
Pauline
She worked 40 hours a week, she studied 15 hours a week
At seventeen, I went to college and left my hometown. I needed money for food and training, and I settled down as a concierge in a large hotel. From early morning till lunchtime I was at school, then I ran home to change clothes and rushed to the hotel. I always got home after midnight and, suffering from insomnia, went to bed closer to three or four in the morning.
A few months later, amid constant lack of sleep and fatigue, I began to fade emotionally. In a week I could have one day off, and could not be at all. If there was free time, I tried to take up school, but more often I just cried into a pillow from sudden mood swings, aggression towards my relatives and misunderstanding whether I was doing the right thing in this life. I can not remember a single bright event for that year, just a clogged schedule and fatigue.
After some time, I was transferred to another department, my work became less nervous, and I finally began to think about myself and my state of health. I began to ask for a weekend and travel more, to devote time to quality recreation, sports, hobbies and friends - it helps to return to life. I like this job, but I know that in the near future I will definitely find a place with a more flexible schedule.
Sergei
On duty several times a week
I am an intern at a medical institute, very soon I can officially be called a doctor - orthopedic traumatologist. Now studying is essentially no different from work: the same case histories, wards, operations, and so on, the only difference is lectures and seminars, which, however, are quite rare.
I have been involved with traumatology for four years already, I started to stay on duty at the hospital in the hospital and I still continue to do so. Usually a week from one to three duties, which sometimes fall on weekends and holidays. There are two duties in a row, and this is a real hardcore: you wake up at seven in the morning, you go to study, you watch there, you wake up next day (if you are lucky enough to sleep), you study, you go to another hospital and you work all night again, the next morning you come back to study again and only towards evening you finally get home. There are no special recipes that help me get together and work on after a sleepless night; in serious situations, concentration turns on by itself, regardless of fatigue. But the load on the body with a large. Yes, and also, to be honest, sometimes I manage to sleep quietly.
In general, I have time for everything, but I would like more free time - I spend it on developing my own business and communicating with relatives. I can not say that I like my work, but it does not cause disgust. Motivates the gratitude of people and the fact that you immediately see the result: here was a man sitting, writhing in pain, you dislocated him right - and he was already smiling. And, of course, motivate money. I would like to change jobs, because I feel that this is not my vocation. It would be great to work for yourself.
Christina K.
Works 22 hours a week, studies 24 hours a week
I started working in the second year of a pedagogical institute: I was an animator in restaurants, a teacher, a nanny in families, a sales assistant in a clothing store, an observer in exams. Combining all this with my studies turned out to be difficult: on examinations I had to tell sentimental stories - this tactic rescued me more than once, as well as the fact that I work with children. Now I am in my last year and for half a year I have been working at a school as a computer science teacher. In addition, in the evenings I conduct computer literacy courses on the program "Active Longevity."
I consider myself a workaholic and have long been used to the fact that there is practically no free time. My whole life goes away from home. I try to set aside time for fitness, on weekends to go somewhere with my friends. I feel comfortable living in such a rhythm, the only thing that sometimes depresses is the amount of time spent on the road. I turn on the music and try to at least somehow relax, but at the same time I prepare for classes, study the material. Unfortunately, I do not have the opportunity to read books "for the soul", because all the time of the trip it takes to resolve work issues and other problems.
I adore my work. Being a teacher is truly rewarding work. I like to watch children grow up, share knowledge with them. Pensioners, too, are energized: they used to be afraid to go to the computer, and now, thanks to me, they are actively rewriting and talking to children on Skype. This is the highest award for my work.
Julia
Works from 50 hours a week
I work as an editor in three works: in an advertising agency, a bank and in a voice acting studio. I have been at the agency for seven years now: I got a job as a proofreader when I graduated from university, simply because the work was a couple of stops on the bus. Since then I received a diploma (editor), I was promoted, I received a second diploma (translator), the office moved from my favorite area to an unloved one, my colleagues changed several times. And I still sit, because I have a very comfortable schedule, which allows you to take a part-time job, super-understanding boss, cool colleagues and social package. For a long time I was tempted to quit my job and even got a couple of offers, but the crisis broke out, and I decided not to twitch, working as a freelancer. I took on a very different job, because the main disadvantage of the editor’s position in an advertising agency is a rather small salary (none for you Balenciag!). But last year I was offered a job at the voice acting studio, and I agreed with delight (TV shows, reality shows and documentaries, communication with interesting people, the creative component), and a couple of months ago I also took remote work with texts for the bank (very very good salary).
I start working from home - from the moment the first task falls, I appear in the agency for dinner. On those days when you need a voice acting studio (usually twice a week), I arrive early to go to three - I usually have a shift from four to infinity at the studio (recording can be unpredictable). At the same time to solve the problems of the agency, I am always in touch. It happens that the records have to urgently switch to the subtraction of the advertising layout. I recently worked on a series that we recorded on Sundays - so it can be downloaded on weekends.
I love this work very much, it gives me joy (sometimes with tears in my eyes - and not once or twice I slept a couple of hours a day, because I did not have time for anything physically). There were cases when I did not go to bed at all. When I woke up after a short sleep in the toilet, I realized that I had to unload, so with the help of the bank I arranged for myself to help. Now I sleep for eight hours (hurray!) And is not deprived of meetings with friends. I share farming with a young man: the one who is free is the one with the rag, mutual assistance and caring for each other is the main thing.
I have a job for the soul (studio), financial security (bank) and stability (agency - with insurance and bonuses for long service). Everything suits me. Wild overloads happen not because I have three jobs, but because I take too many projects, afraid to refuse someone. As soon as I adjusted this process and became bolder, life became easier.
Alyona
She worked 35 hours a week, she studied 25 hours a week
In the third year I moved to Petersburg to study and immediately got a job. I studied as a logistics manager, worked as a sales assistant in a hardware store, while providing for myself and paying for training, so there was no choice whether to work or not.
At first it was very difficult to simultaneously join work and study. I was always out of balance with small failures. On average, I worked seven to eight hours a day, I studied for another six hours. I always carried with me a few containers of food, which in a hurry was empty on the escalator in the subway. At work, I often dined on a jar of corn or beans - I had to save. I was very tired, but the romanticization of the move and the atmosphere of the city gave a good energy boost: on Friday I could go hang out all night and after a couple of hours of sleep I had the strength to work out a ten-hour shift. Weekends as such were not, except in the days of the exams.
Sometimes it seemed to me that I was doing everything by inertia. I didn’t particularly like work, but it was interesting to communicate with people, share information and help. But I was bored to study, and I always had to spend part of my earnings on re-taking exams (we had to pay all re-take).
I felt bad all the time, but then I didn’t understand it - on the contrary, I liked that I was constantly busy. I defended a diploma that did not come in handy, I changed five pieces of work — I just can’t find something that can really captivate me. Now I increasingly regret that then I did not have free time. It was worth stopping and thinking, and not running away from herself.
Ira
Works more than 60 hours a week, studies 5 hours a week
I work as an auditor in one of the Big Four companies, I came here immediately after graduation. I usually work from nine in the morning until ten in the evening, it happens even longer. My record is two days in a row with one and a half hours of sleep. It happens, you have to work on weekends, and sometimes it is very annoying.
Do I like my job? Yes and no. Sometimes I think I have forgotten here at all. But when after a couple of hard days (or weeks) everything is ready and closed, I forget about bad feelings. My colleagues motivate me - smart, good people who are ready to answer questions and support team members. A huge plus is that the team changes with each project: if someone infuriates you, you know that you need to suffer only a couple of months. And yet, if there are no projects, you can take unpaid leave even for the whole summer. The main disadvantage of my work is that I constantly have to perceive a lot of information, and this is tiring. In all companies, everything is different, you have to learn again.
On weekdays, except for work, I usually only have time to eat. On the way home in a taxi (after ten in the evening the company pays for it) I read a book, listen to music or play on the phone. Once a week I try to quit my job at the gym, but it doesn't always work. Free time on weekends I spend on sleep, sports, books, I can drink in the bar. I do not do household chores. I also study in the magistracy, but rarely appear there, mainly to close debts.
To live in such a rhythm is hard. I would like to change my job, but not now, but when I have more experience and knowledge. In the fall I should be promoted, but if this does not happen, I will immediately go in search. I want to have a standard schedule, from nine to six. Although I might change my mind when I get a promotion.
Dasha
Works 50-60 hours a week
In the summer, before the start of my fourth year at university, I decided to look for a side job. I studied economist and wanted to find something related to my specialty. It seemed to me that working in an auditing company fits this criterion - although in practice this turned out to be absolutely different.
At first everything was fine: in the summer there wasn’t much work and it was possible to leave early if there were no tasks left for the day. But by September, the amount of work had grown dramatically, plus studies had begun. Almost every day by nine in the morning I went to work, then I left for one or two important couples, and after them I came back. Home before ten in the evening I never got. Two years ago I graduated from university, but it did not get any easier. In winter, I have the strongest load - this is the specificity of the audit - so now I work every day from nine in the morning until ten or eleven in the evening. By mid-spring, the schedule will become less stressful and it will be possible to leave a little earlier. Often have to work on weekends. This is not necessary if you have time to meet the schedule, but it is almost impossible to meet it.
On weekdays, in addition to work, I only have time to sleep, but this is more likely because everything is already closed when I am released. I'm thinking of finding some round-the-clock gym near the house, I want at least a little physical activity. All household chores, shopping trips, cooking, as a rule, are postponed until Sunday. I don’t want to spend a fraction of my free time at all. I can not say that I find it hard to live in such a rhythm. The only thing I lack is communication with friends.
Nastya
Works weekly for 54 hours or more.
Now I have two jobs and a side job: I am a social media editor, a book editor and a little copywriter. I have two full-fledged works (with periodic part-time work) since 2014. One for the soul, the second for money, and a part-time job - to help a friend and at the same time try yourself a little in another sphere.
I started working in publishing, when I was still at university. First came in half a day, and then went out on a five-day with an eight-hour working day. After some time, I realized that I needed more money and began to look for a new job. She found an SMM with a 3/3 schedule, announced this to the editor-in-chief and asked me to look for a replacement. At the time of the search, I suggested going to the publishing house two days a week and see if I would continue to give the same volumes. It turned out that this is a working scheme. I do not need to sit out for eight hours in the office, and new items come out with the same frequency. At the same time, I can come as much as I want or need and leave the same way. I can come at two and leave at five, and I can sit until nightfall if something is urgent.
SMM has a different story, I have an eleven-hour working day (most often from 07:00 to 18:00), 3/3, regardless of holidays and weekends. But I got used to it and in such a chart I found a lot of advantages. The road to work takes fifteen minutes. When weekends go on weekdays, I can go to the cinema for morning or afternoon sessions, where there are few people, there is no one in the shopping centers either, it’s easier to get to the exhibitions. I can also go on a spontaneous trip for three days - and in general it seems that there are more hours in a day. Plus, I know for sure how much I will leave work and that I will not take work at home. That is, if I need to go to the theater, I will come to seven to the theater, and no one will ask me to finish something.
I have enough time for my personal life, friends, entertainment, and trips (because of the schedule, one of my vacations, for example, lasts 21 days). I have no feeling that I am sacrificing something. Well, maybe a dream: in the working three days I sleep about five hours. It could have been more, but films, series and performances will not see themselves, but they will not read the books themselves. I sleep in the remaining three days and when the weekend falls on Saturday and Sunday.
Of course, all my life I would not want to work in such a rhythm. In general, I want to work exclusively for the soul, and not for the sake of money (who doesn’t want something?). But the problem is that I still do not know what I want to be when I grow up.
PHOTO: Dan Kosmayer - stock.adobe.com, Timur Anikin - stock.adobe.com, MoMA Design Store