It seems concerns over evening work hours is trending. We’ve been talking about it, and clearly so have the folks at The Juggle: How Much Does Work Encroach On Your Off Hours?
Ironic. This writer must admit that she is missing an extended family dinner this evening for a client meeting. She offered several available times, told them she had a family dinner tonight, but caved when they called back and asked if she couldn’t do it tonight anyway.
So off she’ll go, popping the promised chicken in the rotisserie before heading out the door.
What goes through our minds as we make these decisions? I imagine as freelancers and those with client-type employers, we feel the need to be accommodating for risk of losing the work. As salaried staffers, we have a sense of obligation to our peers, to hold up our end of the bargain. Yes?
Here’s a psychology question: What is the internal compulsion that makes us work nights and weekends? What would it take to get over it? And do we even want to?
And here’s a work life question: Are we taking back enough of our days to make the evenings and the weekends worth it?