RE: https://mastodon.social/@sandervanhooft/116119079898690792

Artists don't thrive on 9-5. Neither do engineers who think like this. We work in bursts. Deep, obsessive bursts where everything clicks and hours vanish. Then the wave passes. And the admin pile is still there.

Very recognizable written by @sandervanhooft

Thanks @tvbeek ! How are you dealing with this?

@sandervanhooft

That is a good question!

I think the answer is a combination about accepting, preparing, be flexible and enjoy the waves.

Sometimes I use a wave to automate or improve the boring tasks. This can result in unsuspected tools for myself or for my team.

Other ways are for the "normal" work on an excellent way.

Preparing is having lists of work that can profit from a wave.

(Ps. the wave is a good name for it where I didn't think about)

1/3

@sandervanhooft The flexibility is in the moments that I work, not everyday is 8 hours. There are days that it didn't "work" and if my family sleeps I work some hours in the evening. That can be a wave moment where I can do an enormous amount of focus work.

That flexibility is a luxury that is useful for me and my employer.

2/3

@sandervanhooft On the low moments I don't force myself to do everything "efficient" and combine the boring work with reading blog posts/documentation our listening to interesting videos and podcasts. That combines the boring part with learning new things that I can possible use on another moment (and maybe in a new wave).

I hope this answer you question a little :)

3/3

@tvbeek very good insights here and glad to see we’re not alone in being wired this way. The way your coining this like “waves” may be very healthy in many ways, even if only it helps to embrace it as a natural, unstoppable thing you just cannot control, a force of nature 🌊

@sandervanhooft It also helps that my team is built on trust. They know that my "output" is not always the same but that I do my job.

It couldn't work in a culture where everybody needs to work exactly the same moments and be consistent in the amount that is done.

I'm thankful for that 😃

@tvbeek ooh yes that's so important, we have the exact same culture here, really greatful.