To work late, or not to work late - that is the question!

Should I leave at 6 pm, or should I stay till 6 am? I often catch myself having a conversation in my head about working “after office hours”. What are office hours even, in this day and age, I wonder! At the end of these conversations though, I am somehow always more unsure of what is right and what is wrong (perhaps I am talking to the wrong guy :D).

Here is how I justify not working late to myself:

• Family time: Someone is waiting for you at home. WIFE! (Need I say more? :P)

• Me time: What about those other things you love to do? (Shameless plug: my photography page)
• Pause: There will always be deadlines and there will always be more work. Pace yourself lest you burnout.

• Returns: I work as much as I am paid for. It doesn’t show on my paycheck that I stay in office (or WFH) all night.

But then I refute myself using these reasons:

• Teamwork: If your teammates are staying back (or working through the night, sometimes) to make that deadline, you owe them some courtesy and try to reduce their workload as much as possible. Also, in my experience, there is no better occasion for team-bonding than a closing-in deadline.
• Commitment: You have a responsibility to fulfill the task at hand. You are committed to completing projects, not to sitting at your desk from 9 to 6.
• Joy: If you enjoy your work and do not mind putting in the extra hours, the joy of accomplishing something is beyond words.
• It’s a career, not a job: The more time you spend on something, the better you get at it. So, keep at it while you can because there so much more to learn, and grow.

What I usually do is, when there are important deadlines, I do stay back and help out as much as possible. At not-so-critical times, I am available to work from home if absolutely necessary. But during calmer times, I make it a point to leave on time.

It is crucial to learn how to say ‘NO’ without being discourteous. It certainly helps to have an understanding team and a clear division of labour.

Work-life balance is subjective and each one should be able to decide for themselves. I don’t think there is a right or a wrong reason. It boils down to that one thing I always write about: Do what makes you happy!

I would love to know what you think. Do share your thoughts in the comments.

Disclaimer: This post assumes a reasonable boss, team or employer.

PS: This is not a post to convince anyone to work late or not. This is a conversation starter. Talk to yourself, your team, your family members. Gather perspectives. Do what works best for you. After all, balance has to be actively maintained, and can be easily disturbed if no effort is made.

Needless to say, all pictures are mine :D