How do you balance work/play? (aka "do you have a life?")

[Johnathan]

Hi!

Curious how a number of you balance "work" and "play", and do you find it easy to do, or do you have to push yourself?

With the internet, and an 'on-line' business, it has literally become easy to never have to leave your room... you wake up, check e-mail, make some food, spend all day on the computer, "relax" by watching t.v. and/or playing computer games, "chat" with friends online, whether by phone/internet/or messenger, etc...

So you can *literally* sit 15 hours in front of a computer... go to bed... and repeat the same cycle over and over...

So, what do you do to make sure you 'get out'?

[TLTheLiberator]

I hardly ever work more than a couple hours in a row without leaving the computer and doing something else for at least 1 hour.


TL

[sevenish]

Having a family. The thing about kids? Ya gotta feed 'em.

And you have to bathe them, read to them, talk to them, help them with homework, get 'em into bed, figure out how to get them to school the next morning and back during a bizzard in NYC... essentially allowing them to teach me anew everything I thought I knew to begin with.

It's a wild, humbling and glorious ride.

[Nathan Hangen]

It is funny that you ask, because the whole reason (at least that's what I told myself) that I started IM was so that I could spend more time doing things that I love...but even as I've found a way to make more time, I still seem addicted to work. I haven't decided if that's a bad thing yet, we'll see

[SeanyG]

Originally Posted by Johnathan

So you can *literally* sit 15 hours in front of a computer... go to bed... and repeat the same cycle over and over...

I ran my own internet based busienss for 5 years and this was a big problem for me. I would go through periods where I wouldn't leave my hours for a few days and would just sit in front of a computer. I am a very social person but I find that with running an internet based business its easy to slip into bad patterns and spend days and days on the comp....

I would love to get an office somewhere for this VERY reason. Keep home as a relaxing time off place and work elsewhere. Do many IMs have this?

[naphets66]

It is hard to keep a balance. I find there are times that I get long stretches where I get a lot of free time. But then I am back to those days that I just seem to work most of the day.

[rcm3rd]

hey SeanyG

I'm also very social which makes
IM hard for me too.

I'm even wondering if this is the
right road for me just for the
social aspect alone and where my
strengths lie (dealing with people directly).

so keep me posted if you don't mind
how it's going and I'll do the same.


anyone else have suggestions?

[coog]

I keep my part time job at Home Depot :-) I get all the human interaction I can handle in one 8 hour shift. Actually only working 16-20 hrs a week there gives me a break away from the computer.

It's amazing how much clearer the answer to a problem can become when you've stepped away from the PC for a half day...

[Christie Love]

I make it a point to leave the computer every few hours or so to socialize, exercise, or do something away from the computer. It keeps me sane. I understand that it's easy to get sucked into sitting at the computer for 16 hours a day, without taking a breath. It's not healthy and it's definitely not good for my bumm.

[Kevin Riley]

See my blog -- Kevin Riley Inc

I may put in long hours at times when getting a project done, but then we make up for it with long vacations, travel, and lots of fun here in our home city.

Running a home business you have to push when you must and keep really focused on your work, but then you also have to reward yourself.

[polleo]

I basically work enough to keep up a sufficient income that will support my social needs.

But if it came down to it..... i'd probably choose to spend time with my friends and family rather than sit in front of the computer for a couple of hours straight.

Thats the great thing about IM, you're able to choose your own hours

[Johnathan]

Ah,

Thanks for the replies so far

So basically, it seems to make sure you keep sane:

a) Get married & have kids
b) Get roommates
c) Get a job

Actually it's funny, I have considered getting a "job" (just something as easy as say Home Depot/Future Shop/etc) to "take a break". I still do get out Just yesterday night I was having dinner with a few friends and that (almost went to karaoke, but didn't feel like that :P)

But yeah, sometimes I find I spend too much time in front of the computer, and was wondering whether it was just me, or everyone. So far seems to be 50-50

[Johnathan]

Hey Kevin --

How do you like living in Japan? I've considered going down there a few times, I think it would be a lot of fun. Do you speak Japanese?

[BIG Mike]

It's all play to me...I'm surrounded by four kids, 3 dogs, a rabbit and of course, my wife, not to mention a continuous stream of friends and relatives dropping in from dawn til midnight or so.

Most marketers couldn't handle my social life

[gorri]

How do I balance work/play?
Working is so fun, it's playing.

But yeah, just get a boat and such and have fun.
If you buy a lot of stuff you must want to use it sometime.

Originally Posted by Johnathan

Hi!

Curious how a number of you balance "work" and "play", and do you find it easy to do, or do you have to push yourself?

With the internet, and an 'on-line' business, it has literally become easy to never have to leave your room... you wake up, check e-mail, make some food, spend all day on the computer, "relax" by watching t.v. and/or playing computer games, "chat" with friends online, whether by phone/internet/or messenger, etc...

So you can *literally* sit 15 hours in front of a computer... go to bed... and repeat the same cycle over and over...

So, what do you do to make sure you 'get out'?

[Recruitment Nick]

Originally Posted by Johnathan

Hi!

Curious how a number of you balance "work" and "play", and do you find it easy to do, or do you have to push yourself?

With the internet, and an 'on-line' business, it has literally become easy to never have to leave your room... you wake up, check e-mail, make some food, spend all day on the computer, "relax" by watching t.v. and/or playing computer games, "chat" with friends online, whether by phone/internet/or messenger, etc...

So you can *literally* sit 15 hours in front of a computer... go to bed... and repeat the same cycle over and over...

So, what do you do to make sure you 'get out'?

play sport.

As well as giving me 2 training sessions and a game a week it is also a team game (I play rugby) so I am always interacting with team mates and coaches. With various social nights out and at least a few beers after a game then it is a great way of getting exercise, meeting up with friends etc.

as well as that it is a shared passion so often you will get together to watch vartious teams play on tv or get tockets to go to teh games.

With something as stationary as IM I wholeheartedly recommend getting into an active sport for exercise and socialising