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Anyone else working this Saturday?

I'm in the office all day today. Now that I'm in a PM role on a large project for the first time I'm finding the only time I can get the PM duties (updates to team, scheduling, invoice reviews, etc - all the boring stuff) done is to come in when no one else is around.

Anyone else?

 
Aug 17, 19 11:26 am

It's Saturday? All those little boxes on the calendar look the same to me. Maybe because every day is a work day.

Aug 17, 19 11:51 am  · 
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TIQM

I took home a roll of drawings for the redesign of a house.  My days during the week are so filled up with contract squabbles, HR headaches , CA controversies and marketing that the weekend is the only time I can find significant time to design.  

I’ll be thinking of you Donna. :)

Aug 17, 19 12:00 pm  · 
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joseffischer

I'm with you Erik, my weekdays are PM and CA stuff, design is left for the weekend.

Aug 19, 19 7:57 am  · 
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TIQM

During the week, if I have some important design work that I need to knock out to keep my team going, I like to get up at 4:00 am, long before my family is up.  It’s really quiet and serene, I am fresh and sharp, and between 4 and 7 I can really get my best design work done. A design task that seemed unresolvable to me the night before is often solved early in the am.

Aug 17, 19 12:13 pm  · 
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tduds

I hear you. It seems masochistic sometimes but there really is no better time for feeling optimistic and creative than the extremely early morning. The best part is wrapping up something big before 10am and feeling like you've still got a whole day ahead of you.

Aug 19, 19 1:50 pm  · 
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citizen

Donna, how was the movie?

Aug 17, 19 1:27 pm  · 
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Thank you for asking, citizen! I don't think a movie can ever be completely satisfying for someone who loved the book, but even so, the movie was definitely not great. Cate Blanchett is compelling to watch no matter what she's in, but I didn't like how the story unfolded very linearly, when the book was a constant looping back of letters and articles and reports and whatnot. And while the built imagery of Beeber Bifocal was *perfect*, the 20 Mile House just looked like a sketchup model, no interest. And the icebergs weren't nearly majestic enough. It was great to have a dozen women architects all together to watch it!

Aug 18, 19 11:10 am  · 
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Stasis

Hi Donna, I just watched this movie yesterday with my wife without knowing anything about the book and the main character. I was chuckling throughout the movie and was entertaining for me (but i completely understand why it wasn't for you. I should read that book). Ever since I became a PM, just like you, I don't create anymore. I create multiple versions of fee proposals, schedules, and invoices. I am working this weekend to revise the fee proposal per my client's feedback. After the movie, my wife pointed out that i was happier too when I actually designed something...

Aug 18, 19 9:14 pm  · 
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drums please, Fab?

I'm working today to, Donna!  How's it going?

Aug 17, 19 2:07 pm  · 
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Non Sequitur

I probably should be working today... but am not.  Same prediction for next weekend.


Aug 17, 19 2:13 pm  · 
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Steeplechase

I’m doing lots of work but I don’t get paid when my wife is telling me what to do.

Aug 17, 19 5:53 pm  · 
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drums please, Fab?

Hope you had a productive day, Donna!

Cheers!

Aug 17, 19 6:27 pm  · 
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curtkram

I brought home work.  Got everything nice and set up, but never really started the actual 'work' part.  On the plus side, carpet got cleaned while I was procrastinating. 

Aug 17, 19 6:38 pm  · 
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bowling_ball

I'm working more and more on weekends recently. Same story.  Just a couple of hours on Sunday (tomorrow) for a tiny project that of course needs way more attention than the fee allows. Awesome. 

Aug 17, 19 10:29 pm  · 
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What is this thing you call a wee... kend?

Days off are few and far between for the last 10 years.

The older i get, the less time I have for myself, and when there is free time it is when I do all the work that I couldnt do before because of all the emails and meetings. This is something I'm working on. I have come to think of it as a search for the time and state of mind to get into a flow state, something that I used to find much easier.

It might be that my job as head of an office or whatever is to make sure everyone can get to that place so they can be productive. And I need to do the same for myself. This latter bit is the hardest somehow. If you figure it out I would love to know how you do it

Aug 18, 19 12:29 am  · 
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It's Sunday and I'm working again - from home this time, thank goodness - on some marketing stuff I need to catch up on. Oh well.

Aug 18, 19 11:11 am  · 
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zonker

we're working through the weekend too - could be an all nighter - got to print tomorrow - 

Aug 18, 19 3:27 pm  · 
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x-jla

Saturday and Sunday :(.   On top of it, my 16yo son had 5 of his friends sleep over last night and they were running through the house like wild maniacs at 2am with bike helmets on their heads like gladiators.  I yelled at them to calm down...shirtless and in my draws.  After,  I felt like I passed some milestone of DAD-ness...Bad week to have work to do...Mindhunter season 2 is on Netflix and I haven’t had the chance to watch yet...



Aug 18, 19 4:13 pm  · 
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Wilma Buttfit

I worked every weekend but maybe 3 of em this summer. I take a lot of time off during the week though so isn't the same.

Aug 19, 19 8:09 am  · 
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OddArchitect

I adamantly refuse to work on the weekends unless their is a major deadline.  Oh wait there are always major deadlines.  

Aug 19, 19 10:02 am  · 
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atelier nobody

I really should have, but didn't. Now that Monday has come, I'm feeling acutely the results of my laziness (not too much to take an Archinect break, of course).

Aug 19, 19 1:42 pm  · 
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senjohnblutarsky

I leave work at 5:30 and hope to keep it that way for as long as I can. 

Aug 19, 19 1:47 pm  · 
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tduds

Thankfully I haven't had to "work" (at my job) many weekends this summer. It's given me more time to "work" at my home, planning projects, planning marriage, cleaning up after myself...

Not much time left for "fun" this year. Next year I'll make more time for fun.

Aug 19, 19 1:52 pm  · 
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citizen

Honestly, it's comforting to know I'm not the only one around here with an eccentric, shifting work schedule.

Aug 19, 19 6:55 pm  · 
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sameolddoctor

And you call this a "good" lifestyle? Seems very American to keep working on weekends, and then boast about it.

Aug 19, 19 7:53 pm  · 
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citizen

So very, very American.

Aug 19, 19 8:51 pm  · 
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tduds

++ It's all about balance. I work when I can be most productive - even if it's a Sunday morning. I also take time to enjoy my life, which sometimes means leaving a 2pm on a Tuesday. Unless you have meetings, keeping a strict 9-5 M-F can be detrimental.

Aug 20, 19 12:30 pm  · 
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(I wasn't boasting, sameold. Just stating a fact. Everyone is very busy right now.)

Aug 20, 19 12:49 pm  · 
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zonker

As construction costs have gone up due to tariffs, schedules get compressed, and consequently, architects have to work faster and over longer hours including weekends - 

Aug 20, 19 12:38 pm  · 
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Non Sequitur

or not.

Aug 20, 19 12:59 pm  · 
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Steeplechase

Or not indeed. I only work weekends to not use PTO for time I
ditched during the week.

Aug 20, 19 9:10 pm  · 
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archi_dude

As some one who has first hand seen the difference in costs and rushed submittals to beat some of the costs. First off the increases have been pretty minor. The real increase in cost is everyone is so busy they are throwing numbers to lose the work but still get invited to future bids. The schedule compression is a phenomenon that has been occurring since end of the recession

Aug 20, 19 9:15 pm  · 
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archi_dude

This thread touches on why we probably aren't seeing the schedules grow back along with price increases. Everyone in America thinks $ instead of quality of life. I'd rather see a smaller bonus and and larger free hours than, "your bonus will be so much bigger if you do this 6/10 scheduled job."

Aug 20, 19 9:17 pm  · 
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archiwutm8

No, we have bank holiday this weekend in the UK.

Aug 21, 19 10:06 am  · 
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whistler

Went for a bike ride with my wife and several clients on Saturday then a long trail run Sunday by myself.  Back to work Monday.

Sorry folks, gotta learn when to "hustle and when to float"!


Aug 21, 19 2:32 pm  · 
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IndianaVisions

Yes, working on weekends is a routine now :)

Aug 21, 19 7:07 pm  · 
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