How can I effectively shorten the hours I devote to my software developer career, so I can have more time...
I have been a junior C++ developer for a year since graduating in engineering.
I am also pursuing my creative dreams on the side. However, I feel like my current lifestyle is not sustainable.
My job and commute take up 50 hours a week that I can't devote to creative work. I try to dedicate the rest of my time to my passion. However, whenever I have any other responsibilities(to family, friends, health, maintenance), my time gets immediately drained. I have no free time at all, which can feel demoralizing.
I want to know how I can get the best of both worlds -- a secure livelihood that I enjoy, with more time to pursue my art. I am willing to sacrifice pay for this.
There are several options I know of that may accomplish this. I just don't know how achievable they are.
- Find a part time software job.
- Becoming a freelancer
- Find a 30 hour software job
- Find a remote job.
- Save money and quit my job for X years
- Ask my current manager if I could work fewer hours at my current job
Which of the above options is most attainable for me as a junior developer, and what strategy can I use to avoid hurting my software career?
careers
New contributor
add a comment |
I have been a junior C++ developer for a year since graduating in engineering.
I am also pursuing my creative dreams on the side. However, I feel like my current lifestyle is not sustainable.
My job and commute take up 50 hours a week that I can't devote to creative work. I try to dedicate the rest of my time to my passion. However, whenever I have any other responsibilities(to family, friends, health, maintenance), my time gets immediately drained. I have no free time at all, which can feel demoralizing.
I want to know how I can get the best of both worlds -- a secure livelihood that I enjoy, with more time to pursue my art. I am willing to sacrifice pay for this.
There are several options I know of that may accomplish this. I just don't know how achievable they are.
- Find a part time software job.
- Becoming a freelancer
- Find a 30 hour software job
- Find a remote job.
- Save money and quit my job for X years
- Ask my current manager if I could work fewer hours at my current job
Which of the above options is most attainable for me as a junior developer, and what strategy can I use to avoid hurting my software career?
careers
New contributor
This question as written seems to be more asking about time management or personal productivity. For a Workplace question focus on one workplace issue (e.g. how to approach your boss about flexible hours). Also you're trying to ask too many things for a good question. E.g. "How do I ask about flexible hours" and "How do I transition to professional artist" deserve different questions and answers.
– Brandin
21 mins ago
Are you pursing Arts as a career or a hobby. You have only been a developer for 1 year which is nothing. You can have a passion and it can simply be something you do in your free time.
– Shadowzee
14 mins ago
Shadowzee: I am pursuing arts as a profession. The reason why I didn't get an arts degree was because of the risk involved, and at the time I hoped that getting a technical degree could shift my interests.
– Jen
6 mins ago
Brandin: I just edited the question. Is there anything else I could do to fix issues? I feel like a question like this belongs on this site, but I definitely can improve it to make it follow guidelines more.
– Jen
5 mins ago
add a comment |
I have been a junior C++ developer for a year since graduating in engineering.
I am also pursuing my creative dreams on the side. However, I feel like my current lifestyle is not sustainable.
My job and commute take up 50 hours a week that I can't devote to creative work. I try to dedicate the rest of my time to my passion. However, whenever I have any other responsibilities(to family, friends, health, maintenance), my time gets immediately drained. I have no free time at all, which can feel demoralizing.
I want to know how I can get the best of both worlds -- a secure livelihood that I enjoy, with more time to pursue my art. I am willing to sacrifice pay for this.
There are several options I know of that may accomplish this. I just don't know how achievable they are.
- Find a part time software job.
- Becoming a freelancer
- Find a 30 hour software job
- Find a remote job.
- Save money and quit my job for X years
- Ask my current manager if I could work fewer hours at my current job
Which of the above options is most attainable for me as a junior developer, and what strategy can I use to avoid hurting my software career?
careers
New contributor
I have been a junior C++ developer for a year since graduating in engineering.
I am also pursuing my creative dreams on the side. However, I feel like my current lifestyle is not sustainable.
My job and commute take up 50 hours a week that I can't devote to creative work. I try to dedicate the rest of my time to my passion. However, whenever I have any other responsibilities(to family, friends, health, maintenance), my time gets immediately drained. I have no free time at all, which can feel demoralizing.
I want to know how I can get the best of both worlds -- a secure livelihood that I enjoy, with more time to pursue my art. I am willing to sacrifice pay for this.
There are several options I know of that may accomplish this. I just don't know how achievable they are.
- Find a part time software job.
- Becoming a freelancer
- Find a 30 hour software job
- Find a remote job.
- Save money and quit my job for X years
- Ask my current manager if I could work fewer hours at my current job
Which of the above options is most attainable for me as a junior developer, and what strategy can I use to avoid hurting my software career?
careers
careers
New contributor
New contributor
edited 7 mins ago
Jen
New contributor
asked 59 mins ago
JenJen
61
61
New contributor
New contributor
This question as written seems to be more asking about time management or personal productivity. For a Workplace question focus on one workplace issue (e.g. how to approach your boss about flexible hours). Also you're trying to ask too many things for a good question. E.g. "How do I ask about flexible hours" and "How do I transition to professional artist" deserve different questions and answers.
– Brandin
21 mins ago
Are you pursing Arts as a career or a hobby. You have only been a developer for 1 year which is nothing. You can have a passion and it can simply be something you do in your free time.
– Shadowzee
14 mins ago
Shadowzee: I am pursuing arts as a profession. The reason why I didn't get an arts degree was because of the risk involved, and at the time I hoped that getting a technical degree could shift my interests.
– Jen
6 mins ago
Brandin: I just edited the question. Is there anything else I could do to fix issues? I feel like a question like this belongs on this site, but I definitely can improve it to make it follow guidelines more.
– Jen
5 mins ago
add a comment |
This question as written seems to be more asking about time management or personal productivity. For a Workplace question focus on one workplace issue (e.g. how to approach your boss about flexible hours). Also you're trying to ask too many things for a good question. E.g. "How do I ask about flexible hours" and "How do I transition to professional artist" deserve different questions and answers.
– Brandin
21 mins ago
Are you pursing Arts as a career or a hobby. You have only been a developer for 1 year which is nothing. You can have a passion and it can simply be something you do in your free time.
– Shadowzee
14 mins ago
Shadowzee: I am pursuing arts as a profession. The reason why I didn't get an arts degree was because of the risk involved, and at the time I hoped that getting a technical degree could shift my interests.
– Jen
6 mins ago
Brandin: I just edited the question. Is there anything else I could do to fix issues? I feel like a question like this belongs on this site, but I definitely can improve it to make it follow guidelines more.
– Jen
5 mins ago
This question as written seems to be more asking about time management or personal productivity. For a Workplace question focus on one workplace issue (e.g. how to approach your boss about flexible hours). Also you're trying to ask too many things for a good question. E.g. "How do I ask about flexible hours" and "How do I transition to professional artist" deserve different questions and answers.
– Brandin
21 mins ago
This question as written seems to be more asking about time management or personal productivity. For a Workplace question focus on one workplace issue (e.g. how to approach your boss about flexible hours). Also you're trying to ask too many things for a good question. E.g. "How do I ask about flexible hours" and "How do I transition to professional artist" deserve different questions and answers.
– Brandin
21 mins ago
Are you pursing Arts as a career or a hobby. You have only been a developer for 1 year which is nothing. You can have a passion and it can simply be something you do in your free time.
– Shadowzee
14 mins ago
Are you pursing Arts as a career or a hobby. You have only been a developer for 1 year which is nothing. You can have a passion and it can simply be something you do in your free time.
– Shadowzee
14 mins ago
Shadowzee: I am pursuing arts as a profession. The reason why I didn't get an arts degree was because of the risk involved, and at the time I hoped that getting a technical degree could shift my interests.
– Jen
6 mins ago
Shadowzee: I am pursuing arts as a profession. The reason why I didn't get an arts degree was because of the risk involved, and at the time I hoped that getting a technical degree could shift my interests.
– Jen
6 mins ago
Brandin: I just edited the question. Is there anything else I could do to fix issues? I feel like a question like this belongs on this site, but I definitely can improve it to make it follow guidelines more.
– Jen
5 mins ago
Brandin: I just edited the question. Is there anything else I could do to fix issues? I feel like a question like this belongs on this site, but I definitely can improve it to make it follow guidelines more.
– Jen
5 mins ago
add a comment |
1 Answer
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Stick with programming for 5 years. Once you've solidified that as a career (assuming you improve), you can start taking 2-3 month sabbaticals every few years if you save properly, because you will be able to find jobs easily. In the meantime, dedicate an hour a day. A 50 hour workweek with commute time doesn't sound that taxing to me, especially for a young person. There's 168 hours in a week. 50 is work, 56 is sleep, leaving you with 62 hours a week for anything else. That's almost 9 hours a day on average.
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1 Answer
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1 Answer
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Stick with programming for 5 years. Once you've solidified that as a career (assuming you improve), you can start taking 2-3 month sabbaticals every few years if you save properly, because you will be able to find jobs easily. In the meantime, dedicate an hour a day. A 50 hour workweek with commute time doesn't sound that taxing to me, especially for a young person. There's 168 hours in a week. 50 is work, 56 is sleep, leaving you with 62 hours a week for anything else. That's almost 9 hours a day on average.
add a comment |
Stick with programming for 5 years. Once you've solidified that as a career (assuming you improve), you can start taking 2-3 month sabbaticals every few years if you save properly, because you will be able to find jobs easily. In the meantime, dedicate an hour a day. A 50 hour workweek with commute time doesn't sound that taxing to me, especially for a young person. There's 168 hours in a week. 50 is work, 56 is sleep, leaving you with 62 hours a week for anything else. That's almost 9 hours a day on average.
add a comment |
Stick with programming for 5 years. Once you've solidified that as a career (assuming you improve), you can start taking 2-3 month sabbaticals every few years if you save properly, because you will be able to find jobs easily. In the meantime, dedicate an hour a day. A 50 hour workweek with commute time doesn't sound that taxing to me, especially for a young person. There's 168 hours in a week. 50 is work, 56 is sleep, leaving you with 62 hours a week for anything else. That's almost 9 hours a day on average.
Stick with programming for 5 years. Once you've solidified that as a career (assuming you improve), you can start taking 2-3 month sabbaticals every few years if you save properly, because you will be able to find jobs easily. In the meantime, dedicate an hour a day. A 50 hour workweek with commute time doesn't sound that taxing to me, especially for a young person. There's 168 hours in a week. 50 is work, 56 is sleep, leaving you with 62 hours a week for anything else. That's almost 9 hours a day on average.
answered 8 mins ago
TomboTombo
995116
995116
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Jen is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
Jen is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
Jen is a new contributor. Be nice, and check out our Code of Conduct.
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This question as written seems to be more asking about time management or personal productivity. For a Workplace question focus on one workplace issue (e.g. how to approach your boss about flexible hours). Also you're trying to ask too many things for a good question. E.g. "How do I ask about flexible hours" and "How do I transition to professional artist" deserve different questions and answers.
– Brandin
21 mins ago
Are you pursing Arts as a career or a hobby. You have only been a developer for 1 year which is nothing. You can have a passion and it can simply be something you do in your free time.
– Shadowzee
14 mins ago
Shadowzee: I am pursuing arts as a profession. The reason why I didn't get an arts degree was because of the risk involved, and at the time I hoped that getting a technical degree could shift my interests.
– Jen
6 mins ago
Brandin: I just edited the question. Is there anything else I could do to fix issues? I feel like a question like this belongs on this site, but I definitely can improve it to make it follow guidelines more.
– Jen
5 mins ago