Hi,

 

I love web design - and been a graphic designer for 15 years - but the reality is, as I'm getting older (I'm 40), I have to limit my computer work to a maximum of something like 4 hours a day. I just need to do other things during the day to keep a healthy balance.

 

Lately, with design classes and freelance work, I kind-of overdid it and find myself having (another) computer overdose... So, life's teaching me a lesson once again.

 

Do you guys also have to limit the time you spend in front of he computer even though you like design & creation as much as I do?

 

Ben.

Edited February 25, 201016 yr by Sam G
moved topic from General Chat

Yes, I try to - although I do usually fail! I do think it's important to have time away from the computer doing other things. I would say if you can earn enough money by working 4 hours a day, then go for it.

 

I probably spend more than 8 hours a day on the computer - but I do take regular breaks. Having a dog (ok, 4 dogs) helps immensely as they simply won't take no for an answer when it comes to walkies!

I work full time, from 8:30 to 5, but also travel for 3 hours getting there and back, so it's 5:45 to 6:30, and I still work in the evenings freelance, mostly building up my codebase and CMS with visions of going freelance full time in the future.

 

So no, no limits really to the amount time I spend, although I don't touch it on the weekends... weekends is football, bookies, poker, girlfriend + boozing!

I spend on average 12 - 14 hours a day in front of the computer.

 

BUT: I'm awake on average 22 out of 24 hours, so it's not so bad lol

I've recently suffered big time Burnout from being on a computer approx 16 hours a day for the past 2/3 years.

It's not healthy and invariably affects other areas of your life.

I now limit my time on the pc and funnily enough, have increased my productivity.

The best part of running your own business is - you get to choose which 18 hours a day you work!

 

It's not all at the PC though - meetings and the odd pint in 'The Think Tank' break the day up.

I work full time, from 8:30 to 5, but also travel for 3 hours getting there and back, so it's 5:45 to 6:30, and I still work in the evenings freelance, mostly building up my codebase and CMS with visions of going freelance full time in the future.

 

So no, no limits really to the amount time I spend, although I don't touch it on the weekends... weekends is football, bookies, poker, girlfriend + boozing!

 

let's hope the girlfriend doesn't see shes 4th in the list out of 5.

let's hope the girlfriend doesn't see shes 4th in the list out of 5.

 

I wear the trousers

let's hope the girlfriend doesn't see shes 4th in the list out of 5.

 

Had to laugh at that

8 – 16 hours.

It depends, I work 8hrs a day on a computer for my job, then depending on what I am am doing on a night I might spend an extra few browsing the net and doing other stuff, so maybe around 8-11hrs a day -weekends when I like to do other things

On average, 40 hours a week, plus another 12 in personal work/browsing. Just pulled three consecutive weeks of 70 hours though, big freelance gig. My eyes are literally melting.

I really should limit the time I spend at my computer but in reality this just doesn't happen.

 

I probably spend the vast majority of my time sat at a computer, whether I'm at work or at home. It's not healthy really, I know.

Like seemingly a lot of people here, I work full time 10-6.30 at a computer, then come home and do another 3 hours or so.

 

I do tend to relax more at the weekend, but when I say relax - I'm likely to be sat at the computer browsing or playing games, so overall I spend more time on it than I do anywhere else!

I think 4 hours straight staring at a computer screen is my max, if i over do it i just feel terrible afterwards so i tend to do an hour and a bit and then have an hours break . Just take regular breaks and you'll find you can fit in more time at the computer, i generally do around 6 - 8 hours work a day. The great thing about taking long breaks is you can get other stuff done too (non work stuff), i even get the odd bit of mountain biking in throughout the day .

8-10 hours a day that i would call work but i also spend a couple of hours doing other stuff that i don't class as work but really i should, and more if there are any problems lol

Hi

 

Maybe it depends on what type of designs or computer work you do day after day? I've met young designers in their 20s but unfortunately got a "burnout" at a young age. They were doing the same routine/designs every hour of each day throughout the year. Not sure if this is the cause though.

 

I work 11-12 hrs everyday and usually work on weekends too. But i had to make sure I was doing different design work each day. Like today its a mockup for a corporate site. Next day its a logo design for a phone company and next an illustration for a mascot and so on. Variety may help keep things exciting and interesting. I also try to take breaks in between to "break the ice"

 

I also try to exercise regularly to help keep out high stress levels. And the work environment contributes to your condition. Having a good ergonomic chair, tidy table helps.

The best part of running your own business is - you get to choose which 18 hours a day you work!

 

It's not all at the PC though - meetings and the odd pint in 'The Think Tank' break the day up.

 

 

:-)

 

yes - just started my own business in 09 - so I know where you are coming from. Regularly between 12-18 on a weekday and then both evenings at the weekend.

I probably spend 8-12 hours a day in front of my computer (with odd break here and there) - probably one of the negative points of working from home.

 

I am diversifying into doing other types of work aside from web design so it means I get to go out and about and have a change of scenery etc. and certainly helps with my high blood pressure and constant headaches LOL

This all depend on work load, and time scales. I have even found my self working 5/6 hours on a Saturday and a Sunday to get a project finished on time, and that's after a full 5 of doing the same at the office. I don't think this is very good for any one to be working these sorts of hours in front of a monitor.

 

It's always good to try and take as many breaks as possible.

I must ask:

 

A: Do you guys get paid for all those hours?

 

B: Do you's have your chairs/desk area setup in a ergonomical way - the reason I ask is, I'm only 26 and have RSI (Repetitive Strain Injury) in my shoulder and wrist, and once its set in, its extremely difficult to get rid of.

Also I cant imagine it helps your eyes!

Thanks everyone for sharing your stories!

 

Well, 10 years ago I could easily spend 10-12 hours working in front of the computer... now, at 40 years old, it's another story. Both my mind and body get tired way faster than it used to and I really have to take actions to take care of myself, which I didn't have to do years ago.

 

Friday of last week was my first "real" day working 7 hours straight at a client's office. Being a freelancer, I'm kind-of testing what's my limit of being able to work at a computer. It went pretty well I must say.

 

Right now, I'm doing freelance work for 2 clients. One I work from home in the morning like 8:30 to 11, then it's shower time and I take a 20-25 minutes walk to my other client's office where I spend the afternoon. This way, my day gets cut in half by doing some healthier thing like talking a nice walk outside and it gets my stress level down a bit, if not to zero. Also, I like the balance of working alone and then going to work in an office where I meet people and get to have some interactivity with real people! lol

 

It's some kind of 9-5 work schedule, but doesn't really seem that way.

 

Also, two nights a week - and every next Saturday, I attend web design classes where I still get myself sitting in front of a computer. In May, I'll make a nice switch and teach some of these classes - Photoshop, Illustrator, Dreamweaver, HTML, CSS - so it'll be more complementary to the computer work I do, which will be a good thing.

 

So for me, after 15 years working as a graphic designer, it's really a question of getting a better knowledge of my mind and body limits - and finding the formula (or job) that works for me to keep a healthier professional and personal like.

 

And I'm still learning.

 

Ben.

10-18 hour i m web designer

8 at the office, sometimes 1 at home working on work related pet projects. Throw in some fun time, and I would usually spent 10-12 hours in front of a computer.

 

B: Do you's have your chairs/desk area setup in a ergonomical way - the reason I ask is, I'm only 26 and have RSI (Repetitive Strain Injury) in my shoulder and wrist, and once its set in, its extremely difficult to get rid of.

Also I cant imagine it helps your eyes!

 

I had mild RSI about 9 years ago, and believe it or not it did go away. If I do a hardcore computer stint it kicks back in (strong tingling sensation in my right wrist), but mostly I'm fine.

 

The turning point for me was when I realised that my RSI (or OOP if you prefer!) was stress related, and it wasn't stemming from my wrist at all, but my shoulder. This is very common - because I was stressed out I was tensing my shoulders and hunching up, which stops the blood flow to my wrist.

 

Of course I did the other sensible things like doing arms and wrist exercises, buying myself a high back chair, and an ergonomic mouse. Some people find that using a wacom tablet instead of a mouse helps too.

 

And yeah my eyes are not in great shape. But I have an astigmatism, and that can't be blamed on a computer.

9-5 at a software company here and web work between gaming/girlfriend unless im working on a specific client project, then late nights occour xD. dont touch code on the weekend tho

let's hope the girlfriend doesn't see shes 4th in the list out of 5.

 

Thats what i was thinking.....

 

im on my computer and online about 10 hours every day, 8-9 working.