Poll: How many days a week do you currently work? Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
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... depending on the workload, from one day a week (rarely) to every day of the week. For the last two months I have been working all week long (weekends included) and I'll do the same during July and August, then I'll have a very deserved vacation!
| | | | neilmac
Spain
Local time: 01:34
Spanish to English
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I tend to do a bit of work, or something work-related like admin, most days. If I didn't feel like it, I wouldn't.
I used to run a pub quiz in my spare time and I find certain aspects of my job as a translator to be akin to that activity.
Right now, Sunday morning 11.am., I've already replied to a couple of work-related e-mails about billing issues. I have 2 or 3 texts pending revision and I might decide to do one of them at some point today. However, the way I see it it's ta... See more I tend to do a bit of work, or something work-related like admin, most days. If I didn't feel like it, I wouldn't.
I used to run a pub quiz in my spare time and I find certain aspects of my job as a translator to be akin to that activity.
Right now, Sunday morning 11.am., I've already replied to a couple of work-related e-mails about billing issues. I have 2 or 3 texts pending revision and I might decide to do one of them at some point today. However, the way I see it it's tantamount to reading the Sunday paper, so swings and roundabouts. ▲ Collapse
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I have not had a day off since February.
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Thank you for your replies.
I used to work 7/7 when I was younger, even overnight, which is a very common attitude among tranlators. No delay was too tight, no customer was too demanding. But now that I am older, my body and my brain are requesting optimization (if I dare to say). So, since the beginning of 2015 I have always left one free day (typically during the week-ends). But it has revealed itself as not enough, because I'm a person too and I need to take care of myself and my... See more Thank you for your replies.
I used to work 7/7 when I was younger, even overnight, which is a very common attitude among tranlators. No delay was too tight, no customer was too demanding. But now that I am older, my body and my brain are requesting optimization (if I dare to say). So, since the beginning of 2015 I have always left one free day (typically during the week-ends). But it has revealed itself as not enough, because I'm a person too and I need to take care of myself and my partner. Life is too short (more than before). I'm really thinking of taking 2 days of break every week (except in case of rush due to illness etc.). This will lead to less income, but probably more quality of life.
Will I be able to do this? ▲ Collapse
| | | | Natalia Pedrosa
Spain
Local time: 01:34
Member (2012)
English to Spanish
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| You will Susana | Jul 5, 2015 |
I find it hard too to work 7 days a week as I used to do in my younger years.
This why now I keep weekends wholly to myself, except the odd short job.
I find it now more enjoyable when I return on Monday to my translation duties.
Nice Sunday to all.
N.
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But I might work fewer hours per day than I used to.
[Edited at 2015-07-05 15:30 GMT]
| | | | Ventnai 
Spain
Local time: 01:34
German to English
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Usually 5-6. If there is a great deal of work on offer, I'll work 6 days - you have to make up for the times when work is a little slow.
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For those of you who work 7 days per week, how do you manage to mentally disconnect from work? Personally, I need time off from work in order to recharge and motivate myself to continue. I honestly think I'd work less efficiently in the long run if one day just bled into the next.
| | | | Rosa Paredes
Canada
Local time: 19:34
Spanish to English
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| I work non-stop if/whenever needed | Jul 5, 2015 |
However, I make sure my fun activities stay in my schedule and I make it to dance classes and paddling sessions or t least a bike ride very day.
I have been working pretty much non stop for the past few months. Whenever I get a day off, I catch up with the domestic stuff and then keep on going.
Back to work!
Have a nice Sunday
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Natalia Pedrosa wrote:
You will Susana
Nice!
Just began this week...
Nice Sunday too.
| | | | Zhihua Liu
China
Local time: 07:34
English to Chinese
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Generally I work 5 days a week, but for a few times 6 days. One benefit living in a small town is I don't feel stressed as before.
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564354352 (X)
Denmark
Local time: 01:34
Danish to English
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| As many as it takes | Jul 6, 2015 |
to do whatever work comes in. Granted, at times it is worth spending some free days doing some marketing when there is no other work, but with a steady stream of work, I tend to take a relaxed view and just work when there is work to be done, and do other stuff when there is no work. Suits me perfectly. Today, I'm on housework duty!
In fact, in the last job I had before I went self-employed, I only worked Monday through Thursday, which was excellent. It was like having a mini holida... See more to do whatever work comes in. Granted, at times it is worth spending some free days doing some marketing when there is no other work, but with a steady stream of work, I tend to take a relaxed view and just work when there is work to be done, and do other stuff when there is no work. Suits me perfectly. Today, I'm on housework duty!
In fact, in the last job I had before I went self-employed, I only worked Monday through Thursday, which was excellent. It was like having a mini holiday every single weekend, PLUS the standard 6 weeks' holiday that we get in Denmark PLUS about 8 or 9 bank holidays. To be completely honest, I miss that about employment. As a self-employed translator, I don't think it is quite that easy to grant myself as many consecutive days off as I had when I was employed, although the 'odd' days that I take off when my order book is empty may add up to the same amount of days over a year... I haven't counted them...
However, if given the choice, I would rather work four very packed days and take three days off than work 5-6-7 days of 5-6 hours each. In fact, I believe I work much more efficiently that way... ▲ Collapse
| | | | Marjolein Snippe
Netherlands
Local time: 01:34
Member (2012)
English to Dutch
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My weekends are for sports, socialising, reading, going for walks... Unless a very good client asks me very nicely to help them out, I don't even switch on my computer. The money I would earn over the weekend is nowhere near enough to compensate for the time with friends and family I would lose.
| | | | Mario Freitas
Brazil
Local time: 20:34
Member (2014)
English to Portuguese
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| 7 does not mean every single day of my life | Jul 9, 2015 |
I work on any day and at any time. I cannot choose not to work on Saturdays or Sundays. If I have a job, I'll work on it. However, I often have days off, when I finish a job, and don't have another one to work in. Which may be a Monday or a Thursday... who knows.
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