When I learn about people doing interesting things in their spare time, I sigh. When I can IM folks building an interesting business at 12:30am their time, I shake my head. When I look at my rarely shrinking list of side projects I’d like to get to, I slump.
Except for occasional early morning bouts of mind-racing, I sleep at least seven hours a night most every night. Sometimes eight. And I’m a cranky-pants (thank you, Tim Goodman) when I don’t get that sleep.
I like to imagine I’m focused on the things that matter between my family and my job. There aren’t a lot of spare hours after that. Kudos to those who find the inspiration and perspiration to pursue invention of all sorts in the hours when I’m soundly asleep.
On the job, I never count the hours; rather, I feel like I don’t have enough of them to get all the right things done. (I can understand the cultish attraction of the Getting Things Done methods, even if I continue to avoid diving in.) The few times in my life I’ve had a job I hated, I counted the hours, even when I wasn’t paid by them. If I start counting the hours… it’s time to move on. If you’re counting the hours, consider your choices.
And get some sleep will you? You’re making me look bad! 🙂