Average Week vs Deadlines

#1

I’ve been running for years on weekly deadlines…getting burnt out…

I’ve only worked at 2 companies in 2 decades. Is fighting the clock 100% of the time normal?

#2

Yes, pretty much. Either you’re fighting deadlines or the deadlines come after days of downtime, all of a sudden, with insane and unrealistic expectations from your clients. The good news is that if you get good enough and prolific enough you can eventually turn down clients that suck, and save yourself the headaches of unrealistic deadlines.

#3

Flipping burgers doesn’t look so bad sometimes

#4

I think it really depends on where you work. I think the shorter projects, the tighter the deadline feels.
I personally work in tv animation, and while the quotas are high, the expected level of output is also somewhat adjusted.
It might be a bit stressful for the new people, but after a year or so, it gets easier to finish on time, and by then we have very normal 9-18 days, with little to no overtime.

So it’s totally possible to have normal days/work life in cg/animation. Depending on your specific field, I guess :slight_smile:

#5

More habitual than normal.

Learn to manage your time well and communicate back up the chain. Get better at your own time estimation and you can then feedback unrealistic deadlines.

2 things to consider:

  1. Your workplace may be toxic
  2. Your mindset may be toxic

Solution:

  1. Speak up
  2. Offer a better solution
  3. Under promise - Over deliver
  4. If your banging your head against a brick wall, then look for an alternative that suits your lifestyle