Time Management 101 - Finding time to Develop Games
by Robert Janes · 02/04/2006 (11:32 pm) · 7 comments
==Warning Long, but Interesting Read==
We've all experienced it at one time or another.
Something catches our attention, and we become side tracked from the task at hand. It gets worse when you combine "side tracked" with "indie". Aside from most independent developers having full or part time jobs, most may have a wife and kids or a "significant" other, so time management is a must.
I can't speak for all "indies" when I say it's easy to get side tracked, but if you're anything like me, you may get easily distracted by your surroundings or the people around you.
I've always been a person to help another person if they ask, and try my best to put them first. Sure, it's a great feeling, but it sure does make the days fly by.
Let's look at some general things that may side track us:
(a) Family
(b) Friends
(c) Television
(d) Weather
(e) Food (Yes, Food can be a distraction, but we all have to eat)
These are, of course, just some of the common distractions for any event in life.
Let's think a mathematical equation for a second. (Yes this all has a meaningful point to distractions, don't fall asleep [God knows I want to fall asleep doing math])
----------------------------------
Free time = (Hours) - (Work Shift) - (Family Time) - (Sleep) - (Eating & Washroom) - (Other Distractions)
Example (Mine)
Free time = 24 - 8 - 2 - 6 (Sometimes 7-8) - 2 (Depending on Length of Bathroom visits) - 2
Free time = 2-4 hours (Depending on Situation)
---------------------------------
****this gives me 2 hours of development time a day.
Let's do some more math
---------------------------------------
2 Hours per day + 5 Days a week = 10 hours per week
10 hours per week * 4 weeks in a month = 40 hours per month
40 hours per month * 12 months per year = 480 hours
480 hours / 24 hours in a day = 20 days.
--------------------------------------
*****so, within 365 days, I get 20 days to spend in development.
Doesn't seem like much eh? *(Yes, I'm Canadian).
So, let's change the original equation a little, and cut down on distractions whereever we can.
Free time = (Hours) - (Work Shift) - (Family Time) - (Sleep) - (Eating & Washroom) - (Other Distractions)
So:
(Work Shift) = 8 - this is commonly 8 for most full time workers and cannot be changed.
(Family Time) = 2 - Ok, 2 may not seem like much time with the family but being an indie the great thing about it, to quote a friend and good author David Michael (the best thing about being an indie, is that you're here too).
You may want to cut down on family time some nights and dedicate other nights completely to your family.
(Sleep) = 6 - This is also a standard but depending on how bent you are on doing development, you may find yourself lossing sleep...I did.
(Eating & Washroom) = 2 - Depending on how quick you eat and use the washroom this could easily be cut down to 1...
(Other Distractions) = 2 - this is the fun part, the best way to combat other distractions, is to set aside Dedicated time for programming, locking yourself in a room, telling the family that this is "Work" time and to focus on the task at hand.
Let's now add some new numbers into the equation
Free time = 24 - 8 - 2 - 6 - 2- 1
Free time = 7 Hours
****Great, 5 hours of free time now! So, lets think about this
5 Hours per day + 5 Days a week = 25 hours per week
25 hours per week * 4 weeks in a month = 100 hours per month
100 hours per month * 12 months per year = 1200 hours
1200 hours / 24 hours in a day = 50 days.
That's an extra 30 days a year, or an extra month a year, just by limiting distraction, and using proper time management to help develop your game.
We've all experienced it at one time or another.
Something catches our attention, and we become side tracked from the task at hand. It gets worse when you combine "side tracked" with "indie". Aside from most independent developers having full or part time jobs, most may have a wife and kids or a "significant" other, so time management is a must.
I can't speak for all "indies" when I say it's easy to get side tracked, but if you're anything like me, you may get easily distracted by your surroundings or the people around you.
I've always been a person to help another person if they ask, and try my best to put them first. Sure, it's a great feeling, but it sure does make the days fly by.
Let's look at some general things that may side track us:
(a) Family
(b) Friends
(c) Television
(d) Weather
(e) Food (Yes, Food can be a distraction, but we all have to eat)
These are, of course, just some of the common distractions for any event in life.
Let's think a mathematical equation for a second. (Yes this all has a meaningful point to distractions, don't fall asleep [God knows I want to fall asleep doing math])
----------------------------------
Free time = (Hours) - (Work Shift) - (Family Time) - (Sleep) - (Eating & Washroom) - (Other Distractions)
Example (Mine)
Free time = 24 - 8 - 2 - 6 (Sometimes 7-8) - 2 (Depending on Length of Bathroom visits) - 2
Free time = 2-4 hours (Depending on Situation)
---------------------------------
****this gives me 2 hours of development time a day.
Let's do some more math
---------------------------------------
2 Hours per day + 5 Days a week = 10 hours per week
10 hours per week * 4 weeks in a month = 40 hours per month
40 hours per month * 12 months per year = 480 hours
480 hours / 24 hours in a day = 20 days.
--------------------------------------
*****so, within 365 days, I get 20 days to spend in development.
Doesn't seem like much eh? *(Yes, I'm Canadian).
So, let's change the original equation a little, and cut down on distractions whereever we can.
Free time = (Hours) - (Work Shift) - (Family Time) - (Sleep) - (Eating & Washroom) - (Other Distractions)
So:
(Work Shift) = 8 - this is commonly 8 for most full time workers and cannot be changed.
(Family Time) = 2 - Ok, 2 may not seem like much time with the family but being an indie the great thing about it, to quote a friend and good author David Michael (the best thing about being an indie, is that you're here too).
You may want to cut down on family time some nights and dedicate other nights completely to your family.
(Sleep) = 6 - This is also a standard but depending on how bent you are on doing development, you may find yourself lossing sleep...I did.
(Eating & Washroom) = 2 - Depending on how quick you eat and use the washroom this could easily be cut down to 1...
(Other Distractions) = 2 - this is the fun part, the best way to combat other distractions, is to set aside Dedicated time for programming, locking yourself in a room, telling the family that this is "Work" time and to focus on the task at hand.
Let's now add some new numbers into the equation
Free time = 24 - 8 - 2 - 6 - 2- 1
Free time = 7 Hours
****Great, 5 hours of free time now! So, lets think about this
5 Hours per day + 5 Days a week = 25 hours per week
25 hours per week * 4 weeks in a month = 100 hours per month
100 hours per month * 12 months per year = 1200 hours
1200 hours / 24 hours in a day = 50 days.
That's an extra 30 days a year, or an extra month a year, just by limiting distraction, and using proper time management to help develop your game.
About the author
#2
Another slight correction would be:
Travelling to and from work isn't accounted for above either, this is a variable ofcourse. For me that would be 30 minutes (yes, I live close) in total each workday.
Man, I think I shaved somewhat 90 minutes out of your day, sorry about that ;)
02/05/2006 (6:06 pm)
Nice read, I agree with Thomas on weekends and "getting in the zone" altough sometimes it takes me alot longer than 45 minutes to get there :)Another slight correction would be:
Quote:(Work Shift) = 8 - this is commonly 8 for most full time workers and cannot be changed.I'd say that 9 hours must be more correct since you have to count the various breaks (lunch etc.) that are included in your average workday.
Travelling to and from work isn't accounted for above either, this is a variable ofcourse. For me that would be 30 minutes (yes, I live close) in total each workday.
Man, I think I shaved somewhat 90 minutes out of your day, sorry about that ;)
#3
www.garagegames.com/blogs/11366/9539
and report your progress on this occasionally.
Scott
02/05/2006 (7:45 pm)
You should consider joining the Thousander Club:www.garagegames.com/blogs/11366/9539
and report your progress on this occasionally.
Scott
#4
Free time = 7 Hours
now my maths is not upto scratch, but surly 8+2+6+2+1=19, so that means that with your development time of 7 hours gives a grand total of 26. Now im not sure about Canada, but we in the UK only have 24 hours a day. Or am I missing something?
02/06/2006 (1:04 am)
Free time = 24 - 8 - 2 - 6 - 2- 1Free time = 7 Hours
now my maths is not upto scratch, but surly 8+2+6+2+1=19, so that means that with your development time of 7 hours gives a grand total of 26. Now im not sure about Canada, but we in the UK only have 24 hours a day. Or am I missing something?
#5
Though it says 7 :P it was suppose to be 5, the line below it says 5, it was a typo sorry ;)
02/06/2006 (8:16 am)
Yeah, James :)Though it says 7 :P it was suppose to be 5, the line below it says 5, it was a typo sorry ;)
#6
Every night, before I sign off, I leave a small note next to my task sheet that says what I was working on and what Im about to work on (think sticky note size) ... I then make sure everything I need to have open to start working is open and ready. I open codeweaver with the project Im working on. I open Eclipse or VS 2005. I open windows explorer and navigate to my project.
Then when I come in the next day and have no clue where to start I look at what's open read the sticky note and immediately begin working.
02/06/2006 (1:31 pm)
If you want to skip the "getting in the zone" time do what I do...Every night, before I sign off, I leave a small note next to my task sheet that says what I was working on and what Im about to work on (think sticky note size) ... I then make sure everything I need to have open to start working is open and ready. I open codeweaver with the project Im working on. I open Eclipse or VS 2005. I open windows explorer and navigate to my project.
Then when I come in the next day and have no clue where to start I look at what's open read the sticky note and immediately begin working.
#7
LOL, well it is still an interesting point. I have thought about how I can shave some wasted time out of my daily routine. I have come to the conclusion that messanger programms are a bad thing when you want to do something. Therefore I have now reduced the amount of time I spend on MSN in favor of developing time.
02/06/2006 (4:20 pm)
Robert,LOL, well it is still an interesting point. I have thought about how I can shave some wasted time out of my daily routine. I have come to the conclusion that messanger programms are a bad thing when you want to do something. Therefore I have now reduced the amount of time I spend on MSN in favor of developing time.
Torque Owner Thomas \"Man of Ice\" Lund
In your calculations you forgot to factor in 2 days per weekend. You only calculate spending 2 hours a day, 5 days a week.
So you would have 2*5 + 12(?)*2 = 34 a week - not 10.
It quickly becomes obvious, that the key to being an indie is to spend the weekends as productive as possible - while maybe spend the weekdays on "everything else" if needed.
Usually people are not very productive the first 30-45 minutes when they sit down to start a task. "Getting into the zone" its usually called. Thus you would max be in the zone for 1-1.5 hours on a weekday, while you could be really productive on weekends.