from Hacker News

When you are an independent founder, work 15x7 or work 8x5 per week?

by jeyzolo on 3/23/25, 4:32 PM with 6 comments

I started working as an independent founder at the end of last year. I also formed a team before, but my efficiency has been very low. The results were not very good later, and the promotion was very slow. So I started to do it myself. After seeing the work of many people around me, I often work until 1:00 pm and get up at 8:00 pm. I have been a little tired recently. I suddenly feel that this kind of work rhythm is wrong? Creative product concepts still come from life. Life is filled with work, and every day, the work is meaningless and creative is gone... How do you arrange your time when you are independent founders? I have also read many stories about independent developers or founders. They are basically crazy work and crazy ships, and finally get a little results. No one seems to have mentioned the leisurely work?

  • by ilamont on 3/23/25, 4:42 PM

    > How do you arrange your time when you are independent founders?

    You're independent. You can make decisions about when you want to work according to your own needs, and the needs of your business.

    > I have also read many stories about independent developers or founders. They are basically crazy work and crazy ships, and finally get a little results.

    Yes. Hustle culture (https://marriott.byu.edu/magazine/feature/escaping-the-hustl...). Often amplified through survivor bias. It turns into startup theatre, especially when founders are seeking investors or trying to gain entrance to accelerators.

    If you have sales - real sales, with customers paying money - you will have a lot more freedom to run the business the way you want, not according to others' perceived or actual expectations.

  • by codingdave on 3/23/25, 5:01 PM

    I typically work 2-3 hours a day on my project, including weekends, usually first thing in the morning. The rest of my time is spent living the rest of my life. I also feel free to take days off when I want, or do more when I feel like it. After all, isn't that the point of being independent?

    Admittedly, I'm at the building stage, where grinding more hours just leads to crappier code and UX. I need the downtime to let the ideas percolate. I also have the luxury of not being in a hurry. I'm not trying to do a startup using the latest tech, I'm building something small that will always be a niche.

  • by namanyayg on 3/23/25, 4:42 PM

    The reality is that you have to balance both or you WILL get burned out

    I did a ~3 weeks of 12x6, this week was more like 8x3 and spending the rest of the time with family

    Inspiration, creativity, and dedication ebb and flow like that

  • by antasvara on 3/23/25, 5:45 PM

    What sort of business are you running? Are you under time pressure from competitors to get the product out? Do you personally have monetary pressures? How do you feel about this work schedule, and does it feel sustainable?

    The point I'm making is that you are unique. The fact that you're an independent founder is the one thing you share in common with other independent founders. What works for you will be a function of your business, your temperament, your personal life, and a variety of other factors.

  • by DamonHD on 3/23/25, 4:54 PM

    As others have said, avoid startup theatre and do what actually needs doing within your capabilities and the hours (eg owl/lark) that work for you and your colleagues.

    When I was 18 and running a business on the side while an undergrad I think that I did 18 hours most days. Absolutely would not have wanted to do that much nor sustained it when my kids were small, with financial consulting and a different start-up on the side, nor now that I don't have to work if I don't want to.