Making It in Tech Without Working Endless Hours

Do you really need to work crazy hours to succeed as a software engineer?

The fast pace and ever-changing nature of software development often push engineers toward overwork and burnout. There’s a common myth in our industry that success is directly tied to the number of hours you put in. But in reality, career growth depends far more on what you achieve than how long you spend working. Think about it: neither promo documents nor year-end reviews mention anything about number of hours worked, they are all about impact.

In this article, I share practical strategies for avoiding burnout while building a thriving career in software engineering. These insights come from my own experience navigating the industry as a parent. Early on, I realized that traditional hustle culture wasn’t an option for me—I had limited hours for work, but I still wanted to make an impact and grow in my career.

Choose the right things to do

Time is limited, so focus on work that maximizes impact and aligns with your company’s goals. Prioritize tasks that match your level—mid-level engineers should solve technical problems independently, while senior engineers should define problems and oversee solutions. Delegate tasks that don’t challenge you to those who can grow from them. Work closely with your manager to balance priorities and delegation, ensuring you maximize your impact within limited hours.

A good resource for prioritization is the Eisenhower matrix. Refer to this older article of mine to learn how to use it.

Execute with focus

Once you know what needs to be done, set yourself up for success. As software engineers, our most important work requires deep focus.

Put away your phone, silence notifications, and tackle one task at a time. Let your team and manager know when you’ll be in deep work mode, so they don’t expect instant responses on email or Slack.

And here’s a pro tip—tackle your most important work (coding, debugging, writing docs) first thing in the day when your energy is highest. Save emails and admin tasks for after lunch or the end of the day.

If you want to learn how to achieve deep focus, read Deep Work by Cal Newport.

Be fully present, wherever you are

This one’s especially for parents—there’s no use stressing about your child while you’re at work, just like there’s no point stressing about work when you’re with family.

Find childcare you trust, and then give your full focus to the task at hand. Worrying about whether your kid is going to eat her lunch while you’re at work doesn’t help anyone! You’re better off pouring your energy into work, getting it done well, and making the most of your time.

Take care of yourself—seriously

This isn’t some fluffy wellness advice. If you look after your body and mind, they’ll support you when you need to perform at your best.

Eat well, sleep well, move your body, and have a hobby. These aren’t just nice extras—they’re what help you bring your A-game to work and life.