| Pages in topic: [1 2] > | Poll: Have you ever worked on a project for a few days in a row with no sleep? Thread poster: ProZ.com Staff
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This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "Have you ever worked on a project for a few days in a row with no sleep?".
View the poll here
A forum topic will appear each time a new poll is run. For more information, see: http://proz.com/topic/33629
| | | | Yaotl Altan 
Mexico
Local time: 03:37
Member (2006)
English to Spanish
+ ...
My health is first. There's no project which deserves that kind of physical torture, otherwise I'd return to an office.
| | | | mjbjosh
Local time: 11:37
English to Latvian
+ ...
I don't even think it is possible, one's brain just shuts down if you get no sleep. I have been working for a 2 or 3 days with 3-4 hours sleep at night though and short 1 hour naps in between. However, I wouldn't ever want to make it a norm for me.
[Edited at 2008-02-07 14:28]
| | | | | never - health & quality suffer | Feb 7, 2008 |
I'd never put myself and my family (who'd have to put up with a grumpy, tired mother & wife) through that, and I really wouldn't be able to produce a decent translation under those conditions anyway so there would be little point.
I do work until late in the evening occasionally and have got up early (5 am) two or three times in the past to get something finished in time, but generally I only accept work that fits in with my day.
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Steven Capsuto
United States
Local time: 05:37
Member (2004)
Spanish to English
+ ...
| Naps, at the very least | Feb 7, 2008 |
I may push myself to stay awake to finish the first draft of a long translation, but I always try to get a few hours' sleep before I do the editing and proofreading. Quality control requires a rested brain.
[Edited at 2008-02-07 14:51]
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If you want to deliver a translation of excellent quality, you need to rest and sleep. Besides, your physical and mental health depend on that, right?
| | | | Marcelo Silveyra
United States
Local time: 02:37
Member (2007)
German to English
+ ...
| Never ever ever ever | Feb 7, 2008 |
I need my sleep. That's all there is to it.
| | | | Elin Davies
United Kingdom
Member (2008)
English to Welsh
+ ...
| Not possible and counter-productive | Feb 7, 2008 |
I find that I'm unable to stay awake and keep working for that amount of time, and also that I work at such a slow pace when tired that it's counter-productive - I might as well get a few hours sleep and get up early to start again slightly fresher. Once my typing becomes complete nonsense and I have to look up every other word it's time to stop. I'll go with less sleep, but no sleep at all is impossible.
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Roberto Rey
Colombia
Local time: 04:37
Member (2007)
Spanish to English
+ ...
| Irresponsible | Feb 7, 2008 |
Yaotl Altan wrote:
My health is first. There's no project which deserves that kind of physical torture, otherwise I'd return to an office.
There is not more to it, in fact I think it is terribly irresponsible. Would I like, as I client that my document be translated by a person who has not slept in 2 days...I want my money back!
| | | | Ana Aparicio
Spain
Local time: 11:37
English to Spanish
+ ...
| Impossible to do a good work | Feb 7, 2008 |
Without sleeping you cannot do a good translation, it's a waste of time.
| | | | Parrot
Spain
Local time: 11:37
Spanish to English
+ ...
| I remember being young once... | Feb 7, 2008 |
... working in-house and thinking it could be done. The bosses (great professionals) explained that they were there to watch over our breaks. (And they did, too).
In particular, they were very strict about observing a break between clocking-out and overtime, for those who were assigned overtime. Then those people would sleep later, but come back refreshed.
I took a look at some of the worksheets for those assignments. They most closely resembled airline hours (I'm told ... See more ... working in-house and thinking it could be done. The bosses (great professionals) explained that they were there to watch over our breaks. (And they did, too).
In particular, they were very strict about observing a break between clocking-out and overtime, for those who were assigned overtime. Then those people would sleep later, but come back refreshed.
I took a look at some of the worksheets for those assignments. They most closely resembled airline hours (I'm told police and hospital work assignment sheets tend to be worse).
After three or four hectic days of conference, it was also pretty standard practice to bring the working team down to a beach or something of the sort (we worked under a Ministry of Tourism and could use its facilities. In fact, the job came with a swimming pool and a squash court on the premises). ▲ Collapse
| | | | | With a little sleep | Feb 7, 2008 |
Two days with at least 4/5 hours of sleep, but never more than 18 or so hours of work with no sleep at all
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ProZ.com Staff wrote: This forum topic is for the discussion of the poll question "Have you ever worked on a project for a few days in a row with no sleep?". View the poll hereA forum topic will appear each time a new poll is run. For more information, see: http://proz.com/topic/33629
Well, guys, remember, translators are not ordinary people... at least the old style, intellectual, nocturnal type translator… not to say, those who are already over the fifties... like myself.
That old type surround by books and cats… classic music… You know what I’m talking about.
Usually we sleep late at night, and not so many hours…
That old owl style, when normal human beings are going to bed, my brain thinks it’s time to wake up! I can’t help it…
Those magic hours, all my own, so quiet and delicious…
No telephone rings, no doorbell ring, no interphone ring, no friends or family members begging for attention.
Well, I wish I could be different, work normal hours, wake up early in the morning, go walking, do my yoga postures, take a good shower and start a brand new day, fresh of ideas and energy.
But for now, I just don’t know how. Any clue?...
I hope some day to be able to get a more healthy way of living.
Best regards for all of you,
Walkíria De Sousa
| | | | | Well, it's difficult to answer | Feb 7, 2008 |
If you mean with absolutely no sleep, 2 days together, starting at 4 a.m. and working through till around 10 30 p.m. of not the same day, but the following day, is the best I can manage at one go, according to experience. However, I have worked on one or more urgent projects for 3, 4 or even 5 days with 2 to 4 hours' sleep inbetween each time.
Yeah, sure, it's nothing to boast about, but it has to be done sometimes.
Astrid
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I would never do that. To be professional and reliable does not mean to be a slave of the clients! I normally negotiate deadlines before accepting a job and I deliver my work on time. But if I would loose a day because of something which is not my fault (illness, no electricity, computer problems...). I would not renounce on time for sleeping and breaks for eating. I think this a fundamental right of any worker in democracy.
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