The Cost of Working Late

What working late really costs

One late night barely registers. Three evenings a week at an hour and a half each, over 40 weeks, is 120 evenings and 180 hours a year: four and a half weeks of vacation, or sixty three-hour evenings for yourself and the people you love. The calculator turns a habit into a number you can see whole.

Why the late nights come back

After a hard week it’s easy to end up at the laptop at 11 p.m. again — even when you know how it ends. A late night can come from one of three situations: an exception you agreed to, with an end date; a workload that grew; or a familiar reflex in a moment when you had a choice. Often it’s a mix.

Each needs a different response. An exception needs to end on time. A heavier workload needs a conversation about what to move, share or get help with. A reflex is helped by a small alternative in that exact minute: a draft instead of a reply, one line saying “I’ll look in the morning,” the phone in another room.

What to do with your number

If the number surprised you, you don’t need to announce a new life starting Monday. Go through Three Questions for Last Week — they’ll help you see which situation is yours and choose the step that fits it.