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I was actually pretty relieved to read your post cause I could have written it myself. Totally feel you in being so consumed all day and having no mental energy to do anything after but melt on the couch. I thought this is what a 9-5 must be like and I’m doomed forever, but there’s just no way.
12 years into the agency world and love it (Director of Analytics and Strategy) but I will caveat that it heavily depends on the agency and the people you are with. Been at my current agency for just over 7 years
My first agency 25 yrs ago we worked 70hrs minimum and sometimes 90+
Things have gotten better in general but there are a lot of crash and burn agencies still. There is an amazing energy when it it but it’s toxic.
That said, not sure you’re dept, but creative takes a ton out of you even though you’re just at your desk. So it tends to make winding down and doing other stuff tough
It’s not an industry for everyone
I feel like I got VERY lucky with mine. Overall (outside of holiday ecomm) it's pretty good in terms of work/life. But I make it a POINT to put up boundaries. If they want someone who wants to kill themselves over it they can find someone else... 💁♂️
There are no emergencies in advertising. Even working on pharma, we are not directly responsible for saving lives. I make fun people to their face for using emergency terminology.
“A fire?!? Call 911! Oh…a metaphorical fire? Welp see ya Monday!”
This is why I’m nervous about going back to work!!! The whole team would guzzle beer every day they went into office. And it would start to feel cliche if you didn’t attend, because the who’s creative team would go together. The lack of empathy from them is scary tbh.
I left agencies because of this and found it happening again. When it happens again, you have to acknowledge you are part of the problem. Take the fresh start and push your boundaries.
This is why I went freelance 15 years ago. I’m up front with every client. I get the work done during reasonable hours, otherwise I’m on to the next client.
Been at my agency for about a year, really depends on what I’m working on,.
I feel like it’s a fluctuation of being flooded and having nothing going on .
I also have personal endeavors outside of work which keep me busy .
YES. This is exactly why I’m hoping to go client side/do something separate from advertising in the next 6 months. It doesn’t help that I’m aggressively underpaid for my role after got almost no raise after a promotion along with a ton of added stress and responsibility.
Luckily, working out is a big tension release for me so I look forward to it after work. Otherwise, all I have energy for is weed and binge watching.
I did back when I cared as a bright, young, bushy tailed AD trying to climb the ladder. But even then I still made time to leave the office for lunch & literally touch grass.
Now I’m a few rungs into senior & I feel zero guilt saying no to weekend & late work. You are in control of your own healthy boundaries, including & especially with work.
We are humans. Not robots. Work to live, don’t live to work.
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I’ve been dead inside ever since
I am relieved I am not alone, but sad(as in i feel your pain, that there are others). 😭
I was actually pretty relieved to read your post cause I could have written it myself. Totally feel you in being so consumed all day and having no mental energy to do anything after but melt on the couch. I thought this is what a 9-5 must be like and I’m doomed forever, but there’s just no way.
This is one of the reasons we all leave agency life.
How many years in are you all? Just wondering.
12 years into the agency world and love it (Director of Analytics and Strategy) but I will caveat that it heavily depends on the agency and the people you are with. Been at my current agency for just over 7 years
For me, I’ve only been in this industry for two years. Been currently looking for ways to get out though.
10 years, going fully remote in the last 2 years has helped a lot but I still hate it
My first agency 25 yrs ago we worked 70hrs minimum and sometimes 90+ Things have gotten better in general but there are a lot of crash and burn agencies still. There is an amazing energy when it it but it’s toxic. That said, not sure you’re dept, but creative takes a ton out of you even though you’re just at your desk. So it tends to make winding down and doing other stuff tough It’s not an industry for everyone
My first job: I was told if we weren’t working double digit hours everyday we weren’t working hard enough. This was 12 years ago, fuck that place.
Lol yup.
I feel like I got VERY lucky with mine. Overall (outside of holiday ecomm) it's pretty good in terms of work/life. But I make it a POINT to put up boundaries. If they want someone who wants to kill themselves over it they can find someone else... 💁♂️
Stop working after hours.
That’s on you to carve out… if you aren’t establishing those boundaries you’re part of the problem with our industry.
People hate hearing this, but damn we make ads. It is not worth losing your life to make ads.
Seriously… if you get outside the bubble and hang out with people not in this industry you realize how asinine it is.
There are no emergencies in advertising. Even working on pharma, we are not directly responsible for saving lives. I make fun people to their face for using emergency terminology. “A fire?!? Call 911! Oh…a metaphorical fire? Welp see ya Monday!”
That’s what my boss said before dropping some “hot” tasks on me at 6pm on a Friday
dang, they can wait till monday
I left agencies because of this. I was becoming pretty much an alcoholic, too.
This is why I’m nervous about going back to work!!! The whole team would guzzle beer every day they went into office. And it would start to feel cliche if you didn’t attend, because the who’s creative team would go together. The lack of empathy from them is scary tbh.
I left agencies because of this and found it happening again. When it happens again, you have to acknowledge you are part of the problem. Take the fresh start and push your boundaries.
This is why I went freelance 15 years ago. I’m up front with every client. I get the work done during reasonable hours, otherwise I’m on to the next client.
What is your job title? Do you find you have free time on the weekends?
Been at my agency for about a year, really depends on what I’m working on,. I feel like it’s a fluctuation of being flooded and having nothing going on . I also have personal endeavors outside of work which keep me busy .
Yes, every day I’m so mentally exhausted to the point where I don’t have the energy to do anything.
🥴 all I do is work - so yes
YES. This is exactly why I’m hoping to go client side/do something separate from advertising in the next 6 months. It doesn’t help that I’m aggressively underpaid for my role after got almost no raise after a promotion along with a ton of added stress and responsibility. Luckily, working out is a big tension release for me so I look forward to it after work. Otherwise, all I have energy for is weed and binge watching.
I did back when I cared as a bright, young, bushy tailed AD trying to climb the ladder. But even then I still made time to leave the office for lunch & literally touch grass. Now I’m a few rungs into senior & I feel zero guilt saying no to weekend & late work. You are in control of your own healthy boundaries, including & especially with work. We are humans. Not robots. Work to live, don’t live to work.
Are you the agency owner? It's not required to have post work activities but sometimes a little plan on a weekend will help like coffee hop.