> If you don't have anything urgent, you can go lay on the grass for half a day, thinking about the future of your project or something
Is this something common? I'm working as IC at FAANG for 6+ years in different teams, but I've never really experienced something like this. I've always been working on stuff that should have been finished yesterday.
I’m sure it depends on your org, but you can often choose how seriously to take that pressure. I’m also a FAANG IC and work is usually pretty relaxed. It’s a marathon, not trying to burn myself out. You really have to do near-zero work for a long time to get fired and it seems like promotions happen on a pretty similar schedule regardless of how hard people work.
Keep your commitments, but commit to less. If you want to get promoted do one good piece of L+1 work instead of trying to cram in more L work than everyone else. If your manager tries to manufacture stress to make you work harder, find a better manager.
Is this something common? I'm working as IC at FAANG for 6+ years in different teams, but I've never really experienced something like this. I've always been working on stuff that should have been finished yesterday.