Once, on purpose, for a result you chose, yes. As a habit you are forced into, no.
"Should I be working late to impress a client, or is that a bad sign?"
A question with an honest, two-sided answer
The short answer: yes, sometimes, on purpose, for a result you chose. I worked a little late on some days of my three-day trial because I cared about the result and I only had three days. That was my choice, for a high-stakes moment, and it paid off. The line is whether you are choosing it for a reason, or being forced into it as a constant.
Healthy: a short, chosen push for a one-time, high-stakes moment like a trial, then back to normal. Unhealthy: being expected to work late every day, or pricing your time so low that you must overwork to survive. A trial sprint is fine. A permanent crunch is a problem to fix, not a habit to keep.
And remember the smarter path. The reason my late nights were short is that I used a tool to do more in less time. Working late should be the exception you choose, not the only way you can deliver. If it becomes the only way, the answer is better priorities, better tools, or a better rate, not more midnight hours.
Hold steady, BFF Team. We keep going together.
– Lala