Unlike Ted Mosby from How I Met Your Mother, most architects do not spend their time sitting in a bar, drinking all day long or hunting down their potential future wife or husband. Nor are we like Pritzker Architecture winner, Frank Gehry, where we would sit behind our desk, building funky models and speaking in a different language.
As I continue to grow as an architect, I genuinely believe that it is vital to have a work-life balance. I put in a lot of effort to manage my time and energy to maintain my physical, mental and social wellbeing. It is important to be passionate for what one does for a living while helping others too.
My typical day will start with either having a good workout at gym, rowing in the lake or cycling to work. It can be difficult at times to wake up at 5:30 in the morning especially in winter, however, after exercise, I always feel refreshed and well energised for the day.
Besides spending time designing and drawing during the day, I also spend a lot of time corresponding with different clients, consultants, councils, builders and suppliers. Key to a successful project is good collaboration and communication. It is important to maintain a close relationship with everyone and work together as a team.
A fair bit of my time is also spent on site, being hands on to ensure I achieve the best result for my clients. 
I engage in a lot of research and attend different seminars and events because it is vital to learn about all the new regulations, products and technology in the building industry.
One night a week, I teach at Melbourne University as a tutor in the Architecture faculty. I teach Architectural Practice to the Masters students. This subject covers the Architects Accreditation Council of Australia (AACA) and National Competency Standards for Architects (NCSA) relating to Architectural Practice. It educates the students that there is more than just being a good designer to become a successful architect. I thoroughly enjoy nurturing and helping the students to their best capabilities by sharing all my knowledge and skills. Spending time at the university also keeps me relevant and switched on to the new trends.
Howard Siow
M.Arch (MELB) Hons, RAIA
BY Projects Architecture
13/02/2019
