Blaaaaargh!
It's 5:35 p.m., and I'm sitting down to lunch. I know it's lunch time because I've finally found five minutes to scarf down a coworker's leftover chili that was in the fridge. I also know it's lunch time because I've passed the headache phase and I'm nearing the phase in which I'm unable to concentrate on stuff ...
... like the work I'd be doing if I wasn't eating lunch.
I finally sat down with my boss this afternoon, and we agreed something's got to give. "These are burn-out pace jobs," she told me, and I agreed. It's been echoed around here before. I love my job — I have routine without it becoming routine. Every story is something new, and it's always a chance to learn. I'd be really good at Jeopardy. I need a raise.I try to avoid blogging about work specifics, but sometimes I've got to get it off my chest. Like now ... lunch has been nuked twice, and it's cold again. I think I'll throw it out and wait for dinner.
Surely somebody else has a "burn-out pace job" and can give me some advice on how to decompress, preferably without the heavy drugs I'm prescribed to get me through the day. Advice? Please??
posted by Kate at 6:42 PM
Copyright 2001-2009, L.K.C.S. It's MINE, all MINE. If you wanna use it, gimme credit and a link, okies? And don't run with scissors, because you're just going to poke somebody's eye out with that thing. No, really. 
8 Comments:
Anything else you'd like to get off your chest?
Stay for the veal, folks! I'm here all week.
Exercise. Just a 10 minute walk to clear your brain would be good.
OR
My new hobby- knitting. I am so addicted it is ridiculous.
ok i sound really nerdy now.
as someone with a burnout pace job -
the key is to absolutely MAKE time for lunch, taking breaks, whatever.
15 min here and there can make a big difference.
MAKE it a point to eat around a normal lunch time, and during that time do anything but lunch.
at least you dont have to work on the weekends
Kate ~ i agree wholeheartedly with anonymous.
i once worked a breakneck-pace job and practically drowned meself in candy, over-da-counters + a healthy dose of physical pain.
pls dont end up like i did?
I'm not sure my advice will be productive to you, but here goes...
If you've exhausted every option in making your job less stressful, moving on is always an option. I have my last job to thank for the teeth-grinding-at-night problem I had. Constant deadlines, no support, negative attitude throughout the office, turned down for a raise, though given twice as many duties as the previous year...
I finally had enough and began browsing the want ads. Played it by ear, sent out some resumes, had a few interviews during lunch, and snagged my current job. Gave my two weeks notice and all my (then) boss said was "Yeah, I figured this was coming." They ended up hiring two people to do my job after I left, so that's a degree of vindication.
In all seriousness, the exact opposite is just as bad. When you finish a year's worth of work in three months yet are expected to come in every day might sound great at first, but factor in intense restrictions on Internet usage, the requirement of "looking busy," and management that doesn't care if you live, die, or grow mushrooms out of your ass, and it adds up to sucking rocks.
There has to be a healthy balance of being needed, but not being needed to the point of burnout. If you're not getting it, I'd take smacky's advice if at all possible.
The best thing to do at this point is to get laid. Nothing helps decompress better. Although, a coke at the bar watching co-workers act like monkeys is good, too. Laugh, get laid, laugh more.
Ah, some seriously good advice. Seems most people have been burned out or almost burned out at one point. So thanks.
I cracked up in the shower this morning when I realized I'd left out the witty comment originally planned for this post, so there was absolutely no context for the finger-misses-nose Wario Ware picture.
Can't believe you guys didn't call me on it, but I suppose at least one of you left scratching your head...
Post a Comment
<< Home