I started a new job almost three months ago (pretty much when my posts took a nose dive) and I have been held hostage by it.
Friends and family (and blog readers) are reaching out to me to find out what's happening in my world...and (gasp) their queries are going unanswered...because in the 10-12 hours a day I'm at the office I have virtually no down time. Zero. Zip. None. No time wasted on shopping websites. No time spent reading other blogs. No time spent being a pro bono therapist to everyone in my social circle. I am literally racing to get everything done all the while my list grows steadily longer.
At the age of 25 I increased my salary by a ton, and effectively cut out a lot of things that make me happy by almost double that percentage.
I'm interested in what my job is, despite feeling overwhelmed, and I can see the value I bring everyday, though when driving home at 10 o'clock and realizing I had one bathroom break at 1 o'clock that day, I'm more aware of the fact that I need to establish some boundaries...and quick.
So starting tomorrow, I'm taking bathroom breaks, refusing to let my manager reduce me to tears over the formatting of an email, spending time at work to let myself grow as an employee so I'm not in the office until 8 every night, and recommitting myself to my writing-cause I realize how much I miss it-and just how much I notice that "I" am being muffled and brought down by not doing it.
This hostage situation ends now.
9 comments:
Nice to see you back here :-)
And yes, bathroom breaks are a must.
The really odd thing is that I'm in the exact same situation as you, and my first entry back runs today, one day after yours. I think one of us stole the idea from the other...
Damn straight! Good to hear from you!
Amen sister. Good luck to you in ending the hostage crisis. I've yet to negotiate the terms of my own release....but like you, I recently had a tear filled conversation with a friend/coworker about being frustrated with work, and what would make it better.... all I could come up with was, "I just need to pee! How do I not even have time to pee?"
Although I personally have not been there, my husband has always had that type job. His Blackberry goes off at midnight, he doesn't get home until 11pm, and he's generally pissed about work if he's not at work. It's no way to live-I hope you are able to figure out a happy medium sooner rather than later.
Building your career is cool...essential even.
Building a happy, healthy you is cooler!!
Make sure to take care of yourself :)
Good for you! I've missed your jennaventures and you should definitely take time for yourself.
As someone who has missed reading things from you (and I am in desperate need to know what is happening with Ari), I'm glad that you're creating your boundaries. And hope that you find a happy balance between work and home.
I let my job take over my life til I realised that my hourly rate was less than it was before----how do you get promoted and earn less per hour---and see others around you still have a life.
There must be people under you and you do have to delegate.
You dont live to work, you work to live----you have to have a life.
If the normal work day is 9 hours long, you might give 10---sometimes 11 but no more and not consistantly
Yes you are a hostage---but you may have made yourself a hostage by your willingness to give of your best----
Learn that best is quality, not quantity
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