Well. It’s here officially. I’ve been waiting for about a year or so, and it hit me today like a ton of bricks, when my boss complained about how our logo looked on the envelopes.
burnout.
It was all I could do to keep my mouth shut and not grab my letter opener to invoke the Columbian Necktie before setting the office on fire.
I’ve been here six years. I’ve done the same job for six years. I have no desire to move UP in the company, I’m satisfied and well paid at the administrative level and it allows me to write and pursue acting because of the flexible schedule…
but my god. MY GOD. I can’t do it anymore. I literally am on the verge of tears. Not because I’m busy, not because I’m harrassed, or underpaid or overworked…but because it’s just gotten to that point where I’m screaming inside because it seems no one can fill their own staplers.
My boss sent me an email this morning that said “Found out my email box is full! Thoughts?”
THOUGHTS? THOUGHTS?
So I’m thinking of taking a personal day. But inevitably,when I take a personal day to assuage the burnout, I spend it doing errands and chores that I don’t do in the evening (laundry, mopping, grocery shopping, run to the post office) and then the day is over and i’ve done nothing to rejuvinate.
So anyway, I was wondering if anyone had any ideas of ways to restart, or ‘cure burnout’, keeping in mind I don’t have the $400 to spend on a dayspa. I was thinking of going to the Shedd Aquarium by myself and just staring at the fish for a few hours.
It also, unfortunately, sums up the direction I’m moving in. I’m having little tolerance for all the crap that happens repeatedly here at work.
I’m thinking of using up some vacation time - in little bits, like 3-4 day weekends, since I’ve got so much of it.
I’ve got a gift certificate to a spa that’s going to get used in a few weeks, but you’ve already discovered that luxury.
Sometimes a day off to just do nothing, or whatever silly thing you want, can be just the ticket. But I’ll be checking back here for some ideas for myself!
I’ve taken days off where I just take a hot bath and watch t.v. for eight hours, but just being a slug doesn’t seem to alleviate the burnout. I’m just as angry to go to work the next day. It’s not fair to my boss, who really is a nice little faulknerian idiot of a guy, or my cow-orker who is new and thinks this place is DownRight FANTASTIC!
If I could meditate for 24 hours I do it, but my mind starts wandering after…oh, thirty seconds, so that aint gonna work out
jar, if you find something that works, tell me, PLEASE! I’m there too right now. I can’t understand how these seemingly intelligent people can’t function on their own. And yes, I know that totally frustrated feeling where you just want to cry.
And a trip to the Aquarium sounds heavenly. Have you thought about going to the Art Institute? I don’t know if they still have those miniature dollhouse type rooms - I always loved those - and they got my mind off my troubles…
Oh to work in the city again… Around here, there’s not much I can do.
Can you take more than a day off? Like string together a few so you can get some “take care of me” time?
It’s hard to take more than one day since our whole company is only 3 people, and apparently, I’m the only one who knows how to put paper in the printer or take letters to the mailbox.
If I were you, which I’m not, I would start planning to get away. Do you have any vacation time saved up? Save a few hundred, make your husband do the same and go away together (or by yourself, if you prefer) for a few days. I like to do this: Take a Friday, Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday off. Leave on Friday, fly to Cancun or wherever, stay the weekend and come back Monday or Tuesday, then relax at home and recover from all the fun and relaxation you had until you go back to work on Wednesday, well-rested.
I know it can take time to save up the money, but maybe planning for it can give you a little lift while you’re waiting? Maybe the drudgery would be more bearable if you had a little vacation to look forward to?
I"m thinking of perhaps finding a cheap flight to go visit my parents for a long weekend or maybe a night at a bed and breakfast for me and the boy. (He can’t take time off because he’s in a play through the end of March). But a trip definitely needs to be taken…and soon.
In six years you must have some vacation time saved up. Let them know that next month you are taking a week off. Spend a week doing what ever makes you happiest. Looking at fish, art, reading, soaking in a tub, eating, exercising or anything else you like.
Telling them a few weeks in advance that you need the time off will give them time to get use to the idea and you time to show them how to put paper in the printer. Lie if you have to. Tell them you sister/friend/cousin/ is getting married/divorced/having a baby out of state and you need to go.
I recently went through a burned-out phase. A few things that my friend told me to do and worked out well (some of which you might already do):
Took the day off (Thursday). Got up at the usual time. Got on the Brown line as usual. Did not go to work. Instead, I had my camera and Chicago map in hand and a list of public sculptures that I hadn’t seen before and had a little photo shoot. Took Friday off as well and went to the sensory deprivation tanks on Lincoln Avenue. Then had a nice lunch with wine (nothing says relaxation like wine in the afternoon). Saturday and Sunday spent with Ms. Absimia (as per usual).
Started carrying a Molskine journal book (which is a handy size, 3.25 inches by 5.5 inches and can be bought at Poster Plus near the Art Institute (and probably other places)) and started writing down anything and everything that amused me, random thoughts, and (most importantly) started drawing again scenes on the train and elsewhere.
Having that journal book around would let you write down all the “Email full. Thoughts?” events and perhaps turn into an absolutely fabulous one woman show sometime down the road. You can then invite your whole office! You can stare right at the offending parties during your monolgues. Maybe have the rest of the audience throw things at them for you.
Try to get in at least one new experience every week. For me it tends to be going to a new neighborhood in Chicago or a shop or restaurant. If I can’t do any of those things, I make some challenging dinner on Sunday for Ms. Absimia and friends.
Just a few things that worked for me. If none of those appeal there’s always lots and lots of coffee. Wheeeeeeeeee!
I would agree that one day off doesn’t seem to do it. I always say that I’m going to take 2 personal days. One to get all the errands/work done and one to play. Unfortunately I never seem to do it. Or I take 2 days and work both at home on windows etc. that I haven’t gotten to.
I like to play in the dirt which makes this time of year in Montana excrutiating considering all the garden catalogs are out and tempting me. There’s something very satisfying about getting my hands deep in the soil, repotting plants, starting seeds or whatever. The smell, the feel and the anticipation of the coming spring just satisfies my soul for some reason.
My advice would be to start up an old, perhaps abandoned, hobby or something that you used to do that just made you happy.
I especially like the idea about writing down all the eye rolling one liners by moronic office mates who wouldn’t be able to answer a phone if they weren’t told how! :dubious: :dubious: :dubious: :dubious: :dubious:
jar I don’t know your history, or your whole story, so my advice may be off.
I’ve realized I’m in the same boat here at my job. SO, I’ve started looking at going back to school. I’ve just come to the conclusion that I do NOT want to be working at this job in 5 years.
Maybe getting the ball rolling on another career would be the way to go.
Watch “Ferris Bueller” and then go all around Chicago and try to re-create his day. You don’t have to wait for a parade to go through town to get up somewhere and start singing.
Or go to the Field Museum and hide out by that bigass T. Rex statue, shout “roar!!!” when people walk by, and watch their faces.
You are so lucky to live in a place like Chicago. Imagine getting burned out while living in East Lansing, with no car!
There’s an advice/message board at Working Wounded. I found this link on dealing with burnout. I didn’t take time to read all the replies, but I’m sure someone on there has provided some useful information.
