I have maxed out on the number of vacation and sick leave I can have with my employer, meaning I don't accrue any until I use some. So I took last Friday off, except that I well I didn't. My time sheet says I was out sick. But I woke up very early, like 5 AM, and couldn't get back to sleep, so I spent an hour in bed checking blogs, then got up, turned on the coffee and sat at my desk.
One of the reasons I couldn't get back to sleep was my brain was focused on a writing project. Eight years ago I had written a chapter for a book. The editor emailed recently and asked me if I would be willing to update the chapter for a second edition. It is a short chapter, about 2,000 words, it was out of date, but within my scope to update without too much research. I agreed. My brain was engaged thinking about that commitment (that is not due for 12 weeks.)
I logged onto my office computer and send the first email at 6:29 AM, then dove into the chapter. I stuck with it, and it was finished in 5 hours. Parts of it needed to be entirely rewritten, parts of it didn't. I added two new paragraphs. It will be sent in 11 weeks early. (I am happy with the update, there was a monumental change in the law the year after it was published, that made about one-third of the 2,005 words out of date.)
I recently put my office email back on my phone. I found myself laying on the bed Friday afternoon, sorting out details with finance on a project extension and an invoice that took 12 months to finally arrive that we need to pay (After a year of others being polite, now that it is my responsibility I simply emailed someone and said, send us the paperwork in 10 days, or WE WON'T PAY YOU!) The paperwork was sorted out in two days.
But there I am working on my "day off." The office pays me a phone allowance of $40 a month, they can have it, I want my phone back to being my phone, I want my afternoon back on my day off. What has waited 10 months, can wait until Monday. A failure to act on behalf of others, should not be a crisis on my day off for me.
I will be back to counting down the months until I can retire. 17 if I want to push it, 22 most likely.
You work too much….
ReplyDeleteI have made good progress this week, but the shit never ends
DeleteI’m glad you’re talking again about your retirement. Don’t work yourself to death in the meantime. A day off is a day OFF!
ReplyDeleteI need to get out of town, soon
DeleteAwww, poor Sweetie! You even eventually learned to pace yourself and be more reasonable in your previous position, you just need a bit to learn to do so with your new responsibilities. It's a learning curve. You always want to do a good job, and you're hyper-responsible and have new duties your responsible for. Also remember you JUST STARTED. What's the German proverb I periodically quote to you... "All beginnings are hard." Remember to be good and gentle to yourself!
ReplyDeleteThanks
DeleteIt's too bad when a "sick" is actually a work day.
ReplyDeleteI'd have lost my mind.
maybe I should call in mentally unable to work
DeleteI used to be exactly like this. I'm much better at taking my own time these days.
ReplyDeleteIt will get better
DeleteSet firm boundaries!
ReplyDeletereally need to
DeleteAfter interruptions became so frequent that I couldn't get my own work done, I posted the following sign on my office door and it did the trick:
ReplyDelete"A LACK OF PLANNING ON YOUR PART DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN EMERGENCY ON MY PART"
I need that as my email auto reply
DeletePlease give yourself days off and time away from work. Your brain and soul need it.
ReplyDeleteSassybear
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