The Burnout Thread ...
 

[Closed] The Burnout Thread - Let's help each other to keep going

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I'm in my late 40s. I have a mortgage to pay. I've been working from home since Feb last year. I work for a global megacorp in a well-paid, but essentially pointless job. I'm done - knackered, bone-tired and utterly unable to focus/deliver.

Now, I know I'm massively fortunate - these are truly first world problems. The obvious answer to what ails me is some extended time off, and a damn good holiday. Sadly - for all sorts of reasons - my options on both those fronts are quite limited.

I imagine many others here are in the same boat. So, what are your top tips and tricks for keeping going? How have you managed burnout while continuing to work? How have you reclaimed your concentration/focus?

I'm trying to minimise my booze and bad food, and I'm still riding as much as I manage to keep healthy. I'm not depressed, perhaps a little anxious - but mostly just done.

Any wise words would be gratefully received at this time 🙂

 
Posted : 24/06/2021 4:31 pm
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What's a holiday...?

 
Posted : 24/06/2021 4:39 pm
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A change is as good as a rest in my experience. I had done essentially the same job for a number of years up to about your age, and felt the same way. Changed jobs (but in the same organisation) about 5 years ago and it was like being reborn, learning new stuff again. One advantage of working for a big org should be the ability to switch things up a bit…

 
Posted : 24/06/2021 4:48 pm
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The obvious answer to what ails me is some extended time off, and a damn good holiday. Sadly – for all sorts of reasons – my options on both those fronts are quite limited.

I'd think about what's limiting your options to do those things, and work on becoming the boss of your own time rather than fitting in your own stuff around a pointless job for a megacorp.

 
Posted : 24/06/2021 4:53 pm
 a11y
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Yeah, that's me too. Slightly younger and working for a charitable ALEO of a local authority, but essentially feeling the same. One of only 30 employees out of 500+ who've worked throughout since Feb 2020, while others had their paid holiday furlough. Currently managing not just the not insignificant work involved in business recovery from lockdown, but also heaps of shite at work causing significant job insecurity (all due to local political decisions based on absolute pish).

The Scottish term for how I feel is "scunnered".

No particularly wise words other than 'hang in there, you're not alone'. Sounds like you're dong the right things with booze, eating habits and exercise. Biggest things for me have been being able to bike regularly with mates, and being able to see family and friends properly - any retraction of those would hurt me badly...

 
Posted : 24/06/2021 4:54 pm
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Glad it's not just me OP.

I'm in a very similar position, actively looking for something to change the pace - spend less time on a screen and more time 'doing', but that's more and more difficult nowadays without going from scratch and learning a trade which wouldn't be possible due to the wage decrease.

 
Posted : 24/06/2021 4:55 pm
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is there a reason not to go on holiday? if you're working from home doing a 2 week isolation on return is possible (maybe not if you have kids) - or go away in the UK, or go to iceland.

we've got 2 kids and so stuck to their holiday schedules, but still managed to go away (abroad) 4 times last year and once this year so far.

 
Posted : 24/06/2021 4:56 pm
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I feel the same, alas I have no wise words to help beyond you are not alone

 
Posted : 24/06/2021 4:56 pm
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abingham

don't underestimate how little it really takes to live on, and how valuable doing something you love is in comparison.

 
Posted : 24/06/2021 4:59 pm
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we’ve got 2 kids and so stuck to their holiday schedules, but still managed to go away (abroad) 4 times last year and once this year so far

Times are tough, huh?

 
Posted : 24/06/2021 5:06 pm
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Feel the same. Work for mega-corp and want to jack it all in. But just bought a house.

 
Posted : 24/06/2021 5:08 pm
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My top things ,not so much to reduce burnout, more to stop getting upset/angry about the world..
I have stopped watching so much news.
Cycling most days
Making/fixing things in my shed of wonder.
Chucking stuff out
Taking photos every day and sometimes staring at things for so long I almost go in to a trance. 🙂

 
Posted : 24/06/2021 5:15 pm
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Yep. I'm pretty fried too. 😐

 
Posted : 24/06/2021 5:15 pm
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I find making myself work to the time schedule rather than the work schedule helps. Have a task that you do at 6pm so you have to stop at 5:30pm to get ready. It could be a 30 minute ride, a shower, what ever. It provides a mental 'office door' that closes after work.

I quite like art and making stuff so I keep a small journal near my keyboard during the day and jot down ideas when I get them. This forms a 'want to do' list for my spare time to go along with the 'got to do' list that never ends.

Do silly challenges but with short time periods so you get quick rewards or avoid long, drawn out failure. Do 1 press up today, double that, so 2, tomorrow. Keep doubling and see how long you last - I made a week.

I am off the bike at the momemnt but I find just sitting in the garden in the evening listening to bird song, stolen mopeds and helicopters landing at the hospital very relaxing - well, not so much the last two.

 
Posted : 24/06/2021 5:28 pm
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is there a reason not to go on holiday?

maybe his wife doesnt work from home ? maybe he doesn't want to expose his family to the risk without reason etc etc

 
Posted : 24/06/2021 5:30 pm
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I have stopped watching so much news.
Cycling most days
Making/fixing things in my shed of wonder.
Chucking stuff out
Taking photos every day and sometimes staring at things for so long I almost go in to a trance.

Oh, actual advice! Nice one @fasthaggis. I like all of these. I recently fixed my espresso machine rather than chucking it and buying a new one. Felt very proud.

 
Posted : 24/06/2021 5:31 pm
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I know the feeling OP.

I've changed roles and still feel a bit disengaged and basically DGAF a lot of the time. Partly the WFH, partly the role and partly personal circumstances.

Had a full week off in Spring, but I rode my MTB a massive amount and may have overdone it.

Before I changed roles I was basically writing about wellbeing (including burnout) for a living, and I suppose I have absorbed a lot of the advice which suits me (it's not one size fits all)...

- Time in nature
- Contact with friends
- Get organised
- Work out what helps you unwind (I like cooking)
- Sleep well
- Mindfulness or flow activities (I use getting in the zone on the MTB)
- Planning future activities

 
Posted : 24/06/2021 5:32 pm
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Yip, here too. Pre pandemic I was out seeing customers on site 2/3 times a week, now I've done about 8 visits this calendar year. Our job has been flipped upside down. And currently coupled with global shortages of raw materials, trying to complete projects to our customers is just impossible at the moment and looks to continue for the coming months. The days are very long at the moment.

I'm trying to find time for my hobbies, but it doesn't come easy.

 
Posted : 24/06/2021 5:40 pm
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When I was going through that, I actually found volunteering gave me some space and focus on something else, which helped.

Initially did a bit with Forestry Commission at Hicks Lodge, which was great for being outside and learning new practical skills, but just too far away to get to easily.

Then I got involved on a couple of local Scout committees - no desire to be a regular unit leader but there's loads of background work needs doing to keep things running, and i could use and develop organisational and management skills my job wasn't using, and didn't take up big chunks of time.

Then I got involved in leading beginners cycle rides, great helping others gain fitness and confidence doing something I loved already.

Doing things I enjoyed and made a difference to others in my spare time made the sheer ball ache of work worthwhile.

Just be aware that willing horses get flogged - have got used to turning down requests to get involved in other stuff now, all worthy and interesting but too much fun isn't good for you

 
Posted : 24/06/2021 5:45 pm
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Megacorp slave here too. Well paid good company. Megaproject running for the past 18 months. Brain fried in April, felt a *zzzzzap*, the joke of "calling the GP" became a non joke and the only way out. Been off for 3-4 months.

What I Didn't know before is the following:

1. Stress burn out lead to clinical anxiety, e.g. couldn't even look at the laptop (when it was off) without palpations and general fight or flight mode kicking in.
2. 4-6 weeks after getting the sick note I was manically doing DIY. PROPER mania, which I only realized in hindsight.
3. After the initial stress come down, depression hits. This is supposedly quite normal. So now, I avoid most people and conversations, stress out easily but on a path, I hope, to .....return to the megacorp and become a slave again but hopefully never burning out ever again.

Warning signs: sleep impacted, tingling arms / legs, blurred vision, heart palpations etc..

Month four and sure as heck not ready.

 
Posted : 24/06/2021 5:59 pm
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I was typing more of my first world sob story, but essentially yes, I'm there too. Redundant, new job, feels like I picked a loser with this job/company, dog is falling apart.

Best thing recently has been daily meditation via the calm app, my wife has been doing it for about 4 years and she's really changed her thought process through it (helped with some anxiety). It's helping me realise there are things I have no control over, such as other people, the dog's health, and it does help stop me calling people <insert faourite bad name> quite as often, but yeah, not all the time.

 
Posted : 24/06/2021 6:04 pm
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OP, similar time of life to you and in a reasonably well paid job working from home that involves plenty of pointlessness. It is a first world problem but you are still allowed to feel crap.

Try shrinking work as a feature of your life as much as possible. Keep regular hours and try to catch yourself thinking about work when you're not there (many of us do this and it's a waste of our time and attention).

Then expand your non working time. Take a proper lunch break, get some fresh air. Arrange to do things early morning and in the evenings if you can, as well as weekends. Exercise, catch up with people.. or just quality doing nothing time, and not feeling guilty about it.

 
Posted : 24/06/2021 6:08 pm
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Don't for one minute think everything is tickety boo when the mortgage is paid with cash in the bank and you've retired to a stones throw from a beach with great trails at the back of the house, life is still shit.

 
Posted : 24/06/2021 6:09 pm
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Most years I am apathetic to the appraisal system and would rather be poking my eye with a ruler.

This year I'm going to town on it, itemizing every complaint and what I expect then to do about it.

But wait the bastarding form has been changed and my rant has no place. Its all reflective and really personal. That shit's no good to me.

 
Posted : 24/06/2021 6:48 pm
 grum
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we’ve got 2 kids and so stuck to their holiday schedules, but still managed to go away (abroad) 4 times last year and once this year so far.

4 foreign holidays last year? Trying to help with the herd immunity strategy eh?

 
Posted : 24/06/2021 6:53 pm
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Probably means 2019.

We're still in 2020 really, aren't we?

 
Posted : 24/06/2021 6:54 pm
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I am incredibly fortunate that my job is basically stress and pressure free. I was recently offered an interview for a job on more than twice what I'm on now, it would have meant a good £1500 p/m more take home, and I turned it down on the basis there are, assuming you can meet your current living costs, more important things than money.

I love my job, has a boss who gives a shit and have no intention of moving on for any amount until / unless I have to which hopefully won't be for a few years year.

I've worked for the big corporates and ground myself right down to the point of serious physical and mental illness and I ain't doing it again....

 
Posted : 24/06/2021 7:00 pm
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This year I’m going to town on it, itemizing every complaint and what I expect then to do about it.

Careful now. I did that once . Got promoted.

 
Posted : 24/06/2021 7:02 pm
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We’re still in 2020 really, aren’t we?

I have wasted time on several occasions just this week trying to fix "this year" type problems by working with 2020 dates rather than 2021 dates.

🤦🏻‍♂️

 
Posted : 24/06/2021 7:07 pm
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Just realised that no-one has mentioned crack whores and cocaine. Up your consumption of both immediately.

 
Posted : 24/06/2021 7:15 pm
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I've had this earworm for the past hour... enjoy...

 
Posted : 24/06/2021 7:28 pm
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Fried here as well.  Lucky enough to have paid off house so aiming to go down to 2days/week by Sept.  Too many of my colleagues have burned out and ended up on long term sickness.  Trying to get ahead of the game while I can still think straight

 
Posted : 24/06/2021 7:44 pm
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Why do stolen mopeds land at the hospital?

 
Posted : 24/06/2021 7:49 pm
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The GF is feeling it. A well paid, but pointless job creating PowerPoint presentations for large corps like Siemens and Porsche. A boss that doesn't treat her employees like humans, but rather worker bees.

On top of that, stresses of living in town, dealing with neighbours/people and not having enough time to do the things that are important.

We bought a Ducato last week and will start converting it. Once that's finished we're jacking it in here (jobs, flat, sell the contents, etc) and going exploring. Go and discover how and where we want to grow old before we're too old and caught up again with modern life.

A few years back I was manically depressed. Figured it out for myself without resorting to prescribed drugs. It involved lots of f-offski away on my own, either several days away in the van or simply a long, lonely walk.

I don't think humans are geared up for modern life.

The idea of paring my life back to the minimum of what I need gets more and more attractive the older I get.

 
Posted : 24/06/2021 8:20 pm
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I thought this thread was about Fast and Furious 9???

 
Posted : 24/06/2021 8:32 pm
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For some reason my reply earlier didn't take, anyone else seeing that? I click submit, the button greys out, and nothing happens. Here is what I meant to say about three hours ago:

49 years young, also working for a megacorp. Very much customer facing so I'm used to travelling a lot and socialising so the last 16 months or so have been tough. I tend to go in peaks and troughs, as time goes by the troughs are getting a little deeper.

The difficulty for me is recognising I'm in one of those troughs - about 6 weeks ago I felt completely out of sorts, couldn't focus on work, struggling for motivation to exercise, snappy with the family. Every day feels like groundhog day - get up, make the kids packed lunch, have breakfast, start work, have lunch, walk dogs, work some more, take kids to clubs, have dinner, go to bed. Find time to exercise in there somewhere. Rinse and repeat.

After about two weeks I realised I was in another trough of despair, feeling sorry for myself. Once I'd recognised it I could deal with it and drag myself out of it. Generally this involved things like getting away from the desk as much as possible - I'm fortunate that my job involves a lot of talking to people so I'll take the dogs on a 2-3 hour walk through the forest and just call people while I walk. Instead of trying to find time to exercise I block out time from work, sometimes taking a whole morning and riding 100km on the road, or go to the lake/pool for a long swim. I've never been one for talking on the phone with friends/family (work is easy) but I am spending a fair bit of time ringing round mates.

I'm lucky that work understands and is comfortable with me taking the p!ss on occasion as they know I'm reliable and that they need to help me stay sane. Mental wellbeing is a huge thing in megacorps these days, and they are terrified of getting it wrong. I'm not saying abuse it, but definitely use it - there is no stigma to being vulnerable these days, something I think our generation still struggle to understand sometimes.

In summary - recognise it for what it is, a shit sandwich. Once you accept that you can figure out how to deal with it rather than moping and feeling sorry for yourself. That's my approach anyway!

Chin up, ride your bike.

 
Posted : 24/06/2021 8:43 pm
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So, what are your top tips and tricks for keeping going?

Get out and enjoy life outdoors, walking, biking socially etc.

Biggest big tip from me is eat healthily and do physio exercises to keep your muscles and joints in condition. Don’t get injured. Don’t ‘be a man’ and lift heavy stuff on your own.

I’ve had to endure decades now of recurring injury for not following the above advice. Have also watched friends turn from lean happy go for it characters to crutch-bound overweight depressives with knackered backs/vertebrae/shoulders/knees/hernias etc etc

Body Conditioning? Do it.

Lifting the heavy stuff (‘proving to self can still do it’)? Don’t do it.

Getting out and away from internet, visiting, exercising, doing new things? As much as possible.

Learning/achieving new things/skills/leaving comfort zone? Do it

Overthinking old things/regrets/‘if only’? Do as little as is useful and then halve it.

 
Posted : 24/06/2021 9:00 pm
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Maybe a full on holiday isn’t possible, but how about a long weekend unplugged? Go camping, don’t have an electric hookup, don’t charge your phone, leave watches at home (everyone on the trip should do the same). Swim in the sea, read a book, nap a lot. Properly switched off and losing track of time and the news, just spending a few days living by the rhythm of the daylight and demands of your stomach, might just give you the refresh and energy to put some of the other suggestions here in place, but equally might not be so much time away that it adds pressure in preparing for being off and then catching up again after.

 
Posted : 24/06/2021 10:13 pm
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It’s interesting and sad reading seeing how many are struggling. I guess if you work for a mega corp you can get some sort of pay if you are signed off with stress or burn out, its not so easy if you are self employed running your own business trying to keep it going during the pandemic, time off means an end to the business and all that entails meaning it would just add to the troubles as you would be left with no income and debt in some cases. Tbh I feel for everyone who struggles, more riding out in nature is the best thing I find but it isn’t the complete answer

 
Posted : 24/06/2021 10:31 pm
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we’ve got 2 kids and so stuck to their holiday schedules, but still managed to go away (abroad) 4 times last year and once this year so far.

There’s a ****ing global pandemic you selfish dipstick. What part of stay home didn’t you get?

You’re right up there with bloody Rita Ora, you are. Another bloody “I’m alright, jack”.

 
Posted : 24/06/2021 10:52 pm
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Careful now. I did that once . Got promoted.

I can't get promoted because I don't have a degree. So what happens is I mentor the graduates teach them how to do my job then they go off and climb the ladder. And in between do really menial tasks because there isn't actually anyone with enough experience to do things.

 
Posted : 24/06/2021 11:12 pm
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Loads of great advice. I’m going to clutch at these ones over the next few weeks…

Have a task that you do at 6pm so you have to stop at 5:30pm to get ready. It could be a 30 minute ride, a shower, what ever. It provides a mental ‘office door’ that closes after work.

just sitting in the garden in the evening listening to bird song

Take a proper lunch break, get some fresh air. Arrange to do things early morning and in the evenings if you can, as well as weekends. Exercise, catch up with people.. or just quality doing nothing time, and not feeling guilty about it.

Getting out and away from internet, visiting, exercising, doing new things? As much as possible.

but how about a long weekend unplugged?

All things I was good at last summer, and helped, but have completely failed to do this summer.

 
Posted : 24/06/2021 11:35 pm
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All very familiar here, I've seen a few articles lately like this one about a general lack of focus and motivation.

Have been very lucky to have work flexible enough to let me deal with the kids, but it's meant a lot of the time feeling like I'm barely treading water to do enough work. Although kids are back at school/nursery there's no good after school options so it's still a chunk out of my day between leaving to pick them up and my wife finishing work, maybe with a bit of juggling things with her if there's a meeting I have to do. Always chuckle at the "end your work day on time" advice, at 5:30 I'm heading back upstairs to catch up on the stuff I'd not been doing in the afternoon. Always feeling behind, like I've not put in enough hours, isn't really helping things to be honest.

Had a couple of days away, without the kids, by the sea and it was great. Back to the grind and my brain has slowed to a crawl again.

 
Posted : 25/06/2021 12:29 am
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I imagine many others here are in the same boat. So, what are your top tips and tricks for keeping going? How have you managed burnout while continuing to work? How have you reclaimed your concentration/focus?

If I don't work I sleep on the street as my zero hour contract can only maintain my survival for so long.

I have to take shite all day and still perform emotional labour by saying thank you kindly to those above me.

How to avoid burnout? Try not to have tossers as colleagues.

How to reclaimed concentration? Rest whenever I can. Sleep whenever I can. Eat whenever I can. When the only way to survive is to break even then you will try however you can to maintain that and ensure ...

I can drink half a litre of coffee and also a cup or two of tea a day and still sleep like a log as I am tired.

 
Posted : 25/06/2021 1:42 am
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staring at things for so long I almost go in to a trance. 🙂

Read this and the "thing" that springs to mind is the work laptop. I am also fried. Taken from an active role to a desk role against my will in Feb last year just before all this kicked off. I'm fried. Just started back after a lengthy sign off from the doctor. One full day of the laptop trap and I'm today, stuck in bed with pain in my right shoulder like I've never known. I'm just not built for desk work.

 
Posted : 25/06/2021 7:27 am
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All things I was good at last summer, and helped, but have completely failed to do this summer

It's a bit unfair to beat yourself up about this, when summer only started four days ago.

Personally I'm not burntout, just fed up with the covid restrictions and want life to get back to normal. Maybe with WFH 2-3 days a week. I miss going in to the office, being able to go shopping without a bloody mask on, being able to go out for a meal without having to reserve a table (due to reduced tablespace), etc. It's also been a long time since I last had a full week off - Christmas if I'm not mistaken. Anyway I'm off work the week after next, and I'm very much looking forward to that!

 
Posted : 25/06/2021 8:23 am
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The whole situation has definitely taken its toll and it's almost irrelevant what your personal situation is as to how broken you now feel. I'm really toiling on motivation and productivity when WFH now, it was a proper joy at the beginning after a job where i was away 4 days a week and really tired. 18 months later and it's hateful. I work in the office 2-3 days a week and its been revelationary for my mental health - just having brief conversations or a cup of tea with someone creates a proper lift. I've probably got >10% of my staff off with mental health problems - thats a LOT of people and i really worry about them all. As an employer I've done everything I think i can within my power to make things better - yes we're busy but it's so hard to manage people remotely en masse. We've tried blocking out calandars, headspace subs for everyone, extra time off paid, paid family caring time all through the pandemic, full pay all the way through, extra pay this year. This was all to remove one sense of stress around job security and income. None of it really seems to have made much of an impression which is not defeatist just reality. I've fielded a lot of flack in the last couple of months on things i simply cant do anything about and our attrition is now high, but equally hiring in the market is easy as well as everybody seems to 'want a change'. I think we will reflect on this period of time and really look at the long term impact its had. For me, i'm really mentally broken. I'm propping up loads of people and doing what i can to manage myself but it's not easy. What i have learned is to not beat myself up about stuff and have some time, i get up every morning at 5:45 and either sit with a cuppa and just enjoy the birds or ride my bike if i feel like it. That has properly set me up for very day.

 
Posted : 25/06/2021 9:09 am
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Some great advice and tips on here.

The main thing to take away is that a huge number of people are feeling like this. It's not "you" and "your problem. "You" are not failing.

 
Posted : 25/06/2021 9:30 am
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Add me to the list of people getting ground down by my job and life in general, although as others have said I'm still in a much more fortunate position than many so just getting on with it really.

I should probably look to make a big change like moving jobs but there's the old "better the devil you know", the company I work for along with colleagues and managers are all pretty decent and on paper my role is mostly what I'd want to be doing if I switched job so probably a high chance I could end up in a worse situation.

 
Posted : 25/06/2021 9:32 am
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It's a tough one, when you've been sat in your kitchen for the last 14 months trying to work I'm pretty sure any other job will appear appealing - i did 7 exit interviews in the last 2 weeks, all said basically that. 2 had what I would describe as solid job changes, the other 5 were just fed up and changing job seemed like a way to promote change. What was interesting was all were quite negative about their experience which I was genuinely interested to understand and in amongst it were a couple of proper nuggets about things perhaps we could have done better, some of it was pure situation stuff - i've had no team interactions, there's been no socials (!), i didn't feel like i was being connected with enough stuff like that. What was also blinking interesting was absolutely none had any positive feedback on us stating last March that we'd not lay anyone off or reduce pay (or indeed furlough or take any government money), they just assumed that was how it was. I've been properly fascinated by all the feedback and have tried to make sense of it but failed on a few points for sure. One said it would have been nice for me to have rung him every couple of days - I've got 450 staff FFS - all his immediate chain of command did, but he wanted me to. That made me a bit sad actually as it was utterly impossible to do.
Anyway this has turned into me moaning as I don;t have many people to moan to !

 
Posted : 25/06/2021 9:41 am
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If you're burned out you can't just keep going, you need to make a change.

 
Posted : 25/06/2021 9:43 am
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But also this vvv

The main thing to take away is that a huge number of people are feeling like this. It’s not “you” and “your problem. “You” are not failing.

Sometimes stuff does just suck, and it's often not your fault.

 
Posted : 25/06/2021 10:05 am
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The main thing to take away is that a huge number of people are feeling like this. It’s not “you” and “your problem. “You” are not failing.

+1

I have to make an effort to remind myself that this shitty situation isn't directed at me personally, and that we're all affected by it. So definitely don't fall into the trap of thinking this.

 
Posted : 25/06/2021 10:28 am
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If it helps anyone, today has become a complete "**** it it's Friday" day for me. (Not just work, further bad news on my FiL's health)

Doing the minimum, finishing early, might test my dodgy back with an easy 5 mile ride. And determined not to feel guilty for it.

 
Posted : 25/06/2021 11:09 am
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This thread has come at a good time for me as well. Properly struggling balancing work with any semblance of life at the moment. And getting pretty damned chubby as well annoyingly!

Industry is absolutely flat out right now so looks like other jobs might be available but also concerned it might be same shit different logo and what I really want to do is just totally change direction.

Meh, its the weekend so should get out on the bike. Massive correlation between the amount of riding and my mood these days. Never really ridden much with other people but think that might be something I would like to try as well. How the hell do you find grownups to go play in the woods with????

 
Posted : 25/06/2021 12:48 pm
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How the hell do you find grownups to go play in the woods with????

If only there were some sort of internet forum you could post on to identify willing MTBers local to you.

😉

 
Posted : 25/06/2021 2:57 pm
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You need a change of role. A friend was in a similar situation last year. Left for another company to do a similar role and is back feeling the same (and worse). Time away might be another option - paid leave/sabbatical/sickness.

I liken this to training. You cannot train at 90-100% all the time. You need to train at 50-70% with plenty of reserve to call on for events. At work those events are the pinnacle, when your best input and most efficient delivery are needed. Companies, and I work for a big one, would quite like that sustained event-level performance permanently. It simply is not possible.

Staff retention figures will be a leading indicator. They aren't normally shared for a reason.

 
Posted : 25/06/2021 3:38 pm
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I liken this to training. You cannot train at 90-100% all the time. You need to train at 50-70% with plenty of reserve to call on for events

Ben Cathro's new series on PB touches on this. Actually, the guy he rides with mentions it. Basically he practices something to the point were is isn't going to get frustrated. He leaves plenty in the tank for the next session. Makes sense actually.

 
Posted : 25/06/2021 4:53 pm
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Have to say going part time was the best move I've ever made work wise. I have Wednesdays off and go on a local group road ride. Highlight of my week and I get all my 'social fill' in those 5 hours which makes up for WFH on my own the other four days.

 
Posted : 25/06/2021 6:56 pm
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What was also blinking interesting was absolutely none had any positive feedback on us stating last March that we’d not lay anyone off or reduce pay (or indeed furlough or take any government money), they just assumed that was how it was.

It sounds like you’re doing a good job. As a contractor I’m often taken aback by how much staff people take for granted.

 
Posted : 25/06/2021 7:31 pm
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As a contractor I’m often taken aback by how much staff people take for granted.

As a former freelancer of 10 years, I felt exactly the same when I took a staff role 2.5 years ago.

Exacerbated by my sharing an office with a load of entitled 20 and 30-something manchild software developers.

But I'm now very grateful for the extent to which I can take the piss with work, if I need to.

 
Posted : 25/06/2021 7:50 pm
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Reading this and thinking "me too" to a lot of it.
Thanks to OP and everyone who's replied, good to know the feelings are pretty common eh.

 
Posted : 25/06/2021 8:55 pm
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Today I stopped work at 4pm, out the door 4:15 on my bike. Did a skid pulling up to my mates house at 4:20 and shouted to his wife if he could come out to play. We were in the woods 10 minutes later, hit Swinley red 5 mins after that. Rode red and blue, then home for tea and beer. Just opened another, life is good.

Make time for fun stuff!

 
Posted : 25/06/2021 9:37 pm
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Nature. Be in nature, take part in making nature happen, be in a place with trees, plant things, have a veg patch, plant a hedge or a tree and watch them grow. Start feeding the birds, start observing nature.
It's going back to the very basics but it gives rewards.
Build a pond, watch what happens when creatures seem to come from nowhere and make it their habitat. Marvel that every spring frogs will spawn, tadpoles will grown and turn into frogs, these will keep your garden pest free.
Sit, listen and look at nature.

If you haven't got a garden, ask a friend if they would like a pond. It's mesmerising.

I'm sounding like a tree hugger but in all seriousness being observant to your natural surroundings will really help.

 
Posted : 25/06/2021 9:58 pm
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we’ve got 2 kids and so stuck to their holiday schedules, but still managed to go away (abroad) 4 times last year and once this year so far.

As a teacher, I'd like to thank you for taking your kids abroad during a global pandemic and contributing to the spread of Covid in schools. Thank you, you clearly are a more important person than everyone else.

 
Posted : 26/06/2021 12:10 am
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Came here for the burnout posts, stayed for the judgemental attitudes.

 
Posted : 26/06/2021 9:05 am
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Came here for the burnout posts, stayed for the judgemental attitudes. sarcastic response to incredible lack of empathy and self awareness

 
Posted : 26/06/2021 9:32 am
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As a teacher, I’d like to thank you for taking your kids abroad during a global pandemic and contributing to the spread of Covid in schools. Thank you, you clearly are a more important person than everyone else.

Just out of curiosity why are foreign holidays more risky than staycations?

 
Posted : 26/06/2021 10:18 pm
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Just out of curiosity why are foreign holidays more risky than staycations?

At the moment, they're probably not as we've got a higher disease rate than most countries, although whether it's fair on those countries to travel to them from a higher rate country is a different question.

When we had low rates, mixing with people from higher rate countries increased the chance of getting it.

 
Posted : 27/06/2021 3:54 am
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At the moment, they’re probably not as we’ve got a higher disease rate than most countries, although whether it’s fair on those countries to travel to them from a higher rate country is a different question.

When we had low rates, mixing with people from higher rate countries increased the chance of getting it.

that’s why I don’t see why he is getting so much hate. Last summer we had two holidays booked before the pandemic hit. One foreign in an area of low covid outbreak and one domestic visiting family in an area of high covid outbreak. Guess which one we were legally allowed to go on. I will give a clue it’s not the one the would generate negative comments on this thread.

If he was sensible I don’t understand why he is being persecuted just because the holidays were to a foreign country. Many foreign countries have been better at managing the outbreak than ours Especially last year. That along with all the additional quarantine requirements of a foreign holiday they were probably safer than a domestic one.

Foreign doesn’t mean high risk. No more than domestic means low risk.

Thought this thread was supposed to be about support

 
Posted : 27/06/2021 4:36 am
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Yeah I also could live without all the sniping, whichever direction it’s going in to be honest.

Haven’t been abroad myself but I’m not here to judge other people. Presumably the poster in question was allowed to go on holiday, when he went.

 
Posted : 27/06/2021 10:40 am
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Shall we just drop the unpleasantness and get back to being nice?

Hope everyone's having a good weekend.

 
Posted : 27/06/2021 11:23 am
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Just out of curiosity why are foreign holidays more risky than staycations?

Different variants of the virus could be brought to schools where social distancing is not in place. (What you see at the gate is very different to what happens in the classrooms and canteen).
The recent Sky news report brought to light new statistics stating the vast majority of current cases are in younger people. They are mostly asymptomatic too and there has been outbreaks in schools recently.

In another news report this morning there were cases abroad that have affected people who have recieved both vaccines, proving the new variants are more resistant to the current vaccine.

 
Posted : 27/06/2021 11:51 am
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Regardless of the allowablity. I'm not sure waltzing into a thread where someone has reasons for not doing so but is overall struggling. And then bragging about your going on holiday was a fair opener.

 
Posted : 27/06/2021 11:57 am
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And then bragging about your going on holiday was a fair opener.

Exactly. I think there would be more sympathy if it wasn't for that.

 
Posted : 27/06/2021 12:13 pm
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Not sure if this belongs here- I didn’t want to start another (more negative) thread.

I’m struggling at the moment, and trying to keep it all in perspective (as a household we are financially better off than 18 months ago, no job uncertainty etc) but can’t help feeling really down recently.

This morning typifies life at the moment- the in-laws (and sister in law) are staying with us for the weekend. They are ok, but way to loud (mostly drunk) and messy for my liking. Pane of stained glass in the front door already cracked on Friday due to their clumsiness. I decided to go for a run for some space, 30 mins in and feeling ok, I half turned to stop a gate from slamming shut behind me on a footpath. Lower back (which has been giving me sciatic pain for weeks and was feeling much better) goes POP. Now have pain in both legs, and a 5+km walk home.

Spent most of it stressing about next week at work, lots of driving with back pain, and a day on my feet at an expo I don’t want to be at. The only ‘bright’ spot coming up this week was visiting my grandma on Tuesday between my work appointments. She’s just had a mastectomy after being diagnosed with cancer at 87.

Got home pretty much ready to quit my job and kick the in-laws out of my house. Instead I’ve just retreated to lying on the floor and moaning on the internet.

 
Posted : 27/06/2021 12:43 pm
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And then bragging about your going on holiday was a fair opener.

I didn’t read his post as bragging i read it as encouraging that taking a break and going on holiday is possible. He then gave his own examples of what he had done to prove it was possible.

Different variants of the virus could be brought to schools where social distancing is not in place.

Well aware that what goes on in schools I assume that is why they have introduced mass biweekly testing and targeted home schooling.

Variants have also originated in this country in September last year it was safer to visit Iceland than Kent for example. It is not an exclusively foreign thing.

 
Posted : 27/06/2021 12:50 pm
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A few things that work for me (that may or not work for others), feel free to disregard.

Write a list the night before of tomorrow's jobs - whether work, house related etc - even if they're small (cut your hair/shower/send an e-mail). Feels good to cross them off, and will result in less procrastination. Loads of jobs crossed off at the end of the day will make you feel you've achieved something.

Exercise if you have the time - walk/run/ride/swim/gym/whatever. It'll take your mind off things and make you feel great. You won't ever regret a workout.

Cold showers - end your shower with a minute on cold (then progress to longer). It feels good after a few seconds, and makes you feel amazing afterwards.

Get rid of the junk food in the house, and batch cook - you'll eat healthier, feel so much better and will have more time to exercise/ride/read/whatever.

Also, social media can obviously bring you down, so try quitting that for a bit. It's not good for you to constantly see everyone else's highlights.

 
Posted : 27/06/2021 12:50 pm
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The above list is absolutely spot on for me (apart from the cold showers- must try!)
Massively fallen off the exercise wagon since workload has increased back to pre Covid levels. I have to bear the brunt of the work as it's my business and we had to lay off 2 employees (delivery drivers) due to Covid.
It's still a few months before we can look to re employ a couple of drivers, so myself and my wife will have to carry on filling in whilst the workload keeps piling up. Great to be a success after a long year of uncertainty, but now find myself in the position of burnout.
14 hour days and 6 day weeks are proving harder now than when I started the business and was quite a few years younger!
Managed to get out for a 15 mile ride this weekend and a 6 mile walk with the dog this morning.
I look back with fondness last year when my business was forced to shut for 2 months and I was riding 80-100 off road miles a week. Dog walks every day, time with family. Encouraging the kids to get involved with the cooking and some DIY. Had no money, but after a while, that anxiety faded and I lived a great life.
Now back in the rat race.

 
Posted : 27/06/2021 1:10 pm
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One thing I should have added (sounds stupid but works) is if you do start writing a list of tomorrow's jobs, then if you end up fixing / doing something not originally on the list, then write it on and then immediately cross it off. Otherwise you may have a very productive day, but your original list will look untouched and you'll feel you haven't achieved much.

Also, work out all the stuff you hate doing (weekly/daily shop, washing up etc) and see if there's an inexpensive way of cutting that out. i.e. Home delivery - doesn't cost any extra really, saves time and means less impulse buys. (Second hand if money's tight?) Dishwasher saves you 20 mins a day. Streamline all the jobs you hate, and it gives you more time to do the stuff you love.

 
Posted : 27/06/2021 1:21 pm
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