A shiny, a shiny, my queendom for a shiny!
June 8, 2010 11:47 AM Subscribe
I work at a desk job where the bulk of my projects take place during the academic year. As I have ADD [ADHD inattentive type], routines and a high level of activity really help, and I've worked hard to get things where they need to be. Once again, however, the summer slump is kicking my ass. Please hope.
(This is not this question, asked last week, about downtime in a non-office job.)
I am a writer and do other sorts of things like conducting background research for TV shows, etc. I work best when I am engaged with people and projects. Unfortunately, as I work at a university, everything grinds to a halt during the summer months. Not only that, people go on vacation for days or weeks at a time. (Darn them and their relaxation!) So in addition to having the grand majority of the things that keep me busy simply disappear into thin air, any other projects I might want to take on to fill that time are a) few and far between and b) harder to predict or complete because half of the people and resources I need aren't there.
I take Strattera, which isn't thrilling me right now, but otherwise I get along okay. Despite these issues, I'm pretty flexible and always jump at anything people give me. But if it's hard to keep track of the little things during the year, it's absolutely interminable when all I have to do is refresh MeFi again... and again... and again... And then I feel bad about myself and my lack of go-getter-ness, and we all know how that spiral of shame and not-coping goes.
This isn't even a procrastination issue, although that's certainly a part of it. I mean, even telling me the plot of the romance novel I should write in my look-busy time would be helpful. I listen to my headphones, I take every opportunity to get up and walk (or stay at my desk if I actually have things going on), I join every committee I can. I have two or three more months of this, and I'm ready to gnaw off my arm.
Suggestions?
(This is not this question, asked last week, about downtime in a non-office job.)
I am a writer and do other sorts of things like conducting background research for TV shows, etc. I work best when I am engaged with people and projects. Unfortunately, as I work at a university, everything grinds to a halt during the summer months. Not only that, people go on vacation for days or weeks at a time. (Darn them and their relaxation!) So in addition to having the grand majority of the things that keep me busy simply disappear into thin air, any other projects I might want to take on to fill that time are a) few and far between and b) harder to predict or complete because half of the people and resources I need aren't there.
I take Strattera, which isn't thrilling me right now, but otherwise I get along okay. Despite these issues, I'm pretty flexible and always jump at anything people give me. But if it's hard to keep track of the little things during the year, it's absolutely interminable when all I have to do is refresh MeFi again... and again... and again... And then I feel bad about myself and my lack of go-getter-ness, and we all know how that spiral of shame and not-coping goes.
This isn't even a procrastination issue, although that's certainly a part of it. I mean, even telling me the plot of the romance novel I should write in my look-busy time would be helpful. I listen to my headphones, I take every opportunity to get up and walk (or stay at my desk if I actually have things going on), I join every committee I can. I have two or three more months of this, and I'm ready to gnaw off my arm.
Suggestions?
I, too, work in academia and often wilt away in the summer.
Assuming you've done the other office-y things like straighten up and organize a bit,
Can you:
Print off some crosswords/sudoku and do them? I suggest print because I find it more engaging and easier on the eyes, and it's something that can be put away and come back to easily.
Take an extra long lunch break and get some exercise in mid-day?
Do something that involves your hands at your desk? (I've started knitting. I knit at my desk.)
Anticipate on some of those projects that will be starting up again? I, for example, always do my supply ordering in July and start planning for the next course scheduling round now, even though I can't really do much more of anything for a few more months.
If I think of anything else, I'll be sure to let you know. I certainly feel your pain, though. Yes, yes, I do.
posted by zizzle at 12:19 PM on June 8, 2010
Assuming you've done the other office-y things like straighten up and organize a bit,
Can you:
Print off some crosswords/sudoku and do them? I suggest print because I find it more engaging and easier on the eyes, and it's something that can be put away and come back to easily.
Take an extra long lunch break and get some exercise in mid-day?
Do something that involves your hands at your desk? (I've started knitting. I knit at my desk.)
Anticipate on some of those projects that will be starting up again? I, for example, always do my supply ordering in July and start planning for the next course scheduling round now, even though I can't really do much more of anything for a few more months.
If I think of anything else, I'll be sure to let you know. I certainly feel your pain, though. Yes, yes, I do.
posted by zizzle at 12:19 PM on June 8, 2010
Response by poster: I work in what would otherwise be a receptionist's nook, so I'm very visible. I am hesitant to do anything non-computery (aside from occasionally reading the newspaper), and my desk is positioned in such a way that it would be pretty obvious if I were playing Sudoku online. (Though, really, I think they've caught on by now that I enjoy these two sites with pretty green and blue backgrounds.)
I should also point out that my bosses, who are generally great, are well aware of my lack of focus, but it's not really their responsibility to come up with stuff, and they're some of the people who are not going to be here.
posted by Madamina at 12:26 PM on June 8, 2010
I should also point out that my bosses, who are generally great, are well aware of my lack of focus, but it's not really their responsibility to come up with stuff, and they're some of the people who are not going to be here.
posted by Madamina at 12:26 PM on June 8, 2010
I am totally in the same position, reception nook and all! What are your outside of work interests? Can you work on them while at work?
I read blogs in a RSS feed. It looks "plainer" than the actual sites.
I do research on topics that interest me through the university's online library.
I can listen to music or podcasts softly (Radio Lab is amazing) but that doesn't always work because I answer phones.
Um. . .I get really bored a lot. All my friends give me "projects" to do while at work but they are usually not helpful (like drawing or creating things).
Make grocery lists, plan meals, reseach vacations, learn about that thing you always wanted to learn about, plan home improvements. . .Create your own projects that benefit you which might motivate you to work on them.
Can you watch TED talks? Those are university appropriate.
Good luck! There are many of us in your situation. I even have 2 assistants to assign work to and not enough work for one person!
posted by rachums at 1:02 PM on June 8, 2010 [1 favorite]
I read blogs in a RSS feed. It looks "plainer" than the actual sites.
I do research on topics that interest me through the university's online library.
I can listen to music or podcasts softly (Radio Lab is amazing) but that doesn't always work because I answer phones.
Um. . .I get really bored a lot. All my friends give me "projects" to do while at work but they are usually not helpful (like drawing or creating things).
Make grocery lists, plan meals, reseach vacations, learn about that thing you always wanted to learn about, plan home improvements. . .Create your own projects that benefit you which might motivate you to work on them.
Can you watch TED talks? Those are university appropriate.
Good luck! There are many of us in your situation. I even have 2 assistants to assign work to and not enough work for one person!
posted by rachums at 1:02 PM on June 8, 2010 [1 favorite]
Though, really, I think they've caught on by now that I enjoy these two sites with pretty green and blue backgrounds.
Are you aware of Preferences > Pick a Theme > Plain?
It's MeFi with white background.
posted by Doohickie at 1:25 PM on June 8, 2010
Are you aware of Preferences > Pick a Theme > Plain?
It's MeFi with white background.
posted by Doohickie at 1:25 PM on June 8, 2010
Can you watch TED talks? Those are university appropriate.
If you have mandatory web-based annual training, take it over the summer, even if it isn't due until later.
posted by Doohickie at 1:27 PM on June 8, 2010
If you have mandatory web-based annual training, take it over the summer, even if it isn't due until later.
posted by Doohickie at 1:27 PM on June 8, 2010
You can set all the Meta sites to have a white background. Not only is it easier to read (for me) but it looks really plain.
I have a boring government job that is mostly downtime. There are three things that I do to get through my day.
1. Make lists. Totally productive and it takes up time. I make a to-do list every day (sometimes more than one) of things that I need to accomplish this day/week. I also make timetables and plan out my entire evening when I get home from work. It helps me keep on task so I don't look up at the clock at 9 and realise I should be in bed and I haven't eaten/bathed/set out clothes/done anything useful yet. When I get home I set that list out and I know that at 4:30 I have to water the plants, at 5:00 I have to make dinner, at 6:00 I can work in the garden for an hour, at 7:00 I have to clean my room, at 8:00 it's bath/reading time, and at 9:00 I need to be in bed. As it gets closer to the weekend I do the same thing for Saturday and Sunday. I don't always keep to the schedule, but it helps.
2. I also design DIY projects. In the past couple of months I've done a brick retaining wall, a wooden retaining wall with attached fence, plotted out a vegetable garden, and designed a dog run. Some graph paper and homedepot.com let me figure out exactly how I was going to build it, what supplies I needed, and a general estimate of the price. Since all of the thinking was done when I wasn't at home they were all completed a lot faster. This works for redecorating too.
3. E-books. I used to e-mail myself PDF files of e-books and then I starting bringing them on a jump drive. I get a lot of reading done. And if you like older books, gutenberg.org is your friend. I find I'm too distractable at work to read the older stuff so I read trash instead. Urban fantasy and chicklit, mostly.
Strattera didn't work for me at all. I take Adderall now. Works a treat. Is trying a new medication an option for you?
Also do you have a smartphone? I couldn't get through my workday without my iPhone.
posted by elsietheeel at 1:32 PM on June 8, 2010 [2 favorites]
I have a boring government job that is mostly downtime. There are three things that I do to get through my day.
1. Make lists. Totally productive and it takes up time. I make a to-do list every day (sometimes more than one) of things that I need to accomplish this day/week. I also make timetables and plan out my entire evening when I get home from work. It helps me keep on task so I don't look up at the clock at 9 and realise I should be in bed and I haven't eaten/bathed/set out clothes/done anything useful yet. When I get home I set that list out and I know that at 4:30 I have to water the plants, at 5:00 I have to make dinner, at 6:00 I can work in the garden for an hour, at 7:00 I have to clean my room, at 8:00 it's bath/reading time, and at 9:00 I need to be in bed. As it gets closer to the weekend I do the same thing for Saturday and Sunday. I don't always keep to the schedule, but it helps.
2. I also design DIY projects. In the past couple of months I've done a brick retaining wall, a wooden retaining wall with attached fence, plotted out a vegetable garden, and designed a dog run. Some graph paper and homedepot.com let me figure out exactly how I was going to build it, what supplies I needed, and a general estimate of the price. Since all of the thinking was done when I wasn't at home they were all completed a lot faster. This works for redecorating too.
3. E-books. I used to e-mail myself PDF files of e-books and then I starting bringing them on a jump drive. I get a lot of reading done. And if you like older books, gutenberg.org is your friend. I find I'm too distractable at work to read the older stuff so I read trash instead. Urban fantasy and chicklit, mostly.
Strattera didn't work for me at all. I take Adderall now. Works a treat. Is trying a new medication an option for you?
Also do you have a smartphone? I couldn't get through my workday without my iPhone.
posted by elsietheeel at 1:32 PM on June 8, 2010 [2 favorites]
Response by poster: Oh yes. I have an appointment with a new shrink next month to check out the possibility of Adderall or something else. Wellbutrin gave me crazy dreams and Ritalin made me feel like I was treading Jello with my miiiiiind.
I do adore ebooks (see this related question from the holiday break :P), and I do have an iPhone (an ADD-er's bestest bestest friend). Currently, I take loooong bathroom breaks and play a little solitaire.
posted by Madamina at 1:51 PM on June 8, 2010
I do adore ebooks (see this related question from the holiday break :P), and I do have an iPhone (an ADD-er's bestest bestest friend). Currently, I take loooong bathroom breaks and play a little solitaire.
posted by Madamina at 1:51 PM on June 8, 2010
Will your job allow you to do extra job-related training on the clock? (For example, I'm a systems librarian who's just got admin on a Linux box - in this case, I might ask if I could do an online Linux course.)
posted by telophase at 2:17 PM on June 8, 2010
posted by telophase at 2:17 PM on June 8, 2010
Do skill development--if it's vaguely job-related, all the better, and if you can get your department to fund any staff development short courses, double bonus plus-plus.
posted by drlith at 6:08 PM on June 8, 2010
posted by drlith at 6:08 PM on June 8, 2010
You are a writer? How about writing exercises? They keep you looking busy, but can be a fun way to engage your mind and improve your writing and creativity.
posted by Tooty McTootsalot at 6:05 AM on June 9, 2010
posted by Tooty McTootsalot at 6:05 AM on June 9, 2010
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by The Light Fantastic at 12:00 PM on June 8, 2010