MotivationFilter
October 28, 2006 4:28 AM Subscribe
I'm currently working a job with soul-sucking 60+ hour weeks. How can I get myself motivated/un-exhausted enough to enjoy my weekends? Of course, there's
I graduated from college this spring, and I'm currently working in a long-term temp position. The pay's great for the work and I believe it'll look good on my resume, but I'm often away from home from 4am to 6pm or later five days a week. When I get home at night during the week, I pretty much have time/energy enough to cook dinner, read the newspaper/blogs/etc, and curl up in bed. On the weekends, my internal clock still has me waking up at 5am (even without an alarm) and getting tired at about 10pm. I'm sore all over, and generally lacking in motivation to do much beyond curl up on the couch with a book. On top of this, by necessity I'm living with a parent, about 10 miles from anywhere where interesting things are happening. I plan to change several details of this situation next spring, but until then I need this job to save money. Even after I get out of this particular situation, I realize it's likely that I'll be working long hours in stressful positions because, hey, this is the real world.
So my question is: what do people do to motivate themselves to pursue personal projects in grueling schedules like this? I'd like to write and work on some artistic endeavors, and also get myself out into the local social scene. This isn't a "how do I find groups to be social with or things to do" question -- I know of lots of things that're going on, I just can't seem to bring myself to get out of the house. I don't think it's depression, just exhaustion and a general feeling of "damnit, I'm going to have to move all next week. I don't want to move or deal with people right now." I guess I'm afraid that if I do stuff, I'll lose quality relaxation time and maybe replace it with more time spent being stressed and tired.. advice on how to get out of my shell while not ending up dead tired on Monday (and Tuesday, and ...)?
I graduated from college this spring, and I'm currently working in a long-term temp position. The pay's great for the work and I believe it'll look good on my resume, but I'm often away from home from 4am to 6pm or later five days a week. When I get home at night during the week, I pretty much have time/energy enough to cook dinner, read the newspaper/blogs/etc, and curl up in bed. On the weekends, my internal clock still has me waking up at 5am (even without an alarm) and getting tired at about 10pm. I'm sore all over, and generally lacking in motivation to do much beyond curl up on the couch with a book. On top of this, by necessity I'm living with a parent, about 10 miles from anywhere where interesting things are happening. I plan to change several details of this situation next spring, but until then I need this job to save money. Even after I get out of this particular situation, I realize it's likely that I'll be working long hours in stressful positions because, hey, this is the real world.
So my question is: what do people do to motivate themselves to pursue personal projects in grueling schedules like this? I'd like to write and work on some artistic endeavors, and also get myself out into the local social scene. This isn't a "how do I find groups to be social with or things to do" question -- I know of lots of things that're going on, I just can't seem to bring myself to get out of the house. I don't think it's depression, just exhaustion and a general feeling of "damnit, I'm going to have to move all next week. I don't want to move or deal with people right now." I guess I'm afraid that if I do stuff, I'll lose quality relaxation time and maybe replace it with more time spent being stressed and tired.. advice on how to get out of my shell while not ending up dead tired on Monday (and Tuesday, and ...)?
I've worked similar hours in a job a few times in my life. Believe me, I played and used every last second of the weekend so this is entirely feasible, you just have to get out and do things.
If I have low motivation, I’ve found making plans (and ultimately obligations) with others encourages me to follow through. For example, I make plans to meet another person to bike at 1030 on Sat morning - even though I would rather sleep when that time arrives, I go out the door so that I do not let the other person down. Once I am out there, I have a lot of fun and have no idea why I resisted – but setting an appointment with others helps. You mention writing as a goal, I am sure you could find a writing group, and the writing group will impose deadlines.
I also have the philosophy that the weekend is my time – this is what most people work really hard during the week to have – so spending every second doing things that a person enjoys becomes important.
During the week - I think you could even spend a day of the week pursuing things on your list. It may seem painful at first, but decide in advance that 1 night/2 weeks will be spent on such-and-such pursuit. You may want to make it more social as you may not have as much energy at the beginning.
I also think that if writing is a project, surely you can muster a small amount of energy during the week too. Make a list of goals for the week (write 500 words, etc.). Set your alarm when you are at the computer and only have Word open for an hour, and only work on the project at that time.
Good luck
posted by Wolfster at 5:48 AM on October 28, 2006
If I have low motivation, I’ve found making plans (and ultimately obligations) with others encourages me to follow through. For example, I make plans to meet another person to bike at 1030 on Sat morning - even though I would rather sleep when that time arrives, I go out the door so that I do not let the other person down. Once I am out there, I have a lot of fun and have no idea why I resisted – but setting an appointment with others helps. You mention writing as a goal, I am sure you could find a writing group, and the writing group will impose deadlines.
I also have the philosophy that the weekend is my time – this is what most people work really hard during the week to have – so spending every second doing things that a person enjoys becomes important.
During the week - I think you could even spend a day of the week pursuing things on your list. It may seem painful at first, but decide in advance that 1 night/2 weeks will be spent on such-and-such pursuit. You may want to make it more social as you may not have as much energy at the beginning.
I also think that if writing is a project, surely you can muster a small amount of energy during the week too. Make a list of goals for the week (write 500 words, etc.). Set your alarm when you are at the computer and only have Word open for an hour, and only work on the project at that time.
Good luck
posted by Wolfster at 5:48 AM on October 28, 2006
I think it has a lot to do with your metabolism. You sound like me... rather slow. I worked 60 hour weeks for about three years, and absolutely wrecked myself doing it. I've never been quite the same.
Some people can work 60 hours and have enough left for other stuff. Others can't. As enrevanche says, focus on sleep and nutrition, and get a little exercise in.... even a good brisk walk at lunch, if you get a lunch, can help.
If things aren't better within a month of doing that, I'd guess that you're like me, and just not really suited for 60 hour weeks. I'd suggest backing off or changing jobs.
Another thought: if you can improve efficiency at work so that you can get as much work done in fewer hours, I'd strongly suggest doing that. That might include things like removing the web browser from your machine if you waste time doing that. More focus at work might let you cut your hours down to something you can handle better.
posted by Malor at 6:04 AM on October 28, 2006
Some people can work 60 hours and have enough left for other stuff. Others can't. As enrevanche says, focus on sleep and nutrition, and get a little exercise in.... even a good brisk walk at lunch, if you get a lunch, can help.
If things aren't better within a month of doing that, I'd guess that you're like me, and just not really suited for 60 hour weeks. I'd suggest backing off or changing jobs.
Another thought: if you can improve efficiency at work so that you can get as much work done in fewer hours, I'd strongly suggest doing that. That might include things like removing the web browser from your machine if you waste time doing that. More focus at work might let you cut your hours down to something you can handle better.
posted by Malor at 6:04 AM on October 28, 2006
Hey, man, I feel your pain - I work about 60 hours a week too.
enrevanche has it exactly right, basically - you don't have room for anything else too intense right now. But I think you do have room to improve what you have.
Are you mostly making your own food or doing the take-out thing more? Can you set up a little herb garden? How awesome are your pillows and sheets? Do you eat dinner under blazing electric lights or could you resort to candles and classical music to help you "wind down" at the end of the day? Can you get to the library for some money-saving intellectual pleasure? I imagine the parent you're sharing life with right now might appreciate some of these little changes too and might be willing to support you in your endeavours to make your life more relaxing.
My advice is for the "personal projects" to be primarily relaxation focused - you, a couch or a stool or a garden bench, and no more than a handful of non-electronic materials. Writing letters to friends and family, scrapbooking, organizing photo albums, drawing, painting, reading, compiling recipes, baking/cooking, gardening...these are all great ways to make your relaxing time into productive time, as they'll give you new fields to explore and give you the gratification of creating something on your own dime/time outside of a pressure-filled work environment. They can also be (mostly) inexpensive and (mostly) fun, and have no set completion date or required level of competence to begin.
I notice that in your profile you say you like constructing alternate worlds; I have similar interests and have been making hand-drawn "personal atlases" for my friends and family with maps of the places where I've been or where we've shared some cool experience. Definitely a neat and creative way to spend an afternoon, and as cheap as pens, paper, and a stamp.
posted by mdonley at 6:24 AM on October 28, 2006
enrevanche has it exactly right, basically - you don't have room for anything else too intense right now. But I think you do have room to improve what you have.
Are you mostly making your own food or doing the take-out thing more? Can you set up a little herb garden? How awesome are your pillows and sheets? Do you eat dinner under blazing electric lights or could you resort to candles and classical music to help you "wind down" at the end of the day? Can you get to the library for some money-saving intellectual pleasure? I imagine the parent you're sharing life with right now might appreciate some of these little changes too and might be willing to support you in your endeavours to make your life more relaxing.
My advice is for the "personal projects" to be primarily relaxation focused - you, a couch or a stool or a garden bench, and no more than a handful of non-electronic materials. Writing letters to friends and family, scrapbooking, organizing photo albums, drawing, painting, reading, compiling recipes, baking/cooking, gardening...these are all great ways to make your relaxing time into productive time, as they'll give you new fields to explore and give you the gratification of creating something on your own dime/time outside of a pressure-filled work environment. They can also be (mostly) inexpensive and (mostly) fun, and have no set completion date or required level of competence to begin.
I notice that in your profile you say you like constructing alternate worlds; I have similar interests and have been making hand-drawn "personal atlases" for my friends and family with maps of the places where I've been or where we've shared some cool experience. Definitely a neat and creative way to spend an afternoon, and as cheap as pens, paper, and a stamp.
posted by mdonley at 6:24 AM on October 28, 2006
One thing you should rule out is a physiological cause: Have you had a medical workup done recently? Fatigue like what you are describing may have a cause other than your work. You owe it to yourself to get some tests run if you haven't already.
Once you've ruled that out and you know you're in tip-top shape and you've decided that you're going to make the best of this job situation come hell or high resume making material, do like every good energy conscientious salaryman does: Exercise.
Commit yourself to do 30 minutes of cardio / aerobic exercise per day for 5 days a week. Find a time to fit it in, and go running. If you're really committed to this job and making it work, you'll be surprised at the extra energy you get from a bit of daily exercise.
posted by jazzkat11 at 6:33 AM on October 28, 2006
Once you've ruled that out and you know you're in tip-top shape and you've decided that you're going to make the best of this job situation come hell or high resume making material, do like every good energy conscientious salaryman does: Exercise.
Commit yourself to do 30 minutes of cardio / aerobic exercise per day for 5 days a week. Find a time to fit it in, and go running. If you're really committed to this job and making it work, you'll be surprised at the extra energy you get from a bit of daily exercise.
posted by jazzkat11 at 6:33 AM on October 28, 2006
I'm in this exact situation (you and I, my friend, have almost identical hours), and have been for three years - but in my case, compounded by a wife and two children.
For a while, I made the mistake of trying to "squeeze in" as much as possible in evenings and weekends. I say mistake because that's what it was - no matter what I did with the few leisure hours I had, it was a disappointment, because my mind could never take focus away from the big list of potential things to do next, the list of things I was not doing.
(I've always found books to be the biggest frustration - between the three I want to write and the 300 I want to read, they are always taunting me from the shelf.)
A few thoughts, in no particular order:
* It's not permanent. You can do anything for a finite period of time. Someday, you'll work less (as I keep telling myself).
* Diet and exercise are indeed crucial. The right foods give you energy; the wrong foods sap energy. Sadly, the foods that most people reach for when they're tired or over-busy are the wrong ones. Consider swearing off fast food (or much restaurant food in general) and junk carbs/sugars.
* You ask "how can I get myself motivated/un-exhausted enough to enjoy my weekends" - which to me is part of the problem. You've accepted the notion that you're only going to enjoy 28.5% of your life. Are you really okay with that? If not, what can you change about your work routine itself to make it challenging, fun, rewarding, etc.?
* If your job involves being at a desk/computer: Consider the strategy of working 48 minutes, then breaking for 12. Use Writely.com during those 12 to move a personal project along.
* IMO, you can't really plan for "quality relaxation time." Relaxation happens whenever your mind allows it to.
* Do you have a commute? If so, discover audiobooks. They're wonderful things.
* Lastly, and this may resonate with you or it may not, but there's an excellent collection of essays by Alan Watts that I've been reading over and over again lately ... it's called "Become who you are" (published by Shambhala Press), and the title story in particular, I find extremely encouraging along these lines.
posted by jbickers at 6:34 AM on October 28, 2006
For a while, I made the mistake of trying to "squeeze in" as much as possible in evenings and weekends. I say mistake because that's what it was - no matter what I did with the few leisure hours I had, it was a disappointment, because my mind could never take focus away from the big list of potential things to do next, the list of things I was not doing.
(I've always found books to be the biggest frustration - between the three I want to write and the 300 I want to read, they are always taunting me from the shelf.)
A few thoughts, in no particular order:
* It's not permanent. You can do anything for a finite period of time. Someday, you'll work less (as I keep telling myself).
* Diet and exercise are indeed crucial. The right foods give you energy; the wrong foods sap energy. Sadly, the foods that most people reach for when they're tired or over-busy are the wrong ones. Consider swearing off fast food (or much restaurant food in general) and junk carbs/sugars.
* You ask "how can I get myself motivated/un-exhausted enough to enjoy my weekends" - which to me is part of the problem. You've accepted the notion that you're only going to enjoy 28.5% of your life. Are you really okay with that? If not, what can you change about your work routine itself to make it challenging, fun, rewarding, etc.?
* If your job involves being at a desk/computer: Consider the strategy of working 48 minutes, then breaking for 12. Use Writely.com during those 12 to move a personal project along.
* IMO, you can't really plan for "quality relaxation time." Relaxation happens whenever your mind allows it to.
* Do you have a commute? If so, discover audiobooks. They're wonderful things.
* Lastly, and this may resonate with you or it may not, but there's an excellent collection of essays by Alan Watts that I've been reading over and over again lately ... it's called "Become who you are" (published by Shambhala Press), and the title story in particular, I find extremely encouraging along these lines.
posted by jbickers at 6:34 AM on October 28, 2006
If you're taking home good money and padding your future resume in exchange for your employer taking advantage of you temporarily, then that's the only personal project you have time to do right. Save the money, do well for your employer, and look forward to a better job.
Until you get that better job, your big adventures after work should involve going to the library, napping, working in the garden, napping, going for walks in the woods, napping, reading and watching only great books and films (no garbage), napping, and keeping a diary and notes (paper, video, and audio) on what goes through your mind. You aren't going to do good work on outside projects if you're in a stressful 60-hour job.
Of course, if you could find a way to only appear to be busy for 20 or 30 hours of that 60+ hour work week...
posted by pracowity at 6:44 AM on October 28, 2006
Until you get that better job, your big adventures after work should involve going to the library, napping, working in the garden, napping, going for walks in the woods, napping, reading and watching only great books and films (no garbage), napping, and keeping a diary and notes (paper, video, and audio) on what goes through your mind. You aren't going to do good work on outside projects if you're in a stressful 60-hour job.
Of course, if you could find a way to only appear to be busy for 20 or 30 hours of that 60+ hour work week...
posted by pracowity at 6:44 AM on October 28, 2006
60 hours per week is not the 'real world'. It's can be a practical necessity for short parts of your life, but if you're consigning yourself to 60 hours per week, recognize it as a choice, not a irresistable requirement of modern life.
Working long hours can bring great things, and if you make that choice, go for it. But don't consign yourself to that life if you don't like it.
In the meantime, walking, swimming and biking are all great exercises that aren't so high-impact that they'll wear you down.
posted by bluejayk at 6:52 AM on October 28, 2006
Working long hours can bring great things, and if you make that choice, go for it. But don't consign yourself to that life if you don't like it.
In the meantime, walking, swimming and biking are all great exercises that aren't so high-impact that they'll wear you down.
posted by bluejayk at 6:52 AM on October 28, 2006
Read Getting Things Done (David Allen), organize your life, and find some flow. You'll manage to make time for yourself if you get your act together. Sixty hours a week is not so much work that it should ruin your life. Lots of people, from i-bankers and lawyers to truck drivers and police officers, have to work more hours than that over long periods of time. You are not going to make more hours in the week, so if you are committed to your job, which does not sound different from most high-paying professional jobs, then you are going to need to figure out ways to make the most of the hours you do have.
posted by esquire at 7:06 AM on October 28, 2006
posted by esquire at 7:06 AM on October 28, 2006
I did that right after college, too--a 35 hour a week desk job and then 20 hours a week working retail. I made exercise my priority. I went for a pretty strenuous walk outside whenever I could. I ended up losing a lot of weight just because there wasn't time to eat and because of the walking. (I needed to lose the weight, though.)
I found my youth (I was 21-22 at the time) and the exercise helped to keep me sane. I didn't have a boyfriend or pets, either, during this time. I would have felt incredibly guilty if I had, because there would be precious little time to give to a boyfriend or pet.
Other posters are right--a 60 hour work week is not normal. If it's temporary and you can see the light at the end of the tunnel, that's one thing. It comes down to, what do you value more, your money or your time? I assume you are working so hard to get money. That was my motivation. I just couldn't cut it to my level of personal comfort working one 35 hour/week job. Or maybe it's a great experience that will lead to more money in the future. Everyone has to face this: what matters more to you? For me, I choose my personal time, which is why I am not a lawyer! :)
posted by FergieBelle at 7:14 AM on October 28, 2006
I found my youth (I was 21-22 at the time) and the exercise helped to keep me sane. I didn't have a boyfriend or pets, either, during this time. I would have felt incredibly guilty if I had, because there would be precious little time to give to a boyfriend or pet.
Other posters are right--a 60 hour work week is not normal. If it's temporary and you can see the light at the end of the tunnel, that's one thing. It comes down to, what do you value more, your money or your time? I assume you are working so hard to get money. That was my motivation. I just couldn't cut it to my level of personal comfort working one 35 hour/week job. Or maybe it's a great experience that will lead to more money in the future. Everyone has to face this: what matters more to you? For me, I choose my personal time, which is why I am not a lawyer! :)
posted by FergieBelle at 7:14 AM on October 28, 2006
Everyone's different, but I can't work 60 hours per week and stay happy and healthy. I did it sometimes when I was younger (and there are many people in my profession (law) who think it is normal and do it for many years). When I worked that much, on the weekends I'd sometimes go to a party and drink, and shoot the shit, but that was about it. So, you may want to figure out if you are the kind of person who can do this schedule long term or not.
If you know it's not for you, but you want to have some fun on the weekends while this particular job lasts, I would make "dates" with friends for lunch, dinner, or a walk, on Saturday and Sunday.
posted by ClaudiaCenter at 11:10 AM on October 28, 2006
If you know it's not for you, but you want to have some fun on the weekends while this particular job lasts, I would make "dates" with friends for lunch, dinner, or a walk, on Saturday and Sunday.
posted by ClaudiaCenter at 11:10 AM on October 28, 2006
I have lived your life for quite some time now and I can assure you it's not unusual you're this exhausted. what I find crucial is to see what makes you work this long.
is it your employer?
are they taking advantage of your youth and naivete? if so, they don't have your interest at hand. start moving, this will never change. they are very well aware you will not be around for the long run, otherwise they would care more about your well-being.
it it you?
you don't have set times but are expected to meet certain goals, so you put yourself under the gun. in this case look to your more senior colleagues - pick a bunch of people who have been doing this for three to five years. put in ten or fifteen percent more than they do, they after all have done this for a while and are thus quicker than you, but limit yourself there.
is it your direct supervisor?
tell him you are above your limits. tell him (okay, or her) you cannot keep up this pace. a capable supervisor will prefer you being communicative before from having to wipe up the mess once you do drop the pots and pans. having the capabilities to recognize and deal with problems before they really become major issues actually makes you management material.
lastly, get physically active. pick up running. and here is the kicker: do it in the morning. get a coach, do it the right way. yes, you will have to force yourself, but it will do wonders for your wellbeing. your energy levels will go up dramatically and at least your body won't completely go to shit while you are at it. I find running to be the ultimate me-time (or wah-time, as I like to call it because all that is going on in my head is mindless blubber that otherwise would occupy my mind during my workday) and something of a treat. in making it the most important routine, even before starfucks, I can at least keep up the appearance that I still come first. and not my career.
lastly, set a goal. if this is just something you have to do for a while, then put a set day onto your calendar on which you will quit. make it a year or so from now, not further out. start getting your stuff ready six months before that. start calling headhunters (or your industries equivalent) or friends in places around three months before. make it subtely be known outside your company that you are looking. start hinting you are not satisfied once you have first leads, perhaps your company will feel the urge to change your situation for the better. do not fear changing jobs and keep in mind that if you live in the united states, the amount you are asking for goes hand in hand with how the company will see you. don't undervalue yourself or they will treat you like an intern.
gosh, am I really that jaded? I'm only three years out of college.
posted by krautland at 1:39 PM on October 28, 2006
is it your employer?
are they taking advantage of your youth and naivete? if so, they don't have your interest at hand. start moving, this will never change. they are very well aware you will not be around for the long run, otherwise they would care more about your well-being.
it it you?
you don't have set times but are expected to meet certain goals, so you put yourself under the gun. in this case look to your more senior colleagues - pick a bunch of people who have been doing this for three to five years. put in ten or fifteen percent more than they do, they after all have done this for a while and are thus quicker than you, but limit yourself there.
is it your direct supervisor?
tell him you are above your limits. tell him (okay, or her) you cannot keep up this pace. a capable supervisor will prefer you being communicative before from having to wipe up the mess once you do drop the pots and pans. having the capabilities to recognize and deal with problems before they really become major issues actually makes you management material.
lastly, get physically active. pick up running. and here is the kicker: do it in the morning. get a coach, do it the right way. yes, you will have to force yourself, but it will do wonders for your wellbeing. your energy levels will go up dramatically and at least your body won't completely go to shit while you are at it. I find running to be the ultimate me-time (or wah-time, as I like to call it because all that is going on in my head is mindless blubber that otherwise would occupy my mind during my workday) and something of a treat. in making it the most important routine, even before starfucks, I can at least keep up the appearance that I still come first. and not my career.
lastly, set a goal. if this is just something you have to do for a while, then put a set day onto your calendar on which you will quit. make it a year or so from now, not further out. start getting your stuff ready six months before that. start calling headhunters (or your industries equivalent) or friends in places around three months before. make it subtely be known outside your company that you are looking. start hinting you are not satisfied once you have first leads, perhaps your company will feel the urge to change your situation for the better. do not fear changing jobs and keep in mind that if you live in the united states, the amount you are asking for goes hand in hand with how the company will see you. don't undervalue yourself or they will treat you like an intern.
gosh, am I really that jaded? I'm only three years out of college.
posted by krautland at 1:39 PM on October 28, 2006
Krautland's advice is good.
I've been working that kind of schedule for the last months. (Every time I think the crunch is over and I can breathe again, another crisis crops up -- and once again I'm starting work at 7:30, stopping in at home by 6 to look after my dog, then back to work for a few more hours. If there were a foreseeable end to this, or if I were going through some profession's traditional dues-paying, I might feel differently about it; but I'm working for a pittance at a nonprofit, realistically there's no imminent prospect of relief, and the only thing that makes it tolerable at all is some funny, friendly co-workers.)
1) I have a dog who needs daily walks. We started running, so we'd cover the same ground in less time. That really feels good. I was surprised by how much I've been enjoying it.
2) Other than that, my #1 priority has been to find a saner, better job.
posted by tangerine at 2:17 PM on October 28, 2006
I've been working that kind of schedule for the last months. (Every time I think the crunch is over and I can breathe again, another crisis crops up -- and once again I'm starting work at 7:30, stopping in at home by 6 to look after my dog, then back to work for a few more hours. If there were a foreseeable end to this, or if I were going through some profession's traditional dues-paying, I might feel differently about it; but I'm working for a pittance at a nonprofit, realistically there's no imminent prospect of relief, and the only thing that makes it tolerable at all is some funny, friendly co-workers.)
1) I have a dog who needs daily walks. We started running, so we'd cover the same ground in less time. That really feels good. I was surprised by how much I've been enjoying it.
2) Other than that, my #1 priority has been to find a saner, better job.
posted by tangerine at 2:17 PM on October 28, 2006
I've done a few years of something very similar.
I mean this in all seriousness: you have to learn to love fatigue.
Have you ever been to a hot and sticky club and you're covered in disgusting sweat, but you can make yourself love it?
That sort of mental backflip, brain-reprogramming, was completely necessary for me to get through those years. I am incredibly lazy and unmotivated by nature. So, the only thing I could do was to teach myself to love being exhausted.
It's silly, yes, but it's also effective, at least for me.
posted by milarepa at 2:46 PM on October 28, 2006
I mean this in all seriousness: you have to learn to love fatigue.
Have you ever been to a hot and sticky club and you're covered in disgusting sweat, but you can make yourself love it?
That sort of mental backflip, brain-reprogramming, was completely necessary for me to get through those years. I am incredibly lazy and unmotivated by nature. So, the only thing I could do was to teach myself to love being exhausted.
It's silly, yes, but it's also effective, at least for me.
posted by milarepa at 2:46 PM on October 28, 2006
I'm going to throw out some different advice: Directly after college I worked between 40 and 50 hours a week. It took my body a good year to adjust to working in "the working world." I was fatigued all the time, and didn't seem to have much energy for anything other than work.
It's also happened to several of my other college graduate friends.
My theory is this: Despite the pressures of college, nothing can prepare your body into the shock of being "on" and working for 8-10 hours straight, on a daily basis. In college, your schedule is much different: a few hours "on" for classes, and then several "off" to regroup, nap, socialize, work. Repeat. You don't get naps in the real world.
Despite your heavy work load, I think the majority of your problem is that your body is adjusting itself. Eat well, exercise, and truck through it. It was only temporary for me.
posted by donguanella at 8:45 PM on October 28, 2006
It's also happened to several of my other college graduate friends.
My theory is this: Despite the pressures of college, nothing can prepare your body into the shock of being "on" and working for 8-10 hours straight, on a daily basis. In college, your schedule is much different: a few hours "on" for classes, and then several "off" to regroup, nap, socialize, work. Repeat. You don't get naps in the real world.
Despite your heavy work load, I think the majority of your problem is that your body is adjusting itself. Eat well, exercise, and truck through it. It was only temporary for me.
posted by donguanella at 8:45 PM on October 28, 2006
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Come, let us reason together. Do the math with me.
There are 168 hours in a 7-day week (7 *24 = 168) and 120 hours in a 5-day workweek (5 *24 = 120).
Let's allow 10 hours per day for things like sleep, personal hygiene, and meals. (You won't be getting eight hours of sleep on this schedule, but many/most people don't.)
That leaves us with 98 hours (168 - 70) left in our seven-day week, or 70 hours (120 - 50) in our five-day workweek.
If you're consistently averaging 60 hours in a five-day workweek, you won't have enough energy left over to wipe your ass properly, much less engage in artistic pursuits, on the weekends; you'll be in recuperation mode, and deservedly so.
Until you can get into a job that requires saner hours, be as kind to yourself as possible. Do whatever it takes to get enough rest, and eat as well as you possibly can; adequate sleep and nutrition are crucial. Moderate exercise, if you can bring yourself to do that after such a long workday, will increase your energy levels over time.
But you've got a structural problem with your working hours that, long-term, will require you to either renegotiate your deal with your current employer or find a new job.
posted by enrevanche at 5:44 AM on October 28, 2006 [1 favorite]