dont want wake up thinking about work 2

[ifin]

I think about work way too much-- so much that I wake up thinking about it, I think about it when I eat.

I'm not very productive when I am at work. I've been stuck in this cycle for quite some time.

I'm starting to change I would like some pointers to pull me out of this mess.


Few things that are on my mind:

current project dragging on for too long
getting ready to talk to boss about raise

 

[ajack1]

A project that is running late and talking to your boss about a raise are probably not things that go hand in hand, I would guess this might be the cause of some of your worry?

In my experience the worry of things is usually far worse than the reality, be it moving home, work related, waiting for an operation at hospital in fact just about everything. You may be better just doing it rather than worrying about it, that way at least you have facts to base your judgements on.

For work I try and set daily targets without losing the bigger picture. It is easy to see a whole project not moving forward but if you can walk away thinking today I have done A, B&C tomorrow I will do D, E&F somehow X, Y&Z just creep up on you.

Outside of work the more you do to take your mind off work the better, take up a sport, or a project on the house, something to challenge the mind and body, I sleep much better when I am physically and mentally tired.

These things work for me, I am sure others have different ways. One thing is certain if you don’t change something it will stay the same, good luck.

 

[SomptingGuy]

I often leave work with a problem unsolved and cannot help trying to solve it "off line". I cycle home, which gives me half an hour of time to think the problem through and either solve it (giving a good start to the next day) or decide I can't solve it off line (allowing me to forget about it). I usually get home having almost forgotten about work problems. This isn't the case when my wife "lets" me take the car.

 

[HVAC68]

You say you are not productive. Are your demotivated ?

Break up your tasks into smaller ones. Give yourself a pat on your back (if nobody else is there to do it !!!), when you complete each task. That will start making you feel better.

HVAC68

 

[jmw]

Ajack1 is right, this is the wrong combination... heck, even being on top of everything and working miracles and it's tough to get a raise.

Thinking about work all the time or thinking about the work all the time?
If you are always worrying about how to get this extension widget fitted behind that bracket... fine. I do that all day and all night, pretty well; my mind likes problem solving and that is how it keeps in trim. I just have to nod occassionally and say "yes dear" even if I have no idea what my wife has just said (I'm lucky; my wife just wants some idea I'm still responding normally to food drink and audio cues, she only ocassionally thows a wobbly).

When I start to worry about how I hate getting up in the morning and not being excited about the job, and I begin to lose productivity, it is time to find a new job or figure out what's wrong.

Try to figure out when you were last happy at what you do and was this it or was it the job before?
Is it too much work or is there a particular problem?

We are motivated by success. We are not motivated if we can't achieve that success. Its negative feedback. This is where HVAC68 offers real good advice. Break it down into small tasks. This gives you a sequence of small successes. Reward yourself each time you complete a small task. Don't go for that cup of coffee or chat with one of the guys till you've gotten a task completed.

Do you have too much workload? you need to manage this better. Prioritise, Get help to prioritise and do it everytime you get a new job. Do with your boss. He'll pile it on unless you make sure he knows what you are doing, how long it will take. Do you get easily distracted by people interupting you all the time or by the phone continually ringing? If so, take control. Set some core working time aside during which you don't take calls and you don't chat casually. Ask people if its important or if they can come back in the afternoon. Mostly its just people breaking up their day and using you as a sounding board.

If you have hit a mental block and there is some problem you just can't solve, ask someone. Have a brainstorming session. Who knows, maybe it can't be solved? You need to share problems even more than you need to share anything else.

It may be that you really just don't want to do this particular job anymore. Get looking for another.

JMW

http://www.ViscoAnalyser.com

 

[Latexman]

efin,

May I suggest a wife and kids to re-direct your thoughts. It works for me.

Good luck,
Latexman

 

[GregLocock]

Oh.

I like having a project to think about. Last week I woke up at 4.30 am and solved something that had been bugging me for two days. The parts of the jigsaw fell into place. This has happened so often for me that it is just the way my brain works.

Maybe you just need to take a proper holiday? at least 4 and preferably 8 days? Or go and do something scary for a couple of days? I don't obsess about work when I'm a day's walk from the nearest water supply, with one litre in my waterbottle, for example.

Cheers

Greg Locock

Please see FAQ731-376 for tips on how to make the best use of Eng-Tips.

 

[Senselessticker]

I work with a number of people who *think* about work and/or stress about it all the time. They all have one thing in common: Very little physical excerise and a general lack of involvement in other life/family activities. Is your life currently balanced when considering time for exercise, family, friends, spiritual renewal, etc...?

Of course....I know some people who think about work all the time because he/she *wants* to. Some people just LOVE work to a point their life is consumed by it, but as long as a healthy balance is kept with the rest of their life....I suppose that isn't a problem if it makes them happy. I'm guessing you don't *want* to think about work.

I agree with jmw and Greg, take a holiday and bring yourself back to center. Perhaps find a new hobbie or interest. I strongly recommend high endurance sports such as cycling, running, swimming, etc... just find something you enjoy. If you already have a balanced lifesytle of exercise, family, friends, and spiritual renewal, etc... and are still having problems with consuming thoughts about work, then I suggest finding a new job.

Good luck!

 

[Twoballcane]

I was the same way many years ago. Then I read some stress relieving magazine on how to stop stressing out over work. It suggested that you do something mental or physical to tell your brain to stop thinking of the stress (well in this instance it is work) that is bothering you. For me the act of taking off my company badge was the signal. I would make it an effort to tell my self to stop thinking about work once I take off the company badge. Once the company badge is off, I’m on my own time, not the company’s. Also, once it is off I live in the moment as in not think about tomorrow or the past, but the present, which is usually spending time with my wife, daughter, and my new yellow labrador retriever. The same goes for the weekend. After practicing this I found that I can actually focus more on work. Because, once the company badge goes back on, I’m back on the job.

Tobalcane

 

[ifin]

I’m overwhelmed by the response and you guys have some great suggestions, but here’s a little more insight into my situation.

My job situation:

My job was to design a cell with 37 unique products going through, my Boss told me that I did a good job of it. We had to start production ahead of time, so we didn’t really have enough time to do the debug. So the debug and getting up to 100% has dragged on for a while, part of the reason being that since production has gone up so much we haven’t had time at all to stop and make improvements. And it is also frustrating to me that I get no support from the foremen in training operators and maintaining the area at that level that is expected. I’m also frustrated that the whole project was done with such a time constraint and having so many products, by the time the product hits the shop floor the error has multiplied (from design to drafter to CNC programmer …and on and on). We never even had a pilot run; we just had to start production. Considering how well everything has gone as I’m venting about this I feel pretty good of the job that I have done. I decided to take too much ownership; I have too much to do that is being counter- productive.

And right now since the demand has increased I have to work night shift to train operators

I also feel that I can’t communicate well with my boss on a regular basis.

Demotivated: yes. I feel like don’t get paid enough- I make 36000. I planned on using the “that a boy” on the cell design to talk about my raise and now it is dragging on and I’m getting frustrated.


I don’t exercise on a regular basis or have enough involvement in other activities (not that I don’t have the opportunity) just walking around the plant all day and driving makes me so tired. I absolutely have no energy for anything else. It has started to get better. Even the activity that I enjoy just feels like another thing to do.

 

[GregLocock]

I think you need to have a long chat with your boss NOW. You are (apparently) doing a great job and far too many hours. Make damn sure that you have a plan in place for what will happen in the future. Admittedly anything he agrees to is likely to be forgotten as soon as you walk out of the office, but at least you tried.

Cheers

Greg Locock

Please see FAQ731-376 for tips on how to make the best use of Eng-Tips.

 

[jmw]

This sounds like a plate juggling act and it sounds as if sooner or later something will slip and when one plate goes .... it'll be like a Greek Wedding party.

If you aren't getting the right response from the foreman there's probably a reason, the same as yours: not enough time and too much to do.
Chances are there are a lot more people under stress here.

Be positive.

Stop trying to hold everything together yourself.
Take just long enough to face your concerns: think about all the things that can go wrong and the consequences.

Number 1:
Your real problem is that this is not your problem.
It belongs to your boss.
Make him take it.

For example:

Number 2:
Make a list.
Prioritise it.
Start at the top, identify the problem.
Bullet point the consequences.
Decide what action needs to be taken to fix that one, make a brief comment.

Then repeat for the next four or five.
If you don't have an answer, a "?" will be a great attention grabber.
If he says "what do we do there?" tell him that's why you came to see him... (that'll get his attention)

Number 3:
Don't do any more than just put the other problems as bullet points and then forget them.
Their turn will come.
It might help for one or two of these to have a couple of options that you can sketch out in conversation.
Give him some choices. (It is a sales trick to offer the target a choice of options, not a choice that can be answered "yes" or "no", but one that drags the guy to the decision you want... salesmen ask "Which one do you want?"

Number 4:
The Money quote:
If you think they need to shut down for a period to iron out the bus, get training done etc. you are showing them a loss - you are going to shut off the money flow. State this in terms of days or half days.
You need a counterbalance with more money-fright in it.
Make the point that may need to be a succession of half day shutdowns, or they could lose the lot and for a lot longer.
Put a price on it.
Days lost is fine but if you know the production value, use it.
This emphasises the money aspect of a crash and the time aspect of planned shutdowns.
This is giving him a choice again: "Do you think we should have some managable planned shutdowns or wait for the big crash?" (but be subtle)

Don't use dramatic or emotional expressions, they just say to everyone you are flustered.
Use simple unemotional terms and be prepared and be cool. Plan what you want to say and how to say it. Anticipate the obvious questions. After all, it isn't your problem, its his; let him sweat it.

Number 5:
Print as memo.
Now take to your boss and explain your concerns.
Show him the suggestions you have for the top priorities.
Ask him what to do.
He will probably tell you to do what you've suggested but what you have given him is a route map. You have identified the problems, you have prioritised and you have shown the first steps. You have even made it pallatable by showing him some actions that can be taken.
He has to take over.
Get him talking. The more he talks, the more it is his problem.

(Avoid him having you work this up into some fancy presentation he can take to his boss... life just isn't worth it, just email him your bullet pointed list. If he can't whip up a powerpoint from that you didn't do it right.)

This is known as passing the buck... upwards.
He gets the bigger share of the bucks, it is his problem and you need to make sure he takes responsibility.

Otherwise, if you don't grasp the nettle and put this into your bosses ownership, if it all goes wrong he may well get a touch of self-preservation... not saying he will but he has a wife and family too and "how can he be expeced to keep on top if people don't tell him things?"
Document
Document
Document.. if you have a chat write a brief confirming memo to him... keep a copy.

Guess what, you just unloaded the problem, you helped the boss (he isn't to realise you just dumped on him) and when it is all sorted, ask for your raise. Don't be shy, ask for a big raise. Don't wait to long.

Now relax and start to enjoy yourself... you don't always get full blown crises and you ought to make up your mind to enjoy the experience and do some learning from it.

But do make sure you get some air and exercise... after all, it isn't your problem any more.

JMW

http://www.ViscoAnalyser.com

 

[kontiki99]

My job as an engineer is a huge part of who I am. I put my mind to work on any work problem technical, political or personnel relations any time, no qualms.

I do think about other things too. I take piano lessons, read anything technical, haven't owned a TV in 20 years, and love to dance.

I exercise daily. I believe it's a human factors requirement. If you are going to perform your best, you must exercise. Plus, being in a gym surrounded with great looking women in spandex, motivates me to no end.

I sit on the bank of the Missippi river and meditate over morning coffee almost every day, before going to the gym. I love life.

We are never 100% in control, but usually we are rarely helpless.

I put myself where I am for the most part. I left a dysfunctional home as a kid in high school, finished high school working nights and went into the Marine Corps. I put myself through engineering school for a second carrier.

Of course I see risks in everything important to me. I just manage risks and assets to get myself where I want to be.

I’ve lived through those times carrier wise where the absolutely worst possible that could happen did. I discovered that I can survive.

I’m a straight shooter, I invest heavily in my self, my skill sets, I manage my affairs so I am not a slave to incompetence.

I can walk away at any time.

I try to be appropriate, positive, honest and pull for the team and try to be loyal to those paying me. I will take appropriate action if I believe the management is corrupt, unfair or incompetent.

I know that no one in that office can hurt me in any way shape or form. Overcome the stress flight or flight reactions, it just works on your mind.

Exercise helps burn off the effects of stress induced adrenalin too.

 

[TurbulentFluid]

I think engineering is one of those careers / jobs where waking up and going to bed with work is inevietable. As kontiki99 said, it's a big part of who and what I am. I can't finish work and just "switch off" and then, when I get into the office again, "switch on". It's not the way it works. I'm sure even bank clerks have problems with this.

Though, when it comes to "winding down" I do the same thing kontiki99 does. Keeping one's body well maintained and satisfied is a must in order to keep one's mind in the same state. Working out in the gym is a great stress reducer, and I also leave all my aggression and negative energy there. Lifting heavy weights, counting sets and reps and ocassionally checking out a bodybuilder or two empties the mind in just the right way after work. Also I often go out running, so I can do "daily cleaning" in my head and think over all those things I have in the "for due consideration" folder.

And after that I often think of the problems at work again and the sollutions just seem to pop out of nowhere. A great feeling!

 

[kchayfie]

It is important to make time for yourself. Doing exercise brings other benefits as well but I can sympathise with the feeling that it is just another thing taking up time. Start by taking a small chunk of time and using it for something you actually want to do - if you promise yourself an uninterrupted hour in the evening watching your favourite TV show (and it should be uninterrupted - no doing the dishes or cleaning the house during the ad breaks either!) then you'll feel less stressed heading into work again for the night shift.

And take up smoking breaks at work. Don't bother with the cigarettes but get up, leave your desk and spend a full 5 minutes somewhere else doing something else totally unrelated to the tasks on your things to do list - walking a lap of the car park would calm your mind and get the exercise in at the same time. And while it seems like you can't afford the time at the moment, very soon you'll find that you can get more done in the remaining 55 minutes than you would if you remained at your post struggling for the full hour.

 

[Kinsrow]

Here's what you do...get your self RC gas plane...Finding a good hobby takes your mind off work...

Kinsrow.

 

[TurbulentFluid]

Hehe I think we all seem to agree, actually... For kontiki99 and myself the ideal hobby seems to be exercising, but different people need different things - to some it's watching TV, others like handiwork, etc etc... the point is to find something you'll want to do, yourself, for yourself beside work so you can unwind. It helps if it's very different from the actual work you do. For instance, I found reading scientiffic books while very rewarding also to be quite tiring.

 

[jmw]

I think you'll find Eng-Tips is pretty good recreation.


JMW

http://www.ViscoAnalyser.com

 

[IRstuff]

I think that it's all a matter of perspective.

I've always felt that engineering was my hobby, and during the day, someone would graciously pay me to pursue my hobby. Gotta love that! ;-)

TTFN

 

[Senselessticker]

I like IRstuff's perspective. That's a very positive approach... rather than thinking of engineering strickly as "work". I often tell new people that I meet (when asked what I *do*?), that I'm mostly a raft guide and ski bum, but that I am also a "closet" engineer. So "shhh" don't tell anyone!