The journey from there to here
Published on October 9, 2007 By Gideon MacLeish In Current Events

For the first time in many, many years, I gave serious consideration today to calling in to everywhere I was supposed to be and just not being there. Instead, I contented myself with grabbing a couple of extra z's, after which I was much more inclined to greet the world. This is my "on call" week, so, while I had allocated a whole 12 hours last night to rest (combined sleep, reading and overall immobility), the best laid plans came crashing down, with two calls perfectly spaced to ensure that I was never able to fully get into the groove of resting. One of them from one of our more difficult customers. And this on the heel of the night before, when I had three calls similarly spaced and wound up with a grand total of two hours' sleep (I had had a nap before and the plan was to get five hours before last night's sleepfest).

Tonight I may be able to put in a good night's sleep, and I'm hoping the 3 am calls don't continue. I like the extra money for the on calls, but after a certain point, what I'm actually benefitting from them drops dramatically.

The biggest problem I have is in combatting stress. I have a full calendar, and have found that it gets worse when people increase their demands on me as they so often do. Basically I work one full time job and one part time job (work study for the college) as well as covering a full load of courses for college. When you pile on things like the recently finished Guthrie tribute, it leaves me with very little free time. And because I live 15 miles outside of town, running back and forth to the house isn't an option, at least not a viable one.

Because of the insane change of schedules brought about for this fall semester, I have to have night classes. Because most (3 of 5) of my work shifts are evening shifts, this means that there's not a single day that I don't have either work or school to go to. I've helped the balance a little by adjusting my starting time for work study from 8 am to 9 am (our new dean is much better about getting things set up and not depending on having a techie there to do it), but still that means a 7am wakeup. There's not a day that I am up later than 9am, and there are only two days where I'm home before 10pm.

Stress is something I need to pay attention to. It was the key factor in my leaving one of the better jobs I ever had, that of managing group homes for the developmentally disabled. I was working too many hours, for too long a time and eventually grew to resent the job, which made me less of a capable caregiver. I left probably 6 months to a year after I should have, as we're often the last to see the effects of stress in our lives.

Over the last several months, I've noticed myself suffering from increased physical symptoms when I am highly stressed or exhausted, which has provided incentive for me to slow down. I have learned that the more stressed you are, the less efficient of a worker you are, so there's incentive in that as well.

I've passed the year mark at this job, so I should have some vacation hours on the shelf. I plan to burn a couple days once spring enrollment begins at the university where I will complete my bachelor's. I need them.


Comments
on Oct 09, 2007
So that's what's been going on. If you're running yourself ragged you are going to die before you get the bachelors. Good luck managing the stress. I know I don't have a good way to do it.
on Oct 09, 2007

If you're running yourself ragged you are going to die before you get the bachelors. Good luck managing the stress.

It is a game of chicken.  I did it when i got my degree as well (working FT and going to school FT). You see the holy grail and concentrate on it, and hope to make it to the finish line.

However, I will add I was not a father at that time, so heed jythier's advice.  You are no good to anyone if you kill yourself getting to the goal.

on Oct 09, 2007
When heeding my advice, please remember that I am younger and perhaps less wise than you. However, that doesn't make the advice itself any better or worse - but the salt-grainage should go up.

That's right, grainage.

And, while you might kill yourself getting to the goal, you might have so many productive years afterwards that it was worth it. Maybe you'll get the holy grail (grailage) of jobs and make lots of money with plenty of time for your kids, too.

Think of the children, Gid! The CHILDREN! (How could you avoid thinking of the children, though, as much as you might want to! ) And think less of Woody Guthrie. He'll still be dead when you graduate.
on Oct 09, 2007
And think less of Woody Guthrie. He'll still be dead when you graduate.


Couldn't do much without the music, jythier. Music, majestic views, travel, and people are the only rewards work offers that I consider worth it. Plus, music is my main relaxation.

I've always been busy. Always. I don't know any other way.

It's not the extracurriculars like the Guthrie Center thaat get me. it's the job and school that don't understand you have a life outside. Guthrie I can enjoy with my kids. School I cannot.
on Oct 09, 2007
"It's not the extracurriculars like the Guthrie Center thaat get me. it's the job and school that don't understand you have a life outside."

Yeah, Gid, I know what it is.

At least you have Woody to pull you through, and at least you can enjoy him with the kids.

on Oct 09, 2007
Hope you get a chance to take it easy Gid.
on Oct 09, 2007
Stress is a killer my friend. It's the primary reason I left my old career and started driving trucks around the country and became a professional tourist.

Find some way to de-stress. A hobby, some "me" time, something. At least take a little time to just smell the roses now and then.