When it comes to work there is only so much you can stretch yourself. Only so long your motivation can remain high. When your own choices and priorities take a hit as a result, that motivation needs to work even harder and sometimes it will run out. All together.
The other day someone told me that they believe that you can only get something good out of someone for 9 hours a day. Short and occasional spurts with long days are fine, but not when incurred over a prolonged period of time.
A couple of days ago I reached a point where I’ve literally had enough. After 3 months of very intense work at the day job and hardly any life outside of work I was ready to walk. I would never actually walk but continue to go the extra mile. I don’t think so. Not as much as I have done.
I’m knackered, my mood is taking a serious hit. My sleep and my memory are doing the same. I’m tired and I’m tired of feeling tired. I’m tired of talking about work. I’m tired of people asking if I still work as much. I’m tired of the understanding comments. Of having to put on a smile on my face and keep on going. I want my life back and I need my life back. I’ve had enough.
When that feeling of having had enough rises in you, for what ever the reason, often the best thing you can do for you and the team is to remove yourself. You don’t exactly ooze positivity at those times and unless you’re careful it’s easy to influence the mood of the rest of the team. So instead take 5, work from home for a day, take a day off if possible, go for a run or what ever it may be that gives you a bit of breathing space and re-charge the batteries at least a little bit. For me I’ve started to come in at silly o’clock in the morning to get some peace and quite before the day begins and to make sure that I can stop working at a somewhat decent time and at least have an hour at night to sit down and not do or think about work. And I’ve set myself a limit and a promise. A promise to never work this hard again unless it’s working on my own startup. After all, that is what I’ve committed to.
Tomorrow – Day 209 | London 2012 begins
Image source: www.flickr.com/photos/biggolf/2192225356
