Feeling Overburdened Again
I shall try to be as error-free as I can. Stuck with my mobile because my computer died for no real reason. Have a new one on order. Didn't feel it was worth fixing the current one because it was repaired only three months ago and it developed the exact same problem. But that's another topic.
So we had a meeting today and we got lectured about treating the leads' word as gospel and not blow off their suggestions. It was ambiguous but it may have been directed at me. I read what they say and I take note. I make changes that I remember but I deal with so much data on a daily basis that I can't remember everything.
In fact, I'm getting close to the deadline for a few reports and I haven't even started a rather large one yet. It's taken me three days to compile fifteen customer's information due to the new process they want us to do and the fact that we no longer have access to the snipping tool because it was blocked when the company changed server domains. So now I have to "print screen", paste it into Word, crop the excess, copy and paste it into Excel. This adds time to everything. I still have ten names left on the current state I'm working on and I still have four states to do plus the big report which will have over three hundred names on it.
And, in the meeting, management hinted that we'll be getting more states. They also did the traditional "if you have any concerns, the door is always open." I don't have the time to have any concerns and if I did, they wouldn't listen. It's looking like I'll have to either skip lunches for the next week in an attempt to get caught up or go in on a Saturday and work over ten hours for free (which is what I did last quarter).
And no, I can't talk to anyone about the workload because the corporate office has already said that our department has plenty of people as is. I'd get up earlier and get to the office earlier so I could work on my off time but I already have trouble sleeping at night so four is the earliest I can manage to get up.
@Enthenia
You should not be working for free not sure where your are but this can be illegal and company if unaware can fire you for working off the clock...... you need to speak up. If big things fall through the cracks the idea you thought you could fix by coming in early or working on off time will come to light.
if others are dealing with the lack of the snip tool perhaps check and see if they have a different or easier method. if this has impeded everyone maybe they have another tool similar to snip or it can be added back in. This is not all on you and when trying to hide you are overwhelmed things will only get worse or take its toll on you mental health wise.
@toughTiger6481 well I can't do weekends now anyway because my brother dropped off a late birthday present two days ago. She's a seven month old puppy that needs looking after and the weekend is the only time when I can spend 48 hours (minus the time spent doing laundry and getting groceries) uninterrupted with her and the cat who is having trouble adjusting.
I still have four states left to do and at least three hundred to start on the quarterly report. Last quarter, I technically didn't get it done on time. The leads wanted it by the 26th I think and I got it done on the 29th. That was with going in that one Saturday and working through lunch a few days out of the week.
I knew it was against policy but until I finish the online degree I'm working on, I can't afford to lose this job. I have to do all that I can to meet the deadlines, agree and replicate everything the leads say because their word is law and I have no place to question the law. That isn't how it was phrased in the meeting but that was the intent I got. So if that means missing meals then that's what I have to do.
I don't know what it is with companies where I'm from but it seems like many I've worked for have been similar. However, this current one is the worst by far.
@Enthenia
I have worked for a few bad companies in my time as well and understand the stress ....
You mention your computer was broken. Can you expand on that if you don't mind? Because you said it happened before
@oliveFarm5242 It was a system disk error on the boot screen. Couldn't get past it. Not sure what happened the first time but last week I tried to skip a track in Windows Media Player which was taling forever so I went to Task Manager to end it. Brought it back up and none of my music files were showing. Showed on the C drive. Tried to remove the setting in Organize files and put it back but they still wouldn't show.
Then I was going to do a search on downloading the player again because Windows Update said everything was up to date but the browsers wouldn't load. Was connected to the Internet. Then I found out that the Start menu wasn't loading or Settings. Tried to do chkdsk through command prompt but it said I didn't have access. Checked my settings and it had me listed as an administrator. Tried chkdsk again but still wouldn't work. Couldn't select "run as administrator" because nothing would load.
Did a system restore from the point where I doenloaded the software I needed for the class. Didn't help. Browsers still wouldn't load (tried refreshing them too) and Windows Media still wouldn't recognize the files. Also my document editor kept trying to open files it thought had crashed although I had saved them beforehand.
Had to hold the power button until it shut down since I couldn't get to the option where I could select Safe Mode and it restarted to the black screen where it said "Non-system disk error press any key to continue."
Oh, before that all happened, I managed to look at the Event Viewer but there were no entries.
@Enthenia
It sounds like a really tough situation you are in, and that can definitely be overwhelming. I know a puppy is a lot of work, but how rewarding to have a pet who loves you and can provide comfort and play time.
As you shared that a job change isn't possible right now while you are working on your degree, and you can't talk to anyone, what do you think about changes you can make with you? What I mean by that, are things that might help you to feel less overwhelmed, even though they don't change your workload or situation.
For example, I had a professor in college tell me that the brain can only absorb so much information at one time, and it was important to get up for a few minutes to get a drink or snack and then go back to working. This gives the mind a break for a moment, then allows it to refocus.
Another thought is related to the thoughts that create relaxing or overwhelming feelings. Definitely I'm more overwhelming when I think about everything I have to get done within a certain deadline, but if I focus on what I can accomplish today with the time I have available, I actually feel more motivated and it's easier for some reason and I feel less overwhelmed.
Something else to think about is comfort. If I find a comfortable position when working that can be helpful. Or having a comfortable space. For me, that means I need certain things to be near me. My favorite ink pen, my planner that I mark my appointments in, and my notebook that I can jot down my ideas in because sometimes my brain gets creative and I don't have time for distraction at that moment. Some companies are great about allowing the ability to get a chair that fits your body well, while others aren't, so I don't know if that is possible. Temperature can be important. One place I worked was freezing, so I always took a sweater so I could put it on and off.
The last think I think about, is how much my body needs nutrition during the day to do it's best work. You mentioned skipping lunch to work because of how much you have to do on your project due to changes with stuff, like your snipping tool. On those days, what might you take for lunch that would allow you to get the nutrients needed that you could get in a quick type of meal or drink without skipping the nourishment, but giving you the time you need. For example, I struggle to get protein in, so a protein shake I can keep in the refrigerator that I could actually take 5 or 10 minutes, step outside in the fresh air and have my "lunch" and then go back to my project.
I know these thoughts don't change any of the workload, but these are some ideas that have helped me in certain situations where I've felt overwhelmed with the tasks of my job. Is there anything that you can think of that helps you relax, or focus better, that would allow you to feel less overwhelmed and more in control of your situation even when the situation itself isn't changeable at this time.
I wish you the best, and I believe in the capability that you have to do this, because you have been doing it. I hope you will find what works for you to have a little more peace and that you will find the ways that work for you.
@KristenHR Well if I didn't have my music, I wouldn't be able to handle it. I put my headphones in and block everything else out. I have to adopt a sort of mechanicsl mindset I suppose. Much of what I do is mechanical. It's just time consuming. I was able to locate the alternative snipping tool and I got the calculator back so that helps.
But when you have to spend a few seconds here and there cutting and pasting information...it adds up. Then there's customers who can easily do twenty thousand transactions in a month and the website times out so I have to narrow the time frame to a week at a time. Then copy the information and paste to Excel, remove empty columns and then go into Developer view to get rid of yhe buttons that carried over...well I can spend close to an hour on those people.
I try to go outside for about fifteen minutes when I take my lunch just to get away from everything then I spend the rest of my time doing the mini-game on my lamguage app. I generally tend to bring my lunch. Some people see it as snacks but I have to be careful what I eat. I do try to be healthy but esting too much can make me fall asleep at my computer an hour or so after lunch or give me indigestion if I eat the wrong things (which can be just as bad as falling asleep). I don't know if the work environment contributes to the discomfort but I tend not to have problems at home although I do fall asleep if I eat too much of something.
The structure at work is actually the reason why I enrolled in the online degree program. After I got in trouble last year for something that wasn't entirely my fault, I realized this could not be a long-term position. I was glad at first for getting it since I was sort of displaced because of Covid but now I don't want to stay any longer than I have ti.
Got the computer today and got what I needed downloaded for the assignment. Will work on it after I try to put a few things on from my flash drives. Glad I had the foresight to have some of my music files saved in numerous places. Still need to restart the system to see if I can pull data from the hard drive that failed. Have the puppy sleeping close to me. She stayed nearby pretty much all night and the cat is starting to tolerate her so I guess that's going well.
Not looking forward to going back to work though because I still have a lot to complete in about four days...
@Enthenia
It sounds like you are doing some really good things for you to take care of you at work from your last post. Continuing your education to help you move on to a healthier position and new position is a great step. Way to go on that option and knowing hope is in the future for the change.
I love pets, and as you describe your pets getting use to each other, it made me smile. I hope you are enjoying them and they bring you much joy in the midst of a difficult position.
@KristenHR Well I'm trying. I spent three hours trying to complete my second assignment and still haven't gotten it figured out. I had the same problem when I took my database class. But when I got the software figured out, it resembled the Command Prompt which I've had experience with. I also understood Linux. Now, I'm doing Java and I have to use a specific software. I've looked at four or five different examples and tried to replicate it but when I do, I get errors. The software doesn't explain anything and this is supposed to be an introduction class.
As for the pets, the dog made two friends today. One was the friend of my old pup and the second was a new friend. I'm having a hard time getting her to leave trash alone and she doesn't let me know when she needs to go out. She's done her business a few times outside but she still has accidents inside.
I'd add more to this but I really need to figure out how to do this next assignment. If I can't get this one, I won't be able to get any of them.