This post brought to you by a mosquito...

[flexagon]

You know, the one that ensured I'd be awake long before I planned to be up, the one that droned about in the dark like a manic little bean of audible destruction until in annoyance I finally leaped out of bed? That mosquito. And suddenly I have time to post.

About what to post, I don't know. I've been something of a manic little bean myself, despite trying to stop. I thought I was so good for being all work-focused at work, until I realized I was being all work-focused at home too... still failing at compartmentalization. Anyone have any good mental tricks for completely switching gears? A change of clothes seems to help, and reading on the bus seems to help, but I'm still not really getting there. (Doesn't help that two people got fired for performance reasons last week, and I may lose a teammate in a couple of weeks... grrr.)

There's more I could say, but it's time to leave for the company picnic... yay for the picnic. Today, at least, shouldn't be stressful.

Comments

[miyyu.livejournal.com]

I know what you mean. I *have* to do that with my job, or I will go insane. I'm not really sure how I consciously do it. One of the things I am most proud of this year was how well I was able to compartmentalize but still stay focused at work. The processes of decompressing for me goes like this:
- leave on time at all costs, barring something exceptional (I go in early so I feel that I have put in my time and no guilt when walking out the door)
- listen to something fun in the car on the way home
- DO NOT let work in the door, physically; I will get up extra early to deal with student work but it will not enter my house (barring, of course, something exceptional) -- I do let myself hunt around for fun books to read with my kids but that is fun so it doesn't count
-- change as soon as I get home into comfy pajamas
-- decide that the rest of the night is mine, guilt-free
-- if I need to rant, ok, rant to Martin, he's always there to listen, or maybe to my mom, but after the rant that's it, I am done, it will not follow me around

That was kinda neat to think about... I hope it helps you in some way. For what it's worth, your new job sounds like a smart and impressive move on your part, and I think once you get past the initial "eep new job!" feeling, you will do very well.

[flexagon]

Ah, once I get past the initial "eep new job!" feeling. Yes. And how I look forward to that day! :) I do still love my new company... I just have to keep with this learning curve of how to deal with it.

Thanks very much for the thoughtful response. I have never been able to compartmentalize, and even used to think I shouldn't compartmentalize (the reasoning being some blather about being one person, and authentically myself wherever I went--dunno, it all seems rather sophomoric now). So this is something I have to figure out consciously.

The change of clothes seems to be important. And I also love your idea of leaving on time (it sounds so simple, but I bet it takes serious commitment). I forgot to mention one other useful thing I have figured out: if in the middle of something when I have to leave, I write myself a little note that I will see first thing in the morning. The note says "you're in the middle of X" or else "do Y and Z first." That way I know I won't forget, and I can let it go overnight.

[miyyu.livejournal.com]

Leaving on time was hard because so many teachers stay late -- and the ones who leave early have young children so they have a "valid excuse" in the eyes of my (unpleasant) co-workers. I just had to decide that first of all, I was in the building long before any of them, I more than put in my time, and second of all, I know how much I accomplished and how hard I worked that day and so screw their miserable selves!

And the change of clothes thing is very symbolic but it matters a lot. I am very tactile when it comes to clothes (comes with my allergies, I think) so taking off slightly cumbersome, scratchy work clothes and putting on fleece pajamas makes me feel so different that I can start to relax. I highly recommend getting a pair of fleece pajamas. Mmmmm...

reverse-compartmentalization?

[hiddenbear.livejournal.com]

You could try some reverse-compartmentalization ... thinking about non-work stuff Friday lunchtime? (or even ranting over lunch if that is what you want to do...)

Re: reverse-compartmentalization?

[flexagon]

Yeah, that could be very good practice in not thinking about work! However, we'll have to wait and see if I blow off the vacation day I have scheduled for Friday. I'm supposed to go to DSB's picnic... but a) I kinda don't want to and b) there may be work-pressure reasons not to go anyway.

So I give it a 50/50 chance. If I'm working on Friday, then probably lunch would work nicely. :)

Btw, I don't need to vent. Still lovin' it. Just, I have to learn to express it properly instead of a 24/7 love-fest. A girl gets sore after a while, you know? :b

Re: reverse-compartmentalization?

[hiddenbear.livejournal.com]

50/50 ... I can deal with that! Maybe see you soon. :-)

A girl gets sore after a while
I've heard of these mythical guys with stamina capable of making a girl sore. ;-)

Note to self

[bluechromis.livejournal.com]

Learn from flexy! Nice of you to forge the new job path directly ahead of me. :)

So does that teammate leaving mean there's a new spot opening? And people were fired for performance reasons?!

Re: Note to self

[flexagon]

Sure, learn from me... seems like most of the good stuff I'm getting from miyyu, but hey, I'll be happy to pass that along. ;)

I don't know for sure about the teammate leaving. If so, it'll be another 'poor performance' firing at his 3-month review. He himself is giving it 50/50 odds, and he is such a weak link, it's pretty painful to watch. Really I think it'd be best for all involved if he did, for whatever reason, leave.

And yes, two people got fired for poor performance last week in the QA department. One had been there for at least 2 years, too. :o Hellooooooo pressure cooker.

Re: Note to self

[bluechromis.livejournal.com]

Wow...that's crazy! I support weeding the herd in theory, but in
practice it can be hard on morale.

And yes, thanks miyyu! The balance/compartmentalization thing has
always been a weak point for me, and failure to achieve it inevitably
leads to burnout. Perhaps we should start a seminar company after we
figure it out, to share Miyyu's wisdom. She'll get royalties, of
course.

Re: Note to self

[miyyu.livejournal.com]

*blushes*

Yay royalties!