[brains] energy levels

[wispfox]

I am _so_ bad at remembering that there are generally multiple reasons behind me being low energy, when I'm low energy. (Then again, when I'm low energy, I'm bad about everything - taking care of myself, being sufficiently self and other aware, etc)

Work is... stressful, to the point of me wondering if I'm courting burn-out. No _wonder_ I have no energy! Sheesh. It's not just about emotional pain (which really doesn't seem to be a huge part of things at this point), nor about fall coming.

*shakes head*

Tired.

Comments

[ladytabitha.livejournal.com]

Map "low energy" to "headache"?

[wispfox.livejournal.com]

*wry smile* Oh, I'm worse when low energy _and_ headache, because headaches drain me.

Or were you saying for you?

[ladytabitha.livejournal.com]

No, I mean, you'd mentioned having multiple low reasons for headaches; perhaps you can also think of low energy as having multiple sources.

[wispfox.livejournal.com]

Aaah...

Perhaps. But the problem is that I have a much more difficult time getting to a point where it occurs to me to investigate the 'why' when I'm drained. I just want to sleep and to hide.

But I shall attempt to map that as I've mapped headaches. But the thing with headaches is that I often can't tell why; with low energy, I can.

Hey - you want to go to Psinging tomorrow night? I shall be leaving a bit early for a phone call, but...

[australian-joe.livejournal.com]

Wah.

And hey, this is something you should really be talking about with your management. They don't want you burned out either.

[wispfox.livejournal.com]

I know. I did. He's working on it, but the problem in question is not one he's been able to get upper management to understand. (it's affecting his entire team, not just me)

[australian-joe.livejournal.com]

Ahh.

A coordinated sick day of everyone on the team? 8->

[wispfox.livejournal.com]

Heh! If he included not just the QA team, but his entire team, that would be all of release engineering, too.

Fun thought, but not likely. :)

Things should calm down, at least temporarily, before September. I just hope he/we can figure out how to get project management to understand the issue before it comes up again...

[australian-joe.livejournal.com]

I'm quite serious, actually. If everyone's at the same risk of burnout as you seem to be, this is a project crisis. And many managers don't think something's important unless it's also urgent.

Another trick I used once when I was in similar circumstances: I went to my manager with a big pile of papers.

"What's that?"

"These are leave forms. You're signing them now before I leave this office."

"Leave? For when? How much?"

"I want two days off per week for the next 8 weeks."

"!!!!!!"

"... Saturday and Sunday."

And yep, I had leave forms with the appropriate dates on them.

It did make a point.

[wispfox.livejournal.com]

I'm quite serious, actually.

I figured you were.

a) I'm probably slightly higher burnout because I'm the one trying to babysit the update that's causing the stress.

b) this is a company of people all insanely driven to get things done, even if it's not actually possible by time. And the main problem is redundancy of tasks, combined with not enough people even if the tasks were _not_ redundant.

c) but, I suppose it couldn't hurt to mention the idea. If nothing else, it might amuse him (and I guess there's at least a vague possibility of him actually doing it).

On the plus side, I've _not_ had to come into the office on weekends more than once so far. But then, I can _handle_ that. I just can't handle long-term stress like this has been. (and, of course, it's entirely possible I'll need to be in the office next weekend, depending on how things work out)