How do you get through your work day?

[Jokerdan]

I know it's easier said than done, but find a job you like but more importantly find a workplace that is enjoyable.

I have had good jobs in an awful environment and rubbish jobs in a great environment - I'd take the later every time.

Also, I work at a desk all day and 50/50 between office and home.

Chatting with colleagues and building relationships is really important as the job becomes less about "function" and more about interaction. However, I find I get much more actual work done at home as I'm just sat on my own.

This is all very true and even though I'm now retired I longed for the days before 'woke' raised its head and people could banter without fear of offending someone. Bullying was a definite no-no and would be cut off at the knees but as long as red lines weren't crossed you could laugh your way through the day. It's now come to the stage where it's nigh impossible to have a grown up conversation or adult laugh within the workplace because employers frown upon such things and you're there simply to stick your head down and get on with it. No wonder people become disillusioned and productivity is affected or attritional sick rates rise. As humans we are not designed to be clones, but individuals with our own thoughts. Orwell saw it coming when he wrote '1984'

 

[RufusCat]

I'm a City of London lawyer. I get through the morning by drinking a lot of tea and then disappearing into a mental pit of stress, pressure and depression, before rising phoenix-like sometime between 1 and 4pm, to get a chicken salad sandwich and a bag of crisps from Marks & Sparks (as it's the place closest to my office and it's quicker if I have the same thing every day), eat that while working, then disappear into a mental pit of stress, pressure and depression for several more hours. If I'm lucky I'll be out by 7pm but more usually between 8 and 9 to round off a 12 hour day + commute.

I used to drink heavily after work to get over the stress, but that wasn't sustainable long term as the spectre of alcoholism was looming large.

Hate my job. Have done for 20 years now. Gah. Keep putting one foot in front of the other, blues. At least there's GOT.

Somewhere along the way, for your own sanity and well-being, you are going to have to make a decision whether to continue this way (spiralling downwards) or decide to improve your life and make changes - it may cost you financially but some things are more important as long as you have sufficient income to live the life you want, for yourself. Oh, and stick with GOT!

 

[msb]

Oh it’s easy…

Got up and walked the dog I never wanted. Read a bit on the internet, mow the garden, dead head a few flowers, put the Tesco delivery away, lunch, a bit of a snooze or read a book, walk the dog again, eat dinner, go the pub, go to bed ….

A ridiculously busy day.

 

[JimmyJeffers]

This is all very true and even though I'm now retired I longed for the days before 'woke' raised its head and people could banter without fear of offending someone. Bullying was a definite no-no and would be cut off at the knees but as long as red lines weren't crossed you could laugh your way through the day. It's now come to the stage where it's nigh impossible to have a grown up conversation or adult laugh within the workplace because employers frown upon such things and you're there simply to stick your head down and get on with it. No wonder people become disillusioned and productivity is affected or attritional sick rates rise. As humans we are not designed to be clones, but individuals with our own thoughts. Orwell saw it coming when he wrote '1984'

Not found this in my experience tbh. Work with lots of different nationalities and we have plenty to chat about and take the piss. Never felt that I have to particularly watch my chat.

People that go on sick due to work related stress are often overworked and under supported from higher management and HR in my experience.

 

[Prevenger17]

Start my day by turning on my computer and saying hello in the group teams chat. Usually make a little quip and get some laughing reactions.
Then I check in on GOT and try to make some funny posts in order to boost my reaction score, usually followed by reporting several of Zats posts.
Check the news quickly to make sure nuclear Armageddon hasn’t started yet.
Report @Zatara for being a goblin.
Look in the ale house to check if anyone has made a thread on Jordan Peterson. Silently sigh.
Lunch.
Wiggle mouse and smirk at emails marked *urgent*
Report Zat.
Look at transfer thread to remind myself I am better than everyone.
Report @Prevenger17 for no reason in particular.
Look in Film and TV series threads and chuckle at all the wannabe Barry Normans and Jason Statham heathens.
Have call with boss saying I’m stressed due to workload.
Say goodbye on Teams with a wavy emoji and a heart.

About 70% of this post has hit far too close to home

 

[Prevenger17]

I spend a lot of time on the internet during work hours, mostly having to deal with the mods over the mountain of anonymous daily reports made about me

 

[Cameron Manning]

I often work with my best friend (since we were little at school), we often don't have much to do so we're always laughing! Its fab.

Youse must be cabinet Ministers from the last Tory government.

 

[COYBL25]

Start my day by turning on my computer and saying hello in the group teams chat. Usually make a little quip and get some laughing reactions.
Then I check in on GOT and try to make some funny posts in order to boost my reaction score, usually followed by reporting several of Zats posts.
Check the news quickly to make sure nuclear Armageddon hasn’t started yet.
Report @Zatara for being a goblin.
Look in the ale house to check if anyone has made a thread on Jordan Peterson. Silently sigh.
Lunch.
Wiggle mouse and smirk at emails marked *urgent*
Report Zat.
Look at transfer thread to remind myself I am better than everyone.
Report @Prevenger17 for no reason in particular.
Look in Film and TV series threads and chuckle at all the wannabe Barry Normans and Jason Statham heathens.
Have call with boss saying I’m stressed due to workload.
Say goodbye on Teams with a wavy emoji and a heart.

I have to admit, that when the Mersey messiah @ForeverBlue92 was still walking amongst us, I’d log on, check what nonsense he’d posted and then report virtually everyone his posts.

It almost became a civic duty.

 

[Jokerdan]

Not found this in my experience tbh. Work with lots of different nationalities and we have plenty to chat about and take the piss. Never felt that I have to particularly watch my chat.

People that go on sick due to work related stress are often overworked and under supported from higher management and HR in my experience.

It probably does come down to the individual workplace but I also think it's the micro management that seems to pervade many employment establishments nowadays. Ended up before I retired being taken under the wing of a multi-national company and found that our middle tier managers were suddenly becoming more super efficient by enforcing this 'woke' regimen presumably to make themselves look better in the eyes of their new employers - don't underestimate the fear that large multi-national organisations have re. bad publicity and of failing compliance regulations, even those most miniscule in nature. Quite frankly, many of us 'originals' are/were within 5-10 years of retirement and couldn't give a cuss but, still, as professionals you go along with it because you don't want to prejudice your employment at such a late stage in working life and we still had pride in ourselves and our work not that that was ever in doubt. It's simply the reversion to school type that grinds people down.

 

[Jokerdan]

I'm a City of London lawyer. I get through the morning by drinking a lot of tea and then disappearing into a mental pit of stress, pressure and depression, before rising phoenix-like sometime between 1 and 4pm, to get a chicken salad sandwich and a bag of crisps from Marks & Sparks (as it's the place closest to my office and it's quicker if I have the same thing every day), eat that while working, then disappear into a mental pit of stress, pressure and depression for several more hours. If I'm lucky I'll be out by 7pm but more usually between 8 and 9 to round off a 12 hour day + commute.

I used to drink heavily after work to get over the stress, but that wasn't sustainable long term as the spectre of alcoholism was looming large.

Hate my job. Have done for 20 years now. Gah. Keep putting one foot in front of the other, blues. At least there's GOT.

WORK TO LIVE NOT LIVE TO WORK

Surely with your qualifications, work credentials and experience it should be possible to downsize your job and still receive a worthwhile remuneration package but for much less stress than that which you are currently working under? If money is your overriding reason to continue doing what you are - and, obviously, we don't know your financial commitments - then it's Catch 22. If you're an Equity Partner in your firm then I can see the benefits but if you are able to absorb a reduction in salary would it not be better to find something similar to what you're doing but in a more provincial role rather than commuting into London each day. Somewhere that gives you a sense of greater fulfilment and achievement, that makes you feel like you are contributing to your employers success rather than just being another highly paid City lawyer surrounded by similarly stressed and unhappy people.

We only come this way the once so why overload yourself with so much baggage when it's within you to lighten the load and still be able to enjoy a comfortable life.

 

[Kurt.]

I didn’t start work until 11.00am today. On the way in I bought myself a breakfast bap from a local burger van. When I got to work one of my team made me a coffee. I took the coffee and my snack to my office and shut the door. I ate my snack, drank my coffee and then went for a dump. After that I took a walk to Asda to get some fresh milk and then when I got back I browsed GOT for a while.

 

[kev]

I didn’t start work until 11.00am today. On the way in I bought myself a breakfast bap from a local burger van. When I got to work one of my team made me a coffee. I took the coffee and my snack to my office and shut the door. I ate my snack, drank my coffee and then went for a dump. After that I took a walk to Asda to get some fresh milk and then when I got back I browsed GOT for a while.

Slow down mate. Take some time for yourself. You are going to be knackered.

 

[Pittsburgh Footy]

WORK TO LIVE NOT LIVE TO WORK

Surely with your qualifications, work credentials and experience it should be possible to downsize your job and still receive a worthwhile remuneration package but for much less stress than that which you are currently working under? If money is your overriding reason to continue doing what you are - and, obviously, we don't know your financial commitments - then it's Catch 22. If you're an Equity Partner in your firm then I can see the benefits but if you are able to absorb a reduction in salary would it not be better to find something similar to what you're doing but in a more provincial role rather than commuting into London each day. Somewhere that gives you a sense of greater fulfilment and achievement, that makes you feel like you are contributing to your employers success rather than just being another highly paid City lawyer surrounded by similarly stressed and unhappy people.

We only come this way the once so why overload yourself with so much baggage when it's within you to lighten the load and still be able to enjoy a comfortable life.

While parts of this is true, it's easier said than done to jump off the train depending on everyone's personal situation.

As well as the "benefits" you do get from being in the mix and dialed in all the time. It's a tough one. As an accountant, I've run the gamut of that professional life, trying to find that right balance of the right kind of work stress vs financial benefits vs ability to live my life outside of work. It's always an ongoing challenge. Finding the right company to work for, with the right people, certainly helps find this balance.
.
I do sympathize with the original poster in this regard.

 

[Jebus_lives]

This is all very true and even though I'm now retired I longed for the days before 'woke' raised its head and people could banter without fear of offending someone. Bullying was a definite no-no and would be cut off at the knees but as long as red lines weren't crossed you could laugh your way through the day. It's now come to the stage where it's nigh impossible to have a grown up conversation or adult laugh within the workplace because employers frown upon such things and you're there simply to stick your head down and get on with it. No wonder people become disillusioned and productivity is affected or attritional sick rates rise. As humans we are not designed to be clones, but individuals with our own thoughts. Orwell saw it coming when he wrote '1984'

In my experience, this isn't symptomatic of 'wokeness' it's a symptom of more cautionary workplace HR resulting from increased employee rights.

Yes, there's a balance to be had between fun and professionalism, but I suspect a lot of what you perhaps thought of as 'banter' did actually offend others and the power dynamic shifted towards favouring the offended.

 

[Cake]

Once Universal Basic Income has been introduced those in what are considered to be disposal, meaningless, pointless and 'made up' jobs (so maybe 95% of the working population?) or where there are simply too many swinging the same lead and re-inventing the wheel to be considered anything like useful won't have anything to worry or stress about as you/we will be able to sit at home and find peace and personal satisfaction in that sense of community, which we've been searching for while working for 'the man' all these years.

It will be great, not having a choice