My boss is working me to death. I’ve been going strong since this morning and have only had a few short breaks. And I’m fading fast.
Now, the truth is I’m working for myself, so I only have me to blame. 
But it made me think about all of you and how many of you don’t have much of a choice when your boss declares full speed ahead. I’ve worked in places where there’s one tight deadline after another until eventually you just don’t have it any more. But your boss - and your boss’s boss - have gotten used to this new level of productivity and it’s now the new norm. So basically your screwed. And your health and happiness pay the price.
I’ve been working at full tilt boogie for the last few weeks on this new home for my blog and haven’t been taking the breaks I should. And it shows. Not only am I exhausted, but I’ve made quite a few mistakes on the links. And I yelled at my cat once, even though she was just telling me she missed me. Not a tragedy of course…but with more rest, my work quality will soar. And my cat will be happier. (I think you can generalize this to your family.)
And so, as the boss, I’m telling myself to cool it for the rest of the night. My pal Liz at A Rendezvous of Musings would call it LOLLING. I just love that word.
And because I’m not in this alone, I just want to remind you that you also need breaks and time to just loll - even if you’re the one pushing yourself the hardest! And if your boss forgets, maybe you can remind him or her. A smart boss (don’t you wish they all were) understands you deserve a break now and then. But sometimes, in case they forget, we can help them remember. And we need to remember too. 
Speaking of breaks, here are a few related articles I found that help offer other perspective. The last linked article may not reflect MY perspective in its intensity and “Iron Man” approach (Iron Man is a new film by the way), but I’m including it because I welcome many perspectives here and it espouses standing up for oneself - something I fully support!
Napping for Workplace Productivity
Workplace Stress Affecting the Sleep of US Adults
Workplace Stress Management: Speak Up to Change the Little Things
2 responses so far ↓
1 L Bosco // May 8, 2008 at 12:28 pm
Some bosses don’t care! I concede, it may not be the one who tells you “so what” for they have bosses too. But somewhere up the ladder, at the level where no work is done, but only decided upon, some don’t care. You would think foolishly, but that doesn’t change conditions. It does change performance, it does change quality, it does explain why we continue to fall behind competitors around the world, but, it also doesn’t change the fact they don’t care.
All of these consequences are blamed on the “poor performers” and staff turnover increases [between those who bail, those who die trying, and those let go] which just contributes to the performance decline. And the cycle continues. Performance is down, demands and overtime increases. Weary warriors performance declines, demands and overtime to compensate increase. Weary warriors performance declines, demands …………
2 Ronnie Ann // May 8, 2008 at 1:07 pm
Great comment L Bosco. Thank you.
As a battle weary warrior of the world of work, your views are much appreciated.
(L Bosco helped write one of my most popular posts called Job Interviews: Where Do You See Yourself Five Years From Now?)
Luckily, there still are plenty of bosses who care (like you), but even some of them who truly want to treat their employees well, are subject to their own bosses seemingly unfeeling requests for more and more and MORE!
Thanks for dropping by, L!
Ronnie Ann
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