i'm exaggerating but still...shit been so stressful I'm barely sleeping. Without boring you with the details, I work in IT and was staffed on a global project with no defined scope a limited timeline and a very demanding client. I'm no stranger to this, but we typically draft language in our SOWs to help keep our efforts focused. The guy who drafted this one did no such thing so we have nothing to protect us from scope creep. Basically the client can come up with any random idea and demand we do it and we have no leverage to protect us (terrible).
Anyway, i'm no rookie to this but the shit is really getting to me lately. I don't think i have the energy for the months of battle it will take to right the ship. I know some of you, if not most of you, have demanding careers and have been buried in similar troubled waters. how do you deal?
13. "funny you should say this..." In response to Reply # 1
the stress really started building when i stopped being able to go to the gym regularly...cause i was working too damn much. i really need to figure out how to keep that going though.
16. "yeah +1 that suggestion. Its counter-intuitive" In response to Reply # 13
because you feel like you don't have time to work out, but if you can do a condensed workout and get even 30 mins of exercise in a couple times a week it will probably make a noticeable difference. Weather is starting to warm up you could do a 30 min run a few times a week, or do intervals on a treadmill for 20 mins, and still get a good workout in.
3. "you've said what you can't do. so what CAN you do about it?" In response to Reply # 0
what actions, if any, can you take to not live each day with stress?
i'd suggest that you either:
1. experience the stress, but build in ways to release it (more sex, exercise, do-nothing days) 2. not care enough to be stressed about it and take your chances at work with a relaxed attitude, regardless of the external pressure..which will cause them to either respect you more or fire you 3. quit your job and find another one or change careers altogther.
4. "i completely understand" In response to Reply # 0 Fri Apr-10-15 11:59 AM by Crash Bandacoot
depends on how fucked up the situation is. i may decide to stick it out for the time being but, eventually i'll end up somewhere else. if i had dependents and a mortgage than it may be a different story.
i've been in situations where i was the jack of all trades, and people tried to take advantage of that. also was lied to/deceived about my role/responsibilities, and i ended up being thrust into a project that was neglected over years and nobody would touch because it was such a mess.
i can't stand incompetent people in authoritative/managerial positions, it pisses me off to no end.
I'm at my wits end with this job. Every thing about this current operation that I'm working sucks ass and the part that's really doing me in the fact that I'm working a major move within the company but the hours are wearing me down. Aside from the environmental hazards the additional wear and tear on my body is putting me a hurt locker. I swear I have some GREAT friends who keep me going with major encouragement. If it wasn't from them I would've thrown in the towel months ago.
6. "+1 to whoever said find an external release" In response to Reply # 0 Fri Apr-10-15 12:26 PM by dustin
exercise, sex, your fav hobby, etc. From what you mention (dealing with scope creep) it sounds like it can get worse than it is now. That's a recipe for burnout and you gotta have something to take your mind off of work when it's at its most stressful.
I would focus on bearing the next few months and then either take a vacation or look for a new gig. Esp if the stress was caused by lack of pre-planning and scoping. That doesn't sound like your fault.
I left a fulltime gig last April cause of burnout (Software dev/freelancer so I know bout scope creep!!!) . They offered a leave of absence but I declined it saying I just needed to bounce from the company and find something new. If you have the resources (funds) to give yourself that kinda break it is definitely worth considering. My life is so much better cause of it.
8. "RE: Random breaks is one thing I love about the industry " In response to Reply # 7
>Mad people I went to school with I see just chilling and >their like : I needed a break, I don't know their situation >but it's normal in software
We're def spoiled cause of the demand, especially here in the Bay. And we have the benefit of being able to do hobby work/freelance in that downtime that will give us something to speak on at the next job interview. My homie is a civil engineer and hates the work flexibility I have, haha..
I finally calmed down enough to discuss the issue with my superior on the phone. We deaded 95% of it but I needed some time to get to a place mentally where I could deal with things constructively.
I'm contracting with a company who overcommitted by a long shot and they're looking at me crazy bc the person who drafted the SOW didn't know what the hell they were doing. I'm just hoping to secure a permanent position soon. So, I can get out of contracting hell.
12. "Do you even lift, bro?" In response to Reply # 0
Seriously: nothing provides a better cathartic release than strapping a few hundred pounds to your back and channeling all of your anger and frustration into power.