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AlfredTwo  
A blog about life, Microsoft, random technology and general academic stuff.

Why is it so hard?

I have been away for about 8 days. During those 8 days I was "working" for, let's call it, seven and half days. The half day was officially just a reception but being far away from home without plans I also hung around on the Internet doing email and other things. THe last couple of days included one day where I traveled all day - leaving the hotel at 7AM Pacific time and getting to my house around 8PM Eastern time - and three days that basically started with a working breakfast and ending with a working dinner at the end of the day. So you'd think I'd be pretty much in the habit of working.

But no. I am in my comfortable home office with a long list of things to do, a huge backlog of email, and being fired up about my job from an exciting week of interesting things. OK well the long list of things is true. The backlog of email is true. And the being fired up about my job was true on Tuesday. I'm just exhausted today though. It was hard to get out of bed. It was hard to get into the office. And it has been super hard to get things done. Oh a couple of things have been done and some small progress has been made on the email backlog. But no way have I been as productive in the first hour of the day as I planned on being. I think I am going to set a few priorities - a couple of things really have to be done today - and push to get them done. I'm promising myself a nap afterwards as a reward. After the nap? Well we'll just have to see.

posted on Thursday, January 19, 2006 10:05 AM by AlfredTwo

# re: Why is it so hard? @ Thursday, January 19, 2006 10:48 AM

Your work rate is pretty amazing Alfred :) Must be the Kool-Aid Microsofties drink ....

Bernard

# re: Why is it so hard? @ Thursday, January 19, 2006 11:17 AM

Well I do love my job. But if you want to see impressive work rates you should see some of the people in my group. I work with some completely amazing people who do some amazing work.

AlfredTwo

# re: Why is it so hard? @ Thursday, January 19, 2006 7:07 PM

I completely empathize, Alfred. Some of the most amazing people I've had the honor to work with have taken breaks in the middle of critical deadlines to watch a long movie. I myself am probably the worst example--taking whole weeks, sometimes months off to just recharge.

I used to have lunch at my table every day, still working between bites. Recently, I decided to start going to the cafeteria again. It gives me a chance to spend time--30 minutes or so--with my friends and colleagues and to actually have a proper meal. It does wonders to my energy level for the rest of the day.

Our love for our work blinds us to stresses, which is bad because we can work ourselves towards burnout. It's good to be kind to ourselves, so that we can keep doing what we love.

Didith

# re: Why is it so hard? @ Thursday, January 19, 2006 8:14 PM

There is a chinese saying, "A rest is to enable you to go a further distance."

Bernard

# re: Why is it so hard? @ Friday, January 20, 2006 12:33 AM

Good one, Bernard! So very, very true.

Didith

# re: Why is it so hard? @ Friday, January 20, 2006 9:44 AM

Brings to mind the old comedic line:

"Did you ever stop to think, and then forget to start again?"

Mr_I


 
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