Reluctant to work crazy hours

[Anonymous]

I probably will get flamed for this around here...but I put in 45 hours a week and am reluctant to work crazy hours.
I am salaried so I know people will say suck it up...but I just can't physically do it..my mind shuts down and I become non-productive.
FWIW, when I am at work, I work really hard, no lunch breaks, no chat breaks. I'm really productive and my supervisor has no complaints.
But I do feel guilty when I am at home...like I should be working more.
Should I worry about this?

[Anonymous]

Do you get your work done?

[Anonymous]

Yes, but I had to take on someone else's work when they quit with no notice.
It's never ending...they keep piling more on.

[Anonymous]

I don't even understand what the heck you are saying. You work 45 hours now but think that's crazy and want it cut back? You work 45 hours and don't want it to randomly increase? You are just expressing your view that working fewer hours is better than working more hours?

[Anonymous]

I think OP may be reacting to how so many people talk and talk about how long and hard they work, like they'll get a medal or something. Or they want to be a martyr. And it's easy to roll your eyes at those people because you see how much time they waste during the regular work day.

I can't find the exact quote, but I remember someone saying that if you can't get your day's work done in 8 hours, then you ought to pay rent.

You sound efficient, OP. Don't sweat it, but also don't let the others throw you under the bus. Make sure the higher ups know that your work is done, and done well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't even understand what the heck you are saying. You work 45 hours now but think that's crazy and want it cut back? You work 45 hours and don't want it to randomly increase? You are just expressing your view that working fewer hours is better than working more hours?

Same.

[Anonymous]

I hear ya.

I used to work ridiculous hours - like 10-12 hour days nearly every day, plus weekends, plus travel. And it wasn't for that much money either, which was the worst part. I'm an efficient worker, but for me, the extra hours were necessary because I would end up in meetings all day and then need time to do the work once everyone else went home.

When I found out I was pregnant, I took a step back, mommy-tracked myself into a more stable position. I miss the challenges sometimes, and it would be nice to make more money. But I don't miss those constant 10-12 hour days. (Which I still have sometimes - maybe for a week 4 times a year.)

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think OP may be reacting to how so many people talk and talk about how long and hard they work, like they'll get a medal or something. Or they want to be a martyr. And it's easy to roll your eyes at those people because you see how much time they waste during the regular work day.

I can't find the exact quote, but I remember someone saying that if you can't get your day's work done in 8 hours, then you ought to pay rent.

You sound efficient, OP. Don't sweat it, but also don't let the others throw you under the bus. Make sure the higher ups know that your work is done, and done well.

Thanks, PP. You've nailed it. All I hear is people staying late and working weekends. I am resistant to doing that because I know I will burnout. It's just not healthy for me.
I just don't want to get judged for not working 10-12 hour days. My limit seems to be 9, which I'm OK with. My supervisor has no complaints, so that's heartening. Thanks for the advice.

[Anonymous]

Nobody thinks it's awesome to work long hours. You're just projecting shit onto others.

[Anonymous]

I used to work for a fortune 50 company. There was an incredible amount of pressure to work overtime- all the time. I got stellar evaluations year after year. But after I had my DC, I could not pull those long hours anymore and they gave me lower ratings. I knew it was time to leave and go else where. Now I have a job with telework options and occasionally work overtime.

[Anonymous]

First, you need breaks to re-charge during your working day. If you don't, your brain WILL short out. So you have to find a way of prolonging that working day a little bit (arrive earlier, stay later or work at home) so that you can have a proper lunch and some other short moments of quiet downtime as needed.

Second, you have to acknowledge and accept that you are not one of those super-energetic people who work extra long and hard. That's perfectly fine!

Third, if you are disorganized and slow, and procrastinate and tend to forget things easily, then you may have inattentive ADHD. If you have this diagnosis and seek treatment for it (meds for ADHD are safe and well-tolerated), you may find that your ability to focus and your productivity greatly increases.

[Anonymous]

Sounds like this is in your head. You are not being asked to work or getting negative feedback. So learn how to not think about work when you're at home.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sounds like this is in your head. You are not being asked to work or getting negative feedback. So learn how to not think about work when you're at home.

This. As long as your'e getting all your work done, it doesn't seem like there are any problems. Very few people enjoy working long hours. I work 50-55 hours a week (occasionally more) not because I want to, but because I want to move ahead. At my company, those who do the most work (not necessarily put in the most hours) are the ones who are promoted.