Everyone in my office has a Blackberry. I think it is a great tool, when used correctly. I especially like using the calendar in it, as well as previewing emails before I get into the office. I was really excited when I got mine, back in December.
That was before I really had any use for it.
Now it just serves as a constant reminder of how many “unread” emails I have (I read them and mark them as unread if there is something I need to act on) and how much work I have to do.
Yesterday I looked at my Blackberry and started saying, “shit shit shit.” My mom was there and of course, wanted to know what I was “shit shit shitting” about. Just work stuff mom…
I am in an all day business training every day this week. I need this training to get a certification in my office, so it is really important that I attend. And I am honestly looking forward at being away from my desk all week.
But… that doesn’t mean my regular job is going to do itself while I am out all week! I was “shit shit shitting” about the emails I received this weekend. They were all regarding things that have to be taken care of this morning, which means I had to get up extra early, to make it into the office at 7:00, before my 8:30 training starts, to get these things done… blah blah blah.
I stressed out about all of this for an hour or so yesterday, then told myself – just get done what you can. I am someone who likes to have everything completed and have a clean slate to start the day. That’s just not possible anymore.
Even though I know that though, I still try.
On a related note, I am going to be super busy this week and probably won’t be reading blogs on my lunch break like I normally am. So… the 700+ unread blog entries in my reader is just going to keep growing! I am sorry I’ve been MIA! I’ll get there! You might just be seeing a ton of comments at once from me!
Hang in there and remember to take time for yourself. Don’t let work control your life.
i’m sorry you were stressing yesterday (on the weekend!) about work already!!! you are only one person and you can only do as much as you can!! don’t make yourself sick over work!!! (as easy as it is to say since it’s not me, it’s not worth it!)… but i totally understand what you’re saying too… it would be nice if there was a way for me to shut my brain off during non-working hours… (for work-related stuff i mean!)… no worries about being MIA, you need to take care of what you need to take care of!!!! we will be here, i promise you, we’re not going anywhere!!!
=^..^=
I talk about how if I have my phone and there is a TINY lapse in the action over the weekend, I check my work email. I can’t help myself, then I get myself into a tizzy over stuff. The guys I work with, say, NOPE, I only check work email during work hours.
So, I feel you! Maybe that needs to be something I make myself do…only during work hours may I obsess over work!!
I used to want a work bb, like my husband does, but not so much anymore. as soon as his eyes open during the week, he’s flipping through his emails. he’s not really like that on the weekends though. i think we both have come to the realization that the work is going to be waiting for us whether we stress over it or not. it did take a while for me to realize that i can not possibly complete everything in a given day. you’ll get there eventually.
it’s funny, i have a bb and check in on the weekends… then don’t do anythign about the emails, and don’t feel guilty about it either. i’m not sure how that works. i think it’s a healthy dose of “lazy” 😉
I could have written a very similar post a couple weeks ago. I complained to E. that even though most other people wouldn’t care, I can’t STAND having to roll my to-do list over to the next day. When I write it in the morning, I expect myself to be able to accomplish it that day. But as you know, things come up, fires need to be put out, and sometimes the list just doesn’t get done. 🙁 So frustrating.
Take care of yourself this week. At least you have your half marathon happiness to float you through the week!!
Just mark all my blog posts as read. I’ll likely be wallowing in self-pity and melancholy until at least Thursday.
😉
I’m sorry you’re so overwhelmed! I was having a week like that a few weeks ago and ended up taking a much-needed day off to just “catch up!” Hope you can catch a breath soon!
Yeah, I don’t have MediaNet on my Blackberry so I can’t get e-mails. It’s bliss. I get to use my BB for the phone, texting, schedule book and occasional WiFi connections, but I’m never really tied down. Even if I did have MediaNet, I wouldn’t link it to my work account. Unless they pay for it. Until then… FREEEEEEDDDOOOOOMMMMMMMMMMMM!!!!!
That would drive me crazy too. I like starting the day on a fresh slate, but then I see my to do list from yesterday and realize I didn’t get everything done. Well, sometimes you just can’t. Plus, they don’t pay us to work 24/7!
Hopefully you are able to get lots accomplished today so you can RELAX when the weekend rolls around 🙂
I struggle with connectivity a lot. I was one of the last people to get high speed internet access. I was one of the last people to get wireless at home. I still don’t have a smart phone. Part of the reason I chose my current job is because I know I can leave work at work. I work a hard day and shut the door behind me at night without thinking about it until I return in the morning. I used to turn off my computer on Friday and not look at it until Monday morning. And lately, I’m feeling more tied to my computer related to blogging. I don’t like it because I feel it takes away from spending time with Sweets and others in my life. I’m thinking about cutting back on my non-work computer use this summer. And I doubt I’ll be getting a smart phone any time soon.
Over 700 unread? Now I don’t feel so bad with my 200+ unread in my feed reader.
I do the “shit shit shit” every so often when I see how much work I have that piles up, both at the day job and all of my projects and things I want to do for my own self.
i know what you mean! i got my blackberry to feel less stressed, and so i wouldn’t have to be at my computer all the time, but it only makes me MORE stressed over how many emails to respond to and things to do!!! ahh!!!
I do that too… I started a new gig and the bb is on order. Can’t say I’ve missed it (I have workoholic tendencies …
don’t worry about us. We’ll promise to not comment too much.
I’ve been MIA too – I think once the weather finally makes that turn for 69 and sunny for the “rest of my days” – – – it’s easy to get away from blogging. I am so longing to bust away from this cabin fever. You get out way more than I with your running though. I know your overwhelmed feeling…. sometimes, ya just have to hit the “delete” button even if it feels like its going to kill ya 😉
I am just getting caught up on the 100s of posts in my reader too… you take a few days off and then BAM so much to read! 🙂
I don’t like feeling overwhelmed. I’m glad I’m retired for that reason. I’m actually underwhelmed. Well, I hope you can get everything under control so you feel better.
Tony – I was able to ignore work while at home this week, but stressed for the first half of the week, until my coach came in. Then I told myself to relax and let her take control of the project!
CourtneyInControl – It made me MENTALLY SICK to be stressing about work on a Sunday. Because even though I have thought about it over the weekends (and surprisingly, have still never dreaded it) it never bothered me so much. Maybe it bothered me more because my parents were in town and I just wanted to have fun!
Hotch Potchery – I do the same thing because I think it helps me be prepared on Monday morning. But maybe I need to actually step back and evaluate how much time I am saving – how prepared is it really making me?!
Gina (Mannyed) – I think the bb is a very good tool, especially when you are expected to be on call and checking emails on the weekends (like Steven) but have a POS nextel phone. But both of us need to work on not having work stress on the weekends. And carrying it into the evenings. Even if I am not thinking about it sometimes, it still affects my mood! I hope I get to the point you are at someday, with not completing everything. I just want to be such a perfectionist!
Alice – I need some of that LAZY! 😉
diane – We are so similar! I have almost stopped making a formal to-do list because it makes me crazy when I am not crossing things off. Now that it is Thursday, I am getting excited the weekend is near (and am excited that class ends at 12:00 tomorrow so I can catch up!).
sizzle – LOL! No way I am marking YOU as read!
Bethany – Maybe I should take a day off. Or actually use one of my Fridays off to relax instead of run around like a crazy person!
kapgar – Wait… why would you even have a bb if not to use it for emails? 😛 LOL, J/K!
Amy – They don’t pay me to work 24/7 AND they expect me to work NO MORE THAN 40 hours a week. So what the hell is MY problem?
SoMi’s Nilsa – I think that is a good idea. You can get so drawn into the computer! I know I do, especially during the commute. Now that we have nicer weather, I want to spend more time outdoors as well.
martymankins – Yeah, I am not sure how it got so high 🙁 I think because I didn’t have time starting on 4/30 to do any reading. Oh gosh. I have been blowing off my personal projects so much 🙁 I wish I took them as seriously as I do my work!
marissa – It can do the EXACT opposite! It seems counter-intuitive, doesn’t it?!
Nat – Uh oh. Maybe you will be better with this one? 😉
JavaQueen – Oh yeah. I have been spending much more time outdoors. I want to do all of my runs outside now and haven’t used the treadmill in quite awhile! I feel guilty when I hit delete. Or mark as read. Oh well. Can’t do it all!
aron – EXACTLY! And the thing is, I WANT to read most of them… especially all the race reports!
joanharvest – Can I send some of my stress your way? 😉