Thursday, September 24, 2009

I've had enough

I'm not sure, but I think I'm on the cusp of a minor burnout episode. And I'm sick and tired of a bunch of work-related things in my life:
  • My laptop is totally falling apart. The battery has been shit for quite some time, i.e. only lasting about 20 min before I have to plug in. It's too slow for streaming video. The hinge has been slowly crumbling, and now it doesn't always stay open right. Last night, it flopped shut as I was leaning forward to put it on the coffee table, which resulted in it nailing my lip and making it bleed. When your computer punches you, it's time for a new one. I'm not excited about shelling out for a new computer right now, but I did get this one in 2003, so I guess I should feel too bad about it.
  • I'm sick of the disorganization that seems to permeate my university. Can't say much more about that here.
  • I have to redo some work because of said disorganization. It's not anyone's fault really, but it still sucks. The work won't take all that long to redo (less than a day) but I thought it was done and now it's not. That's demoralizing.
  • The stress associated with the uncertainty of graduating and finding two jobs together is unpleasant.
I've been working way more hours than I normally do, since like, May. Then I kicked it up another notch a few weeks ago. I feel like I should be working all the time since my time to defense is seriously dwindling. But I think I need a break. So tonight I'm going to relax by turning off the computer and watching tv tonight without distraction*. And EGM and I are going to take a full day off this weekend and do something fun together, maybe get out of the city. I think I need it. Actually, we both need it.

* although, there's a conflict. Should I watch the two-hour Grey's Anatomy or cut out early from that to watch The Mentalist? Maybe I'll switch over if Izzie doesn't die. I'm totally sick of Izzie...I just checked the ABC website and it looks like George dies, not Izzie. The Mentalist it is!

9 comments:

ScientistMother said...

OMG!!! Greys anatomy is on!!! I had no idea! Shite now how am I going to get that paper read! I can't believe I've been in such a bubble

lin said...

Hey! We over here are way backwards in episodes. WTF Izzie dies???

Amanda@Lady Scientist said...

I'm glad you're taking a break. You definitely deserve it! Besides breaks are necessary to keep going.

And I think you made the right call. Izzie annoys me. I opted out of Grey's and watched Project Runway instead. :-)

Grading Voyager said...

I'm right there with you. I'm hoping to start writing my dissertation in a couple months, so I'm working overtime trying to get all my experiments completed. I'm so close that now the slightest setback really derails me psychologically. Glad to see you're cutting yourself a little slack. You need to rejuvenate if you plan to keep up such a hectic pace. My husband and I are headed on a weekend getaway in a few weeks to celebrate our anniversary. It can't come soon enough!

Anonymous said...

My laptop is also dying a slow and painful death. I keep coddling it hoping it will make it through my defense. (I might be able to afford a new one on a post-doc salary.) My worst nightmare is that it will give up the ghost in the middle of my defense seminar.

Cath@VWXYNot? said...

Breaks are sooooooo important. When I was writing up I took every Friday evening and every Sunday afternoon & evening completely off, without fail. It did wonders for my productivity. I hope you take the time off this weekend.

LOL @ your computer punching you! (Sorry). 6 years is definitely nothing to be ashamed of.

Cath@VWXYNot? said...

p.s. I don't watch any of the shows you all mentioned... Thursday night is all about Survivor and The Office!

Unbalanced Reaction said...

Bummer about the computer. I guess it would be bad to kick it (literally) while it's down, right?

I just DVR it all.

And gosh, when IS Izzie going to die? So annoying.

Silver Fox said...

Glad you are getting a break, for the night (already past) and for part of the weekend - in progress. It sounds to me like you way more than deserve it! And I can't say anything about the shows; we have zero TV, just DVDs, Netflix, and online Netflix streaming - which works well, btw. Hope your computer gets better soon!