Daily Monday

Work is more exhausting than I had imagined

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by

Rin
in ,

It’s been a week since I first started working at the new office, and I have to say that I don’t like it. At all.

Perhaps, I was too used to working from home instead of going to the office everyday. Hence, the idea of that seemed really ridiculous to me. I feel like it’s a waste of time and energy when you can do the same work from home.

My new work place is an hour away from my apartment, so I have to take the office bus that departs only once an hour. Since my work starts at 8:30, people usually arrive 30 minutes before the starting time which is 8:00. Back tracking that, it means that I need to take a 7 AM bus each morning and for that, I need to at least wake up an hour earlier to prepare myself at 6 AM. Being a night owl, this routine alone feels like a torture for me.

It would probably still survive better if work had ended earlier and I could go home earlier. But that is, of course, not the case. Work ends at 5 PM, but the earliest bus that leaves the company is 5:45 PM. There’s a policy here that you are obligated to take a 15 minutes break after 5 PM before you can resume your ‘overtime’. Hence, I’m wasting 15 minutes without getting paid and another 15 minutes just doing nothing on my desk, waiting for the time to come.

I’d usually reach the station at 6:45 PM and then take another 10 minutes walk back home. So I technically leave home at 6 AM and come back at 7 PM. I’d cook dinner, eat, shower, and then suddenly it’s already 9 PM. I literally have no time to do anything for myself. I would still like to have my me-time, so I sometimes participate in the gaming session for an hour before I go to bed at 10. But since it’s just hard for me to fall asleep at night, I end up going to bed at 11.

When I experienced this for the first day, I felt nothing but stress and fatigue that I just started crying for no reason in the bus on the way home. I guess my mind and body just couldn’t take the toll anymore.

I’m totally unsure if I can endure this for three years. People say I just need to get used to it, but I’m not sure if this kind of stuff is something you need to get used to. It feels extremely abnormal that you dedicate all your time for the company. Since you used up your entire energy during the weekdays, you’d think that you’ll have to rest up properly so you can function normally next week, right? In the end, it’s for the sake of work, and my mind just can’t accept that logic.

I wish they would just implement the WFH system. But it doesn’t seem like people do that here. There are a couple of members that do that, but I think you need a legit reason (ex. you just got vaccinated) to be working from home. But I don’t know. That’s just dumb to me.

Right now I just hate work with my entire soul.

Comments

5 responses to “Work is more exhausting than I had imagined”

  1. Hanako Avatar
    Hanako

    I’m sorry to hear that work is not what you expected! I know it’s hard to transition into a new way of living, but it does take time to roll into a new routine. You need to slowly transition into an early bedtime. It’s not going to be easy, but even if you’re in bed with your eyes closed has proven to help your brain “rest” versus staying up and doing things. You don’t even need to close your eyes, you can just lay in bed and stare at the wall or ceiling. I know three years seems like a long time, but it’ll actually go very quickly. I’m old, so I can say this with fact. You can make “me time” in the morning on your way to work. Download an audio book to your phone, get some comfy earbuds, and just get lost in a story. Same thing works with music, mobile games, or if you prefer (and able to without getting motion sickness) read a physical book. My husband loves audio books on his daily commute (also about an hour long during rush hour traffic). And, if you want to save time when it comes to cooking, double the amount you normally eat, and save the rest for the next day. That will recover some time so you can unwind. I know these things are easier said than done. I’m trying to transition into a new routine with my daughter too. (She’ll need to wake up 2 hours before school, with about a 40-45 minute commute to her school too) (Her school is actually only 20 minutes away from us. Crazy, right?!)
    Anyways, it does take time to get use to this, and you’re just like me, so I rather get use to it right away then for it to take weeks to get use to. But along the way, try to find a way to entertain yourself. My husband likes to close his eyes for his 15 minute breaks. Again, during the time you can listen to music through headphones of course if you’re permitted. I’m not sure what your breaks are entitled to. Take things in strives and one step at a time. Make sure you take a nap on the weekend. You’ll benefit from it since you are loosing sleep. (Trust me, I didn’t think I needed naps, but I always feel so much better when I do). And don’t take long naps, or you’ll never go to bed on time. (I think 45 minute naps are the best. You feel rested, and it doesn’t feel like you wasted a lot of time). And after my nap, I drink a cup of black tea.

    I just told my husband about your work days and he completely understands how you feel and agrees about audio books. He also suggested (if you haven’t already) the Switch Lite. He said he loves his Switch Lite just for the long waiting periods and won’t use any data for you phone. He also said transferring game files is pretty easy too (unless it’s a game like Animal Crossing). Again, I know it’s hard, but you can do it. Stay positive!

    Reply
    1. Rin Avatar
      Rin

      Thank you for your advice!

      I usually just listen to music on the way to and from work but the audio book sounds like a great idea! I’ll try to do some research after this.

      Sadly, I get motion sickness pretty easily so I can’t do anything that requires my eye to focus on something. I do have a Switch Lite, but I don’t think I can secure a time to play. Everybody is so god damn serious at work that I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone slacking off or taking a small break lol. It’s insane how someone can just stay glued to their chair each day for such a long period of time.

      I don’t know how long break times are typically over there, but my current company gives 45 minutes for lunch break. The dumb thing is, the cafeteria is so far that it takes 5-6 minutes by foot. That’s 10 minutes gone already haha. By the time I get back to my seat, there’s only 10 minutes left to get some shut eye. Then we just go back to work like a robot.

      I read somewhere naps are good. But for some reason, I just cant wake up from a nap. I tell myself I’ll sleep for 30 minutes and set an alarm, but when it rings, I unconsciously snooze and go back to sleep. Lol.

      Last month, I talked about this job transfer with the health clinic physician and she said it’ll take at least 3 months for you to get used to an entirely new environment. She told me to contact her should anything else happen, but I don’t feel like doing that. I feel they’ll just secretly report to my higher ups and cause more trouble haha.

      For now, I’ll try my best to adjust slowly. Let’s hope that everything gets better in 3 months somehow…

      Reply
      1. Hanako Avatar
        Hanako

        I’m sorry that you feel that you can’t rely on the health clinic physician. I completely understand how you feel. It does take time to get use to a new area, new workplace, new everything. Just take it in strides, and try not to think at how long you’ll be there for. Try to spend some time exploring on your days off. Google what’s in the area (especially cafes). Take a book and enjoy a cup of coffee. Basically, find things you love to do and try not to think about the current situation. (I do this often because I have mental issues, so I try to find things I love and currently, it’s collecting cute stickers to look and adore. I’m also pinteresting like crazy. I been searching for fan art and I feel in love with an artist’s work called RoroJump. I’m not sure what it is honestly, but they drawings are so adorable!

        Also, have you ever thought of drinking a non caffeinated tea before you go to bed? I like to turn the lights off and leave a small dim lamp on at night, and drink a cup of hot tea. It relaxes me and gets me ready for bed. I noticed that watching Fruits Basket, I’m too excited and don’t want to go to bed. lol So tonight, we’ll probably do something a bit more “boring”.

        I’m always here if you need to talk, and I will listen. I’ll try to give you some old lady advice (don’t feel you’re obligated to use them though!).

        Reply
        1. Rin Avatar
          Rin

          My colleagues did tell me to take it easy at work. But I guess it’s really difficult to do so when your surroundings are doing the exact opposite of what you’re trying to do.

          I did buy a non-caffeinated tea, the one blended especially for bed time. But the taste is not my cup of tea haha. I try to drink it when I remember it though, since I’ve spent money on it. So far, I’m not sure if it has any effects on helping me fall asleep. I guess my brain is just too hyper at night.

          Just reading your comments like this is already very helpful! I can’t thank you enough! Despite going to office and meeting my coworkers everyday, I still feel so alone and isolated, so being able to converse like this helps me a lot.

  2. Hanako Avatar
    Hanako

    I’m glad I’m able to help you! Don’t forget about Discord though! That’s the quickest way you can reach me! (The app is now installed on my phone, so even if I’m away from my laptop, I can reply!) And if I don’t reply right away, I might be busy with chores or sleeping. I’m usually up late and up early.

    Also, if your tea isn’t that great tasting, try adding sugar/honey (just a little) and I like buying the dry non-dairy creamer (it’s just coffee creamer) and putting a little of that into it to make it a bit creamy. If tea doesn’t help, boil a cup of milk and make some hot chocolate.

    You know what makes me so sleepy? Playing Animal Crossing. Particularly terraforming. For some reason it makes me sooooo sleepy. I guess because it takes so long and it’s kind of dull. Even just knocking out my dailies makes me so tired (finding the buried bells and making a bell tree, looking for the DIY in the bottle on the beach, making sure to “touch” the ATM (or whatever it’s called), finding my rock, looking for fossils and then knocking out the daily tasks for the Nook Miles). Just visiting Kap’n islands make me so sleepy when I fish or catch bugs or chop trees. That game is just too relaxing. I still love it though. (I’m soo sleepy right now. Must be from all the things I done today.)

    Reply

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