Major Grumbles.

[swestrup]

I've recently worked out that one of the reasons I don't get anything done anymore is that I don't have any down time. People who work regular hours get the weekend off to recuperate and take time for themselves. Me, I seem to be spending every minute of every day doing something for someone else. I know its getting bad when I start resenting taking the time to go to my bi-weekly RPG as I would rather just sit somewhere and stare at a wall without having to interact with anyone.

What I need is weekends off. I've been thinking that if I took two days a week just for me; time when I could forget about the deadlines and schedules and stuff, I would have a far better chance of meeting them.

The trouble is, it seems that everyone I've promised to do anything for spends their weekends harassing me. That, of course, is because they have regular 9-5 jobs so that the time they have free for side projects. Still, its intensely annoying. If I can't get some time off for just me, I'm going to go insane.

Comments

[wintersweet.livejournal.com]

Yeah, that's a big problem. I only have Sundays right now and it's driving me a bit batty.

What can you do to ignore the people who are bugging you? If you let them know your weekends are off-limits (and remind them a few times), will they respect that? If not, is there some way to avoid them?

Hang in there!

[joenotcharles.livejournal.com]

Can you pick Thursday and Friday as your "weekend" times? That way Friday evening still overlaps other people's weekends for socializing, and Saturday and Sunday can be "work on other people's projects" time.

[swestrup]

I've thought about picking a pair of weekdays, but my past experience (from when I was working) is that trying to treat a pair of weekdays like the weekend flies against absolutely EVERYONE'S expectations, and tends to result in folks routinely expecting you to show up for meetings and such on these days.

(And yes, I need to worry about that, as I'm still meeting folks over this Reverse Payment thing...)

[hendrikboom.livejournal.com]

There's a reason for the traditional one-day-in-seven rules. Maybe you could take a religious day off, explaining that you can't do anything on Saturday? It might be a little extreme to refuse to turn light bulbs on or off, but it would make a point to those inclined to disagree.

[swestrup]

I'd be lying if I said I was doing it for any religious reasons, and I don't want to lie to people.

[foms.livejournal.com]

It's time for a more carefully defined religion.

[helenkacan.livejournal.com]

It's time for a more carefully defined religion.

Yeah, such as needing to protect yourself against going insane. Hey, honouring yourself, your body and mind (however you define it) is usually an integral tenet of most religions.

So, I'm in agreement with using a broader def of religion.

[swestrup]

Lets just say that, as someone who's adamantly non-religious, I'd rather find a more palatable way of setting aside time for me.

[helenkacan.livejournal.com]

Okay, I'm going to offer radical advice. Of course I am. It's what I like to do.

You say you'd love to have a weekend each week. Well, let's look at two days as being a dream and start off with one day each week. And it'll be during the weekend. I know, how shocking.

Start with either a Saturday or Sunday. Tell your friends that this day you will not be available unless it's an emergency. Medical or something similar. Activate an auto-response on your computer so that any e-mail received that day will say "SW is not available to send you a prompt reply. He will contact you upon his return." Even if you're at home and reading the messages, you are not under any obligation to actually act on them. The same thing goes with telephoning you. Don't answer the phone or cellphone; let all callers be forwarded to message.

The following week, take off the other day. This way, you won't be ignoring people who are available ONLY on a particular day during the weekend.

When people ask you why you are taking the time off and are not available, you tell them you are working on a special project (duh, in this case, it's yourself so you are not telling a lie) until further notice.

Remember, you do not owe 100% of your time to your friends, especially when you feel so squeezed that you'd rather stare at a wall i/o of going out and doing something you've always enjoyed.

You're not being selfish. You are merely protecting your investment by trying to remain healthy and happy.

Good luck.
And lots of hugs,
H.