Getting used to a full time job again

[Yuzuki]

Due to circumstances I was lucky enough to be able to work from home 4 days out of 5 for about a year and a half. On top of that, although it was a full time job, I had a very light workload. A lot of the time I was able to just idly browse the web or walk around the house doing random stuff.

 

I eventually lost that job due to downsizing, and have been at a new workplace for nearly 2 months. I've really been struggling with getting into that routine again. Getting up early, driving to work, staying for 9 hours and driving back, with only a few hours left for free time. I don't dislike the job - when comparing the actual job content I'd say it's a step up compared to before. It pays slightly better, too. But actually having to work for the full 8 hours again is difficult to me. I'm so used to being able to do whatever pops into my mind at any time of day, that it almost feels like a little prison at times. What triggered this post for instance, was seeing a non-work related file on my personal laptop that was last edited during working hours. It instantly made me feel sad that this will never be possible again.

 

I haven't really talked about this much because people aren't very understanding. I realize of course that this is simply what working life is like. Everybody is in the same situation I am in and they just deal with it. I certainly don't want the world to provide for me while I don't do anything, either. I hope people here won't assume anything like that, because it is the only reaction I ever got from people I did mention it to.

 

I guess I just want to mention these feelings somewhere and have someone understand that while it is the way of things, it can still be a very difficult thing to (re)adjust to. And of course, I would love any advice you might have.

 

Thank you.

[Starlight925]

I completely do understand. I went in reverse: from years of going to an office, with a set schedule, to a job where my schedule is my own. I still get my job done, but it would be very hard for me to go back to a routine. The only thing I do miss is the camaraderie. There are days where I don't talk to anyone else, and I do miss that. But it's still not worth it to go back to an office job.

 

All I can offer are the things you'll hear from everyone: be grateful that you have a job, at least it pays more, you have benefits....blah blah blah.

 

And keep looking for something where you can work on your own schedule, because you, like me, seem to thrive better on that type of schedule.

[j.man]

Let me first say that I can actually empathize with you. I've kept the job I have now for a little over 5 years not because I really enjoy it all that much. It's not my dream job by any stretch of the imagination. But it pays well and, given that the bulk of my contracts involve universities, work is slow to non-existent during the winter holidays and over summer, which means I get a whole lot of personal time off, even if unpaid. Well, this summer, it seems like taking classes has become the coolest new style and now I've found myself with full time work pretty much leading right into the Fall semester. For me, it's actually a pretty big bummer knowing that, at best, my summer break will be about two weeks compared to the typical 3+ months.

 

That out of the way, there's a very big and real reason people aren't being quite so understanding. And it's because what you're describing is what's called a "good problem." Life's subjective to each and every one of us, so you're entitled to your own gripes and trivial grievances, but it helps to step back and look at things from a more social perspective. You've got a job. You've got sustenance. You've got stability. And it's a whole lot more than what a lot of people got, particularly right now. Just remember that good problems are good to have. Keeping that in mind has always helped me when I catch myself about to complain about my feather bed being too soft.

[melancholy123]

As someone who works from home and wouldn't have it any other way, I get how you feel. Is it possible to do your new job at home even a day or two a week? Have you asked your boss about that idea?

[tattoobunnie]

As someone who works from home and wouldn't have it any other way, I get how you feel. Is it possible to do your new job at home even a day or two a week? Have you asked your boss about that idea?

 

Good God, no. Do not ask this! You just started, and have no room for demands or weird requests.

 

Just give it 30 days. You just need to get into the groove of things. Decorate your desk. Buy new clothes for work. Go to an after-work get-together. Make friends there. You will feel right as rain in no time.

[Batya33]

Good God, no. Do not ask this! You just started, and have no room for demands or weird requests.

 

Just give it 30 days. You just need to get into the groove of things. Decorate your desk. Buy new clothes for work. Go to an after-work get-together. Make friends there. You will feel right as rain in no time.

 

Yes, I agree with this. Totally normal. I went back to work part time after 7.5 years as a full time parent. I never had a 9 hour schedule for the 15 years I worked full time prior to having a baby (although I did have that schedule for about 2 years after college). I went into the office every day for at least 9 hours and had to be on call basically 24/7 at all other times and worked unpredictable late evening and weekend hours too. So for me the adjustment was being in an office again although I can telework half the time, as well as having to express certain time restrictions/boundaries because now I cannot be available 24.7. I have been working again since September and there are still adjustments to office work/getting into routines, even though I like what I do and who I work with.

 

Go easy on yourself like Tattobunnie suggested -shared my own experience just to show it's normal to experience the difficulty adjusting.

[Yuzuki]

Thank you to everyone who has replied so far. Reading about similar experiences helps, because I don't know anyone in real life who has struggled with the same thing. It also gives me hope that I will slowly adjust. More stories are always welcome!

 

Working from home is possible at this company, but not on a consistent (i.e. every Wednesday or something) basis. People can request to be allowed to work from home on a specific day. However, my boss made it clear that since I have a lot to learn, it won't be an option for awhile yet.