week #7

[mellowtigger]

I think I've plateaued, because my stress level went up slightly this week for the first time since I started. I feel better about the controls. I have 3 display screens, but I need more. A coworker said they mentioned to a boss that they need 5 screens. I'm getting better at the easy stuff. Still overly stressed by the hard stuff. Still much too slow at the one thing where I most need to be fast, because so many people need that particular service.

And it just gets busier from here until the fall semester arrives. I'll be glad when I no longer hear my heartbeat in my ears when I'm anticipating work. :/

It doesn't help that Minneapolis is "back in the red" with our air quality alerts from Canadian wildfires. It doesn't help that my nights are already punctuated with fireworks, both rockets (ear plugs help save my ears against this one) and kaboom detonations that shake my chest while I lay in bed hoping for sleep. It doesn't help that the city is anticipating the same absurd behaviors as last year on July 4th.

I would like a long break from all of human civilization, please.

Comments

[mtbc]

There are limits to what you can ask of yourself, or they of you, especially on an ongoing basis. Once you're doing what you can, which I'm sure is quite decent, what remains is somebody else's resourcing issue. Good luck with further experience helping it all go faster and smoother though!

[mellowtigger]

The monthly team meeting was yesterday, and the top boss said that we're slowly gaining new responsibilities on our team, and they know that people are necessary to do the work. It sounds like the team may be growing, so the work queues don't get absurdly high. It still will be bad during the first week of any semester, but at least they recognize that they need FTEs to do work.

[mtbc]

It's great that they understand and acknowledge the situation, augurs well for the future.

[mallorys_camera]

You and me, both!

I wonder how much tickets for Alpha Centauri cost? 😀

[mellowtigger]

Have you been following the USA's UFO headlines? Tickets might be cheaper than you'd think. 8/ Many government employees with high titles around the world seem to be corroborating the essence of the story. I intend to write a proper Moody Monday post at some point.

[mallorys_camera]

Oh, I totally believe there are alien beings among us.

But I think it's rude to pay attention to them—since they're going so far out of their way to make us believe they're not here. 😀

[pumpernickelprescott]

I'm sorry to hear about your stress. It's painful when work environments don't give what you need to succeed, and I hope you're able to get the additional monitors soon!

As for the speed issue, since you're new I hope they will be more lenient and understanding with you. I don't know what your work situation is like but at least at my work they tend to be accepting, as long as you are trying.

The air quality is still pretty bad where I live, too, and I'm hoping it will go away soon!

[mellowtigger]

Yes, they've been very encouraging at work. I think part of my intimidation is that I've never worked any team so large/busy before. Previously, I've always known what I would learn and when I would "master" it. I'm not getting that sense here, and it leaves me up to my own imagination... which is mostly just worried. :)

[shimmerwine]

I totally feel that last sentence.

[mellowtigger]

I woke last night at midnight. I had my ear plugs in and thought maybe more fireworks were going off somewhere. It took me an hour to fall asleep again. Today, after work, I learned about this shooting about 2-3 blocks away. I'm just done with people trying to kill people. Or abuse or exploit or just not care about consequences. I'm just tired, I think.

[shimmerwine]

I hear you. Where I live, there's been a murder every single night this year, if I'm not mistaken. It's insane.

[mellowtigger]

Ugh, I'm sorry. I don't know if it's covid brain ("they're disinhibited"), political tensions, escalation of economic hardships, or all of the above, but it feels like deadly violence is increasing throughout the USA.

[shimmerwine]

I think they just feel free to do whatever they want because those in charge are getting away with everything. Trump gave them the perfect role model.