Do you guys ever have days where you know that from the very start, you’re in for a major drag? Today’s one of those days. Things aren’t overwhelmingly stressful or anything – I figure it’ll be an 11-hour work day and I can get out at a reasonable hour. However, I just feel tired as hell today. Basically, too much work and exercise and not enough sleep. Rolling out of bed in the morning is probably the low-light of my day, but now that I’m in the office and I have work to do, I just have to grit it out. Do you guys ever have days like this, and what do you do to hang in there? For me, I’ll usually pound a few Red Bull drinks, and also listen to some rock music just to jumpstart myself. However, what I could really go for is a nice time in a spa or just somewhere totally chilled out, so that I can feel refreshed and energized for the next day. I’ve already come to accept that today will be pretty painful, but I’m all for getting back on track in the next couple of days. What do you guys do to stay alert at work, and also recharge as necessary?
When I dont travel that is how my job is. At least when my trips get canceled, it means there probably is a one day thing for me to do and then not much else. So I dont have to be alert. I dont really need to be here too much, so I do errands, work out, work on my other businesses, etc. Then head home by 4-5. however, when I am busy and maybe hungover I will either pop a few redbulls or some of the old ephedra based diet pills. Never both, it destroys me. That makes me REAL alert. some Xenadrine or ripped fuel will do it.
When I’m feeling really burnt out I find it can be pretty refreshing to just make myself stay home the whole weekend. Have yourself a little movie marathon or something, have a couple buddies if you want (GF would be preferred) order some unhealthy food, etc. In general I try to avoid making plans in advance on the weekend, that way you don’t feel pressure to do things that may have sounded good at the time but are no longer appealing. It also keeps your weekend a little less predictable which is nice too. Have you taken any time off recently? Or even like a half day on a friday can make a big difference.
Numi take a walk during your lunch. I find that the fresh air and brief exercise helps out. I’m guilty of chugging energy drinks when I’m dragging likewise, however it’s best if you can simply get enough sleep and physical activity each day.
Triple long espresso!
Good tips – actually, I haven’t taken any vacation time since I started this job in March. I am going to New York in a couple of weeks and then to Aruba at the end of the month, so I am definitely looking forward to totally mellowing out. I guess sometimes I don’t realize how badly I could use a vacation until people remind me of things. The thing is, compared to my old job in sell-side research, private equity has been a lot less stressful for me. The hours are about the same, but the people here and the quality of work are much better. So, I think I have been comfortable with my job, but I still haven’t taken much time off to re-charge. I’m also always working on Sunday evenings to prepare for meetings on Monday. How often do you guys take vacations? Do you like to do many extended weekend trips, or just schedule one or two big vacations per year? As for weekend activities, I usually go out in the evenings to bars or lounges with some friends. The idea is to just take it easy, but socializing and going from place to place can be pretty energy-consuming for me. I’d rather do something totally chilled out and laid back. Any suggestions? Finally, I also just joined one of the USTA tennis teams in Texas and am playing second singles for the team. Suffice it to say, between practice and matches, I have been playing a lot. For the last month, I’ve been on the courts for 10-12 hours a week. That means 3-4 times a week for 2-3 hour intervals. I think it is starting to catch up to my body. I guess I should realize I’m not in college anymore and I think I should pare down on some personal commitments. The thought that I can still be athletic and competitive is a big motivational factor though, even if I end up feeling tired and sore every day. The problem is I only sleep about six hours a night, which doesn’t feel like it’s enough anymore – I think I’m getting old.
Cut out the sugar, and switch to drinking a couple gallons of water a day. You’ll have to get up to go to the can so often that you won’t be able to get drowsy- for fear of pissing yourself.
ditchdigger2CFA Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Numi take a walk during your lunch. I find that > the fresh air and brief exercise helps out. I second this. I’ll usually go for a walk and grab some coffee. If it’s really bad, I will walk up and down the hill my building is on a couple of times during my break just to get the blood moving.
I take about 1-2 long weekends every 2 months and then I take 1-2 at least week long vacations a year. That keeps me from being too tired pretty much ever. Going to the Big Smoke in Vegas if anyone will be there… You should go do something that gets you away on the weekend. I also think that helps. Go to a brewery, go see the caves, go to Austin, something like that just to get away. Or if you like poker go play cards. It works for me anyway because I feel like if I just stay in town and go to TABC, Old Monk, etc I dont really detach from work. And go get a massage.
Yeah, am thinking about taking a road trip down to Austin in early November just to check it out. I’ve never been there before. I actually don’t really know anyone there either, but people here just say it’s a good place to check out. Speaking of massages…that might just be what the doctor ordered. Any recommendations for a place in or around uptown? I actually don’t mind driving for it if it’s good, especially because the places in hotels charge a boatload of money for them. BTW, I think you told me this before, but where in Dallas are you located? Sounds like we have probably hung out at the same places. I agree that it doesn’t feel like I’m detaching from work, especially since the last time I went to Old Monk was with some co-workers and hedge fund dudes…
“So I was sitting in my cubicle today, and I realized, ever since I started working, every single day of my life has been worse than the day before it. So that means that every single day that you see me, that’s the worst day of my life.”
The last place I went to get a massage wasnt that great, but I know a guy that lives off knox-henderson so let me ask him because I bet he knows decent places. I have a house in Carrollton, but my girlfriend lives at Fitzhugh and 75, so I stay down there half the time. I grew up closer to Ft Worth, but still have some friends in and around the area. So I end up all over the place. I dont work a ton of hours and my job isnt too stressful, but since I also have my own businesses, and am trying to do CFA and learn Spanish I tend to get stressed and if I dont just get away it doesnt seem to subside. So I try to do as many weekend trips as I can, even if it is just to stay over in Ft Worth or Austin, whatever, as long as I get away and clear my head. Sometimes just starting on Saturday in Ft Worth and just drinking with a few friends works…
i never take walks during lunch. usually just surf analystforum or some other website during my break. looks like it’s time for me to change up my routine.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. Masturbation.
Hopefully not at work…
red bull and this song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x-64CaD8GXw then im amped and crazy and you dont want to mess with me
make a cup of maté and put in some headphones and get some funk going on pandora
How many of you listen to your iPod/headphones at work? I do but sometimes I think it bothers my bosses.
Numi I hear there is a massage place at Blackburn and Mckinney called Face and it is pretty good. Hot women, free drinks, etc.
numi Wrote: ------------------------------------------------------- > Do you guys ever have days where you know that > from the very start, you’re in for a major drag? > Today’s one of those days. Things aren’t > overwhelmingly stressful or anything – I figure > it’ll be an 11-hour work day and I can get out at > a reasonable hour. However, I just feel tired as > hell today. Basically, too much work and exercise > and not enough sleep. Rolling out of bed in the > morning is probably the low-light of my day, but > now that I’m in the office and I have work to do, > I just have to grit it out. > > Do you guys ever have days like this, and what do > you do to hang in there? For me, I’ll usually > pound a few Red Bull drinks, and also listen to > some rock music just to jumpstart myself. However, > what I could really go for is a nice time in a spa > or just somewhere totally chilled out, so that I > can feel refreshed and energized for the next day. > I’ve already come to accept that today will be > pretty painful, but I’m all for getting back on > track in the next couple of days. > > What do you guys do to stay alert at work, and > also recharge as necessary? My job was like that, making good money, than 2 years in I realized that i was missing so much valuable time with family, friends and special occasions i quit, took a 3 month trip to europe, than returned to a less stressful job but with a 35% pay cut. I’ve never been happier.