Thursday, May 20, 2010

The post where I admit I'm going to miss all those fire drills

For the past few days I have been officially splitting my time between my old job and my new job. The only problem? I'm finding it hard to really get into my new job. Partially it's because I'm still transitioning all my responsibilities (and multitude of issues) to other people so I'm spending more time on my old position than my new one.

I've also discovered that I'm an adrenaline junky. For the past 2 years (excluding my maternity leave) my calendar typically held 10+ meetings a day. I was required to multitask frequently and squeeze out major productivity in 30 minute chunks. And I got so much done. I had to mentally track all of the projects and dependencies and issues and be ready to address them on any and all of the meetings I hosted or participated in. Yes, we formally tracked that stuff to but I needed to remember everything and be able to call up the details at the push of a button.

My new role seems a bit more, well, relaxed is the only word I can think of right now. Very few meetings. A lot more individual thinking and work. I think it's going to be a great role but it is going to take me time to get acclimated to such a different style. And right now I find myself procrastinating because there isn't a lot of pressure to get tasks accomplished right now. No doubt that will change as I get up to speed and start carving out a niche. But for now....well, let's just say I'm spending more time on Facebook than I probably should be.

How about the rest of you? Do you find that the busier you are the more you can get done? When there is a lull is it hard to get motivated for the less urgent work?

7 comments:

T. said...

Oh, I am absolutely the same way! I don't think it will ever change either - it's hard to change work habits that were developed during our "formative years." I cannot work without a sense of urgency. I enjoy the downtime now and use it to my advantage (notice I am on FB and blogs a lot more these days), with the full knowledge that when things get crazy, I will be insanely productive. It all evens out. Enjoy while it lasts!

Mandy said...

I'm also the same. The busier I am, the more useful I feel and the more I get accomplished. It's hard to slow down sometimes, but I am having to learn to relax a little more.

Mommy, Esq. said...

I hated the adrenaline and pressure of finals, etc. while in college and law school but now I'm a deal junky and it is going to be hard to adjust to anything else.

Amanda said...

I thrive on the stress of deadlines, I find myself procrastinating until I have to really get cracking on something.

Rebecca M. said...

Doesn't look like I'm alone! I am so much more productive if I have multiple deadlines approaching. Give me a long lead, multiple step project and I'm much more likely to drop the ball. I too spend more time then I should on Facebook or blogging, but like another person said - it all evens out.

WorkingMom said...

I'm the adrenaline-loving procrastinator-type. That said, my current part-time job is wearing on me in that I can handle responsibility. It's when incompetent people try to blame you for dropping the ball you were never aware had been tossed to you to begin with. Or decide something at the last minute and expect you to complete it... without all the details on hand.

That's why I'm going back to school.

Gretchen said...

Oh I too love the thrill of the pressure-cooker and often find I do my best work then. Or at least I think so. But last summer I worked on a research project that had no real deadline and it was my best work to date.

Try out a new way of doing things and you might surprise yourself! Enjoy your new position :)