Losing my edge.

[Fluffywolf]

Since it seems to have even reached me on the forum, why not make a topic about it. (I was really already thinking about making this topic last week, tbh. So no, Simu, not because of that one silly mistake. Was just the last drop. xD )


For the past months, I've been working on average 75 hours a week with variable schedules, day and night shifts, bits here and there. And physically I feel fine. Better then before in fact. The more I do, the more physically energized I find myself. But I've been losing my edge lately nonetheless.

Where I was spotting patterns, recognizing behaviours and coming up with one eureka moment after another. I've found that I haven't been able to go that far anymore.

I still have my moments, but I've been misjudging things in real life quite a bit the past few weeks in particular. And I've been slow to reach solid conclusions. Where they would usually pop in on the spot before.

It's like my brain is operating at half speed. And I don't like it! Since I'm quite fond of my brain. Or at least, when it works the way I want it too.

Is living a healthy and active life putting a toll on my ability to think? I sure hope not. Yet I do find myself analysing much less. My usual focus is shaky. I'm in need of some advice! How can I get my brain working again, while working as much as I do? I'm pretty sure there are plenty of hard working people that do not seem to have this problem.

edit: When I think about it, the reason I started coming here more often again the past week is in order to try and challenge my thoughts more again, unconsciously. '

 

[Phantonym]

That's the old age kicking in, Fluffy, my matey.

But seriously, it might be related to seasonal affective disorder working together with the workload you've been having. Only, in your case it's not about depression or mood swings but a bit more sluggish brain when you feel physically fine. Taking vitamins and some courses of light therapy might be worth a try at least.

 

[Fluffywolf]

That's the old age kicking in, Fluffy, my matey.

But seriously, it might be related to seasonal affective disorder working together with the workload you've been having. Only, in your case it's not about depression or mood swings but a bit more sluggish brain when you feel physically fine. Taking vitamins and some courses of light therapy might be worth a try at least.

Hmm, I'm feeling quite uplifted, I love the winter and always have for as far as I can remember, so I'm not so sure how I could have seasonal affective disorder in a negative way really.

But work has been a bit 'down' (reason I'm working as much as I am atm.) so that might be the cause. We've been investing quite a bit in order to grow and feel some effects of the recession which causes me to have to work pretty damn hard not to go too much below breaking point. But prospects are great nonetheless. We're 'writing off' quite a bit each month and eventually that'll show its fruits. So I can't say work makes me depressed. Everything is still going pretty much as expected.

Who knows, I might have economic affective disorder.

 

[nolla]

75 hours!!! Come on... Take a couple of days off, that is crazy! Some years ago I worked ten to twelve hours a day for half a year (without getting paid, btw) and while it went ok, I didn't have any time to think about my own stuff. Nothing bad happened, but I felt like I had sold my life, and with what price? Internship sucks. Now, this summer I went to shoot a documentary, and we were on the road for six months. I worked from the moment I woke up to the moment I went asleep. Again, it was basically fine, as it was my choice to go there (even if I didn't know it would be so much work), but I felt again like I am not living, I am just some thing you need there, you feed it and it does something useful.

But, umm, how this affected my mind? After a couple of months I didn't anymore have any ideas, no creativity whatsoever, I tried to draw a picture when I had an hour of free time and it was shit. I had temporarily lost my creativity as I didn't have any free time for my brain to let loose.

 

[JocktheMotie]

I think it might just be fatigue. Go on a vacation and read a good book [if you can go]. It's very taxing on the body and the mind to consistently operate at a very high level of activity without throttling back at some point.

 

[FDG]

75 hours is too much to have an very quick brain.

 

[Phantonym]

But prospects are great nonetheless.

Obviously your brain doesn't care about business prospects, it has its own agenda.

I agree with Jock. Take a vacation, preferably somewhere with plenty of sunlight, or just a couple of days off work. You won't be any good at work either if your body starts to fail you and you're getting the signals that it does need a break. Listen to it before things get worse.

 

[ajblaise]

I agree with everyone about the work week.

70+ hour work weeks kill souls.

 

[Fluffywolf]

Brr... Sounds like I'll have to bear with it for a few months until we're clear of this slur.

On the bright side, I'll be doing some work across borders next year january/february in which I might find myself having a free day here and there. Maybe that'll get the spirit back.

 

[nolla]

Is it legal to have you working that much? I think here it isn't.

 

[FDG]

Is it legal to have you working that much? I think here it isn't.

I think he's self-employed

 

[Fluffywolf]

I think he's self-employed

Yes, rules don't apply.