You know, I thought I’d be posting more than ever once I wasn’t working. I was really wrong.
When I was working, I was at a computer all day, and could post while I was doing other things. Run across something interesting in e-mail? Post it. Waiting for somebody’s column to come in? Write that post you’ve had at the back of your mind all day.
By contrast, this week I’ve found myself running around town meeting with various people — working on getting employed again — and once I stop for a minute and find myself at a machine, I’m too tired to blog.
I seem to hit a wall about 4 p.m. each day — total exhaustion. Maybe it’s psychosomatic, but I don’t know. I mean, I was just as stressed those last two weeks of work, but I never felt tired. I’d work until 8 or so without batting an eye. Remember, I wrote three columns in three days, there at the end, and energy was never in short supply.
Now, suddenly, when I don’t have to put in the long hours at the office — I’m worn out at the time that I normally think of as midafternoon. I’m fine in the morning — full of pep, ideas and so forth. But by 4, I want to lie down.
Presumably I’ll adjust and stop doing that, I guess, but in the meantime I’m getting up earlier to make my productive time a little longer — which makes me even more tired when I hit the wall, but whatever.
Anyway, I was going to write a “column” — a column-length post that would go up on Sunday — about the Senate hearing I attended Wednesday at which the presidents of USC, Clemson and MUSC made their budget pitches. That is, I was going to write it today. But I’ve spent the afternoon babysitting the twins instead (which is more fun). Looks like I’ll have to write that tomorrow.
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You think blogging is hard when you’re unemployed, try blogging as your employment and making no money at it. Well, technically, I’m employed as a stay-at-home dad, but you get the idea.
Brad, I really am impressed with the energy that you do manage to exert. I’ve learned in the past few months how tiring stress can be.
You need to watch some news. Michelle Bauchman willl provide you material periodically. Today she suggested that our political leaders should be vetted for their patriotism. She also proposed legislation that the dollar be made the official currency of the United States as a result China’s recent huffing and puffing about the dollar…hey, any chance Lee Mueller is her pen name!!??!
I think you’re working under a bit of stress, there. That does tend to make a person exhausted.
I would echo what Karen said, Brad, and add that when you’re forced to spread your physical and mental resources over a broad scope, you have less available to allow you focus intently on any one thing. It’s hard to propagate a field and nourish orchids at the same time.
The flip side is that you have the opportunity to stumble across any number of new ideas while you’re spreading yourself so thin and far. Hang in there… things will eventually condense.
I think your writing has improved. Same thing happened to me.
Maybe what Todd is referring to is the “starving artist” syndrome.
You need to research how many jobs have been lost due to our high taxes and corrupt legislature driving away entrepreneurs and technical talent.
That’s happened to me every day for many years, employed or not. A hot cup of coffee! A stretch and short walk around the office / house! Deep knee bends at my desk (my doctor’s suggestion)! A round of computer solitaire while sipping my coffee! Whatever works… if you find a better solution please let the rest of us know.
You should put should put some Google ads in the sidebar. Then you’ll be making money of the material you write. Thus giving you some added motivation.
My professor husband has pointed out that when one works at an office, one seldom works with the intensity and focus one has out of that setting. There are no water coolers or coffee machines, no birthday cards to sign or admin assistants to chat with–the restroom is a single seater….and when you are running around town at all, that is especially tiring, and it disrupts any semblance of routine, which adds to stress….which you have in spades right now.
Take a walk around if you can at four o’clock. Have a piece of fruit and some nuts and a glass of water or tea. Shut your eyes for fifteen or thirty minutes. Or realize you’ve probably put in more actual work time than most regular office workers and knock off.
“Recession is when your neighbor loses his job.
Depression is when you lose your job.
And recovery is when Obama loses his job.”