Work Ethics: what do you do when you hit the doldrums?

Despite the urban legend of the lazy government worker, most of us have pretty good work ethics. We care about our work and try hard to get the job done right. We care so much that we work extra hours, endure extra stress, and suffer burnout and frustration when we hit roadblocks.

So how do we deal with a rough patch? How do we reconcile are hardworking natures with emotional antipathy?

I started thinking about this specifically because I “had” to post something today. I scoured my brain for topics and found nothing. I’m not inspired to write. So, why worry, right? It’s just a blog. Well, I’d committed to writing weekly, so I feel pressured to stay true to that commitment. And it’s difficult to move past that ethic and accept that it’s ok to blog only when I feel like it.

I’ve also had this experience with something truly work-related: my role as chairperson for our Green Team. As happens with so many such groups, the driving force became just myself, my husband (he works here too), and one other coworker. And most of the energy, ideas, and whipcracking came from me. Add this to the fact that my current workload doesn’t really allow for that much energy to the Green Team and…..well, I was pretty conflicted. I committed to the Green Team, and I know that without me it will die (not because I’m so irreplaceable but because no one else is stepping up to the plate). Yet, in the grand scheme of priorities, it has to drop off the plate right now.

I feel bad, like I’m wimping out. Like I’m not keeping to my word. Some of this may be my own baggage, but I believe some of it stems from work ethic too. Those of us with a deep sense of commitment can’t help but be torn when we have to let things slide. It feels like — well I don’t want to say failure, but something on that side of the spectrum.

It’s difficult to step back and accept the realities of our situations. Sometimes, we just can’t do it all. And with shrinking budgets and increasing work, something has to fall off the list, at least temporarily. Learning to accept such moments without internalizing them is the only healthy way to go. Letting go of the Green Team isn’t about my being a slacker or giving up; it’s about my acceptance of current project load and the realization that if I continue with the Team I will become a stressed out crazy person.

Some people, of course, are better at letting go that others. But I suspect there are a lot of Type A people in government service — at least from my own observations. And many of us take the “service” aspect of the job seriously. So how do we survive the inevitable low points?

Everyone will have his/her own solutions. Me, I rake my zen garden (I made a big one for my desk, cuz those little desk-sized ones aren’t enough for me). I take a break to surf online news or shoe shop or whatever. I give myself permission to have a slacker day now and again — better to be minimally productive for a day than to push myself too hard and end up the aforementioned stressed out crazy person. I know I make up for these moments on those days when I’m on fire, skip lunch, and reach new heights of efficiency.

The next time the doldrums pay you a visit, don’t get too down about it. Don’t feel guilty that you can be Superman/woman. You’re human. You can’t do it all, all the time (I can hear you all now: “Yes I can!”). Give yourself permission to step back, to remove something from your to-do list.

Now, if I can just practice what I preach………