Help - lack of focus and distraction at work - I am a mess!

[MtnBikeChick]

I am at my wits end. I am completely lacking focus and concentration at work. I work part time (4 days pw) and although I work in the same field as I did when I was full time, I do a different, much less time-pressured role. I work very fixed hours, 8:30-4:30, with nothing outside those hours (apartn from checking my emails and responding to the odd quick question here and there). I used to work much longer days before I changed role. I am really, really struggling to focus at work. I feel guilty and beat myself up about it. I feel like I don't achieve enough each day ? I have plenty on my list of things to do, but I just amble through it, nothing is super urgent, and there are projects I could really take 'by the throat' and get on with but I just don't do it. I procrastinate and find myself checking personal email and facebook many times a day. If I think of something personal I need to do (e.g. pay a bill, order a birthday present online, buy a new pair of shoes, email a friend) I do it instantly. I can't stop myself! My bosses think I am doing an amazing job and the pay is excellent. I think I am probably a bit bored...but the pay, adult company, stimulation and working hours are just too good to pass up. I just feel a mess because I am constantly flitting between tasks and I don't seem to have the discipline to just CHANGE. I am an incredibly organised person outside work ? our home and life is organised to a tee. This is why it is all so bewildering! How can I get it together?!!

[lilyb84]

This is exactly how I feel at the moment, OP! I'm completely lacking in any kind of focus, attention or giving-a-crap right now and it's really getting me down. I used to be in a job where I'd work all hours, really put the effort in, and had tangible results. Now in an office job with lots of politics and jumping through hoops to get things done, and while I don't take my work home or do any extra hours (quite the opposite) I really feel I should be just to have a sense - any sense! - of achievement.

I don't have any advice to offer I'm afraid but thought I'd let you know I'm in a similar boat and it's a horrible feeling

I'm getting CBT at the moment and my therapist has said a few times that maybe I'm setting too high standards, and expecting to 'achieve' when really that's not what's possible in my job any more. I don't know if that's at all helpful to you... perhaps we both need to expect less of ourselves?

I'd be interested if anyone else has some useful advice!

[Sazzle41]

I have been like that in a couple of jobs. My bosses also thought i was great. I think it was because they didnt challenge my brain, so i was bored. Even at 60% I had still done everything by 3pm and that was with lots of coffee breaks/internet/chats to colleagues. They were both very 'easy' repetitive jobs task wise but thats not what motivates me - I felt like a bright 10yr old could do it just as well. I need variety and challenges.