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Original poster

Able to get your job done in work hours?

37 replies

Folicky · 06/03/2022 10:22

Is anyone in a busy job and able to get it done within working hours? Especially more thoughtful work leading to a report, letter, notes that are more involved? If so, how do you do it?
I seem to have too many things to do, defer starting on the more complex work until the more immediate ones are done and then end up having to do the complex stuff at home. It’s exhausting me and the complex stuff gets delayed as I want to have a life outside work…. And many things take much longer than you think.

I’ve kept a work diary for a week but it was a bit of an atypical week. This was useful but I’ll have to do the same thing on a more normal week.

Feeling like an ineffective moron with little time to do the things I like about the job. It’s maddening.

WTF is the solution?

OP posts:

GuyFawkesDay · 06/03/2022 17:17

Also a teacher. Only job where you have to work in order to be able to go to work, then do a full day at work and then come home and do all the work you didn't get chance to do because you were working.

It's insane. I'm part time and do 50hr weeks 🙈

Tippexy · 06/03/2022 18:08

@GuyFawkesDay

It's insane. I'm part time and do 50hr weeks 🙈

Lots of AHPs are similar. Not just a teacher thing.

Peacefulplant · 06/03/2022 18:39

No. I lead a team and my budget has been slashed and I lost my deputy with nowhere for the work to go. One of the added complications is I work across two countries with different working weeks- so tomorrow I'll have to spend the first chunk of the day catching up with what happened there today. I'm constantly on the backfoot, constantly firefighting. Luckily my team are awesome and I don't need to nag them about anything and they do prod me if something urgent has slid.

It's definitely the deep pieces of work that go. I had to do something this week which is one of my major deliverables for the year and cleared 3 days in diary but it means a lot of regular stuff has slipped, and I still haven't finished it so have weekend work.

The bit I find trickiest is the dependencies- I could just about manage if it was contained to our team, but I often get urgent stuff from elsewhere that HAS to be done which throws everything out. I hate it, it annoys DP and I'm always stressed.

Fellrunner85 · 06/03/2022 18:46

Don't be daft, there are lots of jobs with just as long hours as teaching. Also lots of jobs where you have to do all the prep in your "spare time", spend the day delivering/in meetings, and then spend your own time writing reports/feeding back/emailing/whatever.

So no, I can't do my job in the time available. And when you get to senior positions where there isn't a "manager" who gives you work to do, you just have to make sure all the absolute essentials are done, whether this is in 35 hours or in 60.

Original poster

Folicky · 06/03/2022 19:56

@BIWI I've bought the Frog book, liked the sample I could read online. Thanks

OP posts:

itsnotdeep · 06/03/2022 20:22

I agree with list writing, prioritisation and doing the things you really don't want to first thing in the morning. I naturally work in short bursts and am pretty efficient. But I often have days that are packed with back to back meetings and as a result i often work out of normal hours and at the weekend .

But to compensate for that, I do take every other Friday off and make sure that I (mostly) don't work that day.

LikeALeadBalloon · 06/03/2022 20:35

Yes OP. Fortunately we have flexi time so I can at least take the time off at some point but I'd rather not have to do it in the first place. Beats working for free though.

One of our problems is we have to be accessible all the time, we get called constantly, emails have to be checked all the time, instant messages need attention and then there are calls from the general public. My evening time is basically when I do my actual job. In the day it's just dealing with the harassment. Unfortunately it is the culture of the workplace so there's nothing I could do about it without looking like I'm skiving - even if the time was being spent doing actual work.

LikeALeadBalloon · 06/03/2022 20:36

Oh yes back to back meetings that could be summed up in an email.

flipflopjump · 06/03/2022 20:39

NHS. No

BIWI · 06/03/2022 21:04

@itsnotdeep

But to compensate for that, I do take every other Friday off and make sure that I (mostly) don't work that day.

However.

If you are in control of your calendar - which you will be if you're planning, prioritising and then blocking out your time - then you won't have back-to-back meetings, as your calendar won't allow it.

It's all about 'taking back control' (sorry!)

It's really important that you do block out time in your calendar for you to do your tasks, otherwise other people will get there first.

(You do, however, need to allow a reasonable amount of time to be available for meetings)

lljkk · 07/03/2022 09:23

Friend had a job (covid related) where she had meetings solid 9am-5pm and could only get on with actual work 6-9pm. Not for months, but in first 8 weeks. Not teaching!

Satsumaeater · 07/03/2022 12:48

I think the 20-80 rule works pretty well - especially if you eg do the first draft of something and then let someone finesse it. But it depends on your job role.

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