Imagining just not bothering to go back to work in January.....

[KStockHERO]

I'm a week into annual leave with another eleven days off.

Work feels like a million mils away.

I'm fantasising about what it'd be like to just not bother going back in January.

I'm on sabbatical for the first few months so no-one but closest collaborators would notice until May.....

Sounds like heaven.

I’m going to be made redundant at the end of this academic year - so I’m going to experience this in 2026. It’s going to be an earlier than planned retirement, but I am so ready to leave this circus behind

@damekindness I'm pleased redundancy will be a positive thing for you! What a fabulous feeling it'll be at the end of summer.

I used to work for a university and someone did exaxtly that - went on sabbatical and just never came back. Took months before anyone realised no one had seen him.

If I’d have been born a few years earlier, I’d be retiring in Spring. Now I have to wait another seven years! I hope not to- I need to get my affairs in order. I’d like to hike, swim, and explore instead of working!!

I’m already dreading going back, despite still having 8 days holiday to enjoy first. Maybe I’ve just not switched off properly yet…

This person is my hero 🤣

I'm trying to make the most of the time I've got left on leave but really really praying for a lottery win in the meantime

I don't do the lottery

I’m fantasising about this to. On the one hand I love my job. On the other it’s become dehumanising and autocratic. Empathy and compassion seem to be designed out. It’s all about speed and money. Quantity over quality and I’m not fitting into this

I have such a large amount of work to do over the holidays that I only stopped for 3 days and then did 3 full days work. That’s burned me out so much, with the thought of how behind I am and how much there is still to do, that I’m going to the GP tomorrow in the hope of being signed off. I just can’t cope with the ridiculous workload any more. I’d happily never go back. The thought of opening my laptop makes me cry.

@WhisperingJesse I hope your GP listens and you get the help you need. Once you’ve had a bit of breathing space come back here and we can crowdsource ways to tackle the situation long term. Hugs

@NewspaperChipsThat’s such a lovely suggestion- thank you! I’ll do that.

Sympathy to all!

Back on Monday for the prep and (more) marking week before teaching starts. Been 'off' since Christmas eve but still just feeling utterly exhausted to the bone after the clustefuck of the last year.

Don't wanna.

Just want to walk away.

We used to do a week in DH's home country and a week with my family every Christmas (I'd always have some marking to do whilst away but balanced with seeing loved ones).

This time we've managed 2 non-consecutive days with my lot across the whole xmas (they are under an hour's drive away). And we're still exhausted. Seen no friends. Had no days out. This isn't life.

I got up early this morning, did some interesting work-adjacent reading, but was back in bed by 12. Can't sleep though. Can't focus on anything else. So just... existing... and getting more and more tired.

Planning on planning more actual weekends this term in order to feel like there's more to life than (miserable) work and exhaustion.

Good luck at the GP @WhisperingJesse !

I got signed off till 2nd Feb. It hasn’t sunk in yet but this morning I compiled the long list of things that I had to do in January and shared my folders to handover. I hope my nervous system starts believing it now.

I hope you're OK @WhisperingJesse

How's the start of the year gone for everyone?

Unfortunately, I don't have "fuck you money" yet so I did go back to work. It's not been too bad though I'm straight into two grant applications - stressful but I don't have to do them of course. I'm on sabbatical this term so I'm pleased not to be ramping up the teaching this week.

Sending strength to everyone!

Awful start here. More behind than ever, more exhausted than ever.

I need everyone's best tips for how to be a hard-ass when dealing with the structures and leadership, and being empathetic and supportive to students, whilst feeling like I'm crumbling under the insanity of everything and just always so exhausted.

I could do with those tips too @Excitingnewusername. I started back at work today on a phased return after sick leave for stress. Only 2.5h in and I felt stressed, shaky and exhausted. I’ve asked for an occupational health referral in the hope that they will agree the workload is ridiculous and unsustainable.

Did he not have classes to teach and students to see after the sabbatical was over?

I'm so sorry @WhisperingJesse ! I hope tomorrow looks a bit brighter adn you can get some help from occupational health.

I've ended up going to the union for help, which felt great at first as it felt like a decision and action and trying to take control of the situation but that's wearing off now and I spent most of the day in tears. Students and lovely colleagues are the only things keeping me going.

DH has been just offered a meeting with OH to discuss issues he's struggled with for years and asked for support with for years. He's already taken VR because he couldn't keep on struggling, and leaves in a couple of months. So that's really fucking useful.