Am I weird? Do you do this?!

[SoreHeadInBed]

I read emails and texts over and over again after I've sent them.

I also write reports as part of my job (about 50 pages per report) and I read them over and over again too! This morning I have a day off after a v long and exhausting 2 weeks of working into the night most days to meet some deadlines, so thought I'd relax with a coffee and easy morning. I spent my morning re-reading all my reports from the last month (🤔🥴)

Weirdly I find it v calming! (occasionally much less calming / v frustrating when I see errors in what I sent or submitted 😠)

Am I really weird!!? I can't imagine other people do this! But do you? Please tell me I'm not alone in my weirdness here!!!

Yep. I do it too.

Yey! I'm not alone!!

I do it all the time. Especially the emails are reports I've spent a lot of time and effort on.

Ahh good! Isn't just me!

Why do you think we do it?

I sometimes think with the reports, it's like I am pleased with it and the effort I put in, so reading it is like a reward for the effort - I mean if I'm reading it, then at least something is happening to it (otherwise I guess you just send it off and after all the time spent on it, nothing much happens!! In my case I get paid, so I'm guessing they served a function!! but otherwise I never know about the outcome to my reports or what difference they made! )

Not really sure why I read texts and emails over and over again though!!

And I read my Mumsnet posts over and over again too!... as I am now doing 🫤

Yes I can do it too. Glad I'm not alone.

I do this a lot, with everything I commit to writing. I waste quite a lot of time on it really.

No I don’t…I have way to much to do. I literally just forget about them. I couldn’t give a toss once the reports are approved. The only time I ever have to reread them as if they get pulled as part of an audit and I have to defend it.

I waste time too! It's like 1pm now and I've spent my whole morning re-reading reports and now re-reading Mumsnet posts! I am going to force myself to stop and take the dogs out!!!

Glad it's not just me!!

Crikey! I can't imagine that!! I have re-read mine so many times I feel like I know where everything is on the page of every report!!

It would feel so strange to me to press submit and not give it all another thought!! (would give me much more free time though, so I need to move towards 'submit and forget')

That sounds exhausting! No, I don't do that!
I might re-read something if I needed to clarify something, but that would be rare and certainly not a daily occurrence.
Do you have any neurodivergence/OCD/other repetitive behaviours OP? Is this new or you have always done this?

I do, yes. Not during my work day as I’m busy, but often after I stop for the evening I’ll go back and reread a report I’d submitted earlier or similar. I’m not sure why, it’s not like I can do anything with it once it’s been filed!

And is it a case that you will get asked questions on them @SoreHeadInBed?

I sometimes re read work reports and emails I've carefully worded but I catch myself and stop as I haven't got the time for it. Sometimes i think its a distraction from the work chaos .It is quite rewarding to read something I'm pleased with as my written work just goes into the abyss, only ever to be commented on negatively if commented on at all.

I don't know if I'm nerodivergent. I don't think so. I maybe have traits of OCD (I have another thing I do a LOT - I don't want to say what it is because it would be outing as it's v unusual!! and I already know it's weird and no-one else would do it!! and also it's a bit embarrassing!! but similar to something like brushing your hair or putting your socks on in the morning. I do this thing about 15 times a day! which is a lot for what it is, but not enough Id say to impact my life!!)

I don't think I'd consider myself as having a diagnosable comdition, because my life is not negatively impacted by my general weird quirks! I've wasted time today re-reading stuff, but it was a day off and I had nothing else planned! I get all my jobs done generally, manage to parent! I have a good relationship with my husband etc... so 🤷

I do this too though maybe not quite to the same extent op, I'm also pleased to hear I'm not alone as have also wondered if it's common.
I sometimes do it to feel calmer, if I'm in a stressful time I will read something I did well and it makes me feel better, maybe a bit more in control?
So I think it's connected to that, I don't read again basic things that were bog standard routine or not great, only the good stuff.

Yeah that's it. I think maybe it's a reward for the effort as mine too generally go into the abyss!

Yeah, I think maybe I do more re-reading when I'm stressed and need to chill. Like today it was hard to relax with the day off! But after spending ages reading, now I feel relaxed and can go about my day!

Well. In theory I could have to go to court to defend every single one. But in reality I submit and never hear another thing!

Yes I do ...you are not alone!

Never. I would consider that a total waste of time when there are so many great things to do with my limited spare time!

What do you actually achieve/gain from it? If you just enjoy reading them, I suppose it's no different to a good book 🤔 But if there's anything obsessive/compulsive about it, or you worry about the reports, then I think find a way to stop. It will be freeing.

I do it, I have OCD and adhd.

As someone who does it too (and to the extent you describe) I am also ot neuro divergent- as far as I'm aware. However I've recently been seeing a counsellor about something and she said that I seem to have some compulsive tendencies, and some traits found in people with ADHD (eg difficulty concentrating) - so there may be something in the 'compulsion' thing....

I do this. I sent a really good email yesterday and I re-read it on the train home :D

Always. It's annoying because I see the typos I missed when I proofread before sending...