Has anyone ever had such a high workload that they've forgotten what a normal workload is like?

[BrainLife]

My workload is huge. I have a caseload. I have reports to write. Training to deliver. Meetings. Emails. Research. Etc. I've reached a point where it's actually impossible to do my job properly, to a high standard. I've actually forgotten what an appropriate and manageable workload is like and I'm struggling, significantly. Does anyone else have a hectic job but one they love? Did you have to leave eventually? Did you ever just carry on to burnout?

I had that in my last job and I left.

I’m finding it difficult to work NOT under enormous pressure now

I made the mistake of trying to be a teacher once. I wasn't great at managing a class of kids, and the workload was insane. Every term was like an unrelenting tunnel of work from which I emerged shattered. The holidays everyone thinks are amazing were spent juggling childcare with trying to catch up on missed paperwork and prepare for the following term. I honestly think I worked harder in the holidays that I do in the job I have now.

I left after a year and, thank goodness, found a better paid job that I really enjoy, that has brilliant flexible working options and a really good work-life balance, with an employer who actually seems to care about staff mental health.

Yes. Another teacher here.

Yes, and agree with PP, I’m now finding it difficult to work without that pressure! It becomes normal and takes a while to readjust, colleagues have told me weeks or
months… so I’m looking forward to that!

I used to work with animals (I'm being deliberately vague). I thought I'd left before I had burned out, but had PTSD for several years.

No. I've had several jobs which were too demanding and didn't stay long as they were making me ill. Kept changing jobs until I found one where I had a proper work life balance. If a job has a big workload I'll just get behind in a short time as I won't be able to cope with it. I can't be a workaholic.

Yes, financial services. Never ending recruitment freeze, not enough people but SLA's are God. Failure is not an option. Not enjoying it but for personal reasons, not a good time to jump, so living with it.

Yup. Local government here. But I like the work, believe it to be important, enjoy the company of my team and we’re all in the same boat. I have nuclear bunker levels of boundaries that I try and keep in place to protect my mental health and have become very comfortable with saying ‘I failed that but I did manage this’. So far it’s holding.

Yup. Corporate HQ. Global role / team.

More work than is possible to deliver and painful balance of trying to ensure critical projects are done to a high standard while wanting to support team from burn out (at the same time as more and more critical & less critical tasks are passed down).

Mean time jealous of colleagues in civil service who have negotiated a 5% reduction in their working week - down to 35 hours. Whereas I am doing minimum of 50 hours per week with no ability to reduce.

On the flip side - work is interesting, varied and colleagues and team are fab.

Yes. Another teacher. It's literally impossible to do even the baseline minimum of everything I'm supposed to do. I like the teaching. I'm lucky to work in a fantastic school with lovely kids and brilliant colleagues. But the only way it would feel like a manageable full-time workload would be if I cut my number of classes by about a 3rd. I'm damned if I'm going to get paid part-time in order to do what ought to be a full-time workload.

I had it as a social worker. Thought at the time that I'd left it before burnout, but took me a while to 'come down' from the constant stress and looking back I was pretty burnt out.
I still work in the sector but in a role that isn't quite front line. The workload is still bigger than is realistic, but the difference is in this role the consequences of things being late aren't as significant (ie I might annoy a manager, impact on data, but I'm not going to directly affect a child) That makes it much easier to set boundaries.

I know a lot of social workers now who do condensed hours, because once you're doing the job it's really hard to finish on time - you just keep going - whereas it's easier to 'not start' on a day off, if you see what I mean. That or going part time, but obviously that's a luxury not everyone can afford.

Yep. Left teaching because of it. Moved to a related field which was initially better but has gradually got as bad.

Far too many jobs are like this today. It's not good for anyone.

Yes, in a Healthcare related field. I left the job and the field a few years ago. I am now in a technically much more senior role but it is so less stressful. I have a much more realistic workload and manageable deadlines. I It was only when I left that I became aware of how burnt out and unhappy I was. I used to be sick every morning facing work. Now going to work doesn't bother me

Yes, another teacher. 😭

Yes and it was horrendous. When I left, they employed two people full time to do my role.

Yes. I didn’t realise how burnt out I was till I left.

Yes, it wasn't until I moved roles and realised just how wild my previous post had been, and the new job but was still very busy and understaffed!

Once I had DS I had to draw better boundaries and was more confident in saying no to stuff and escalating what was unmanageable. Sounds like probably not possible as a teacher though :(

This just happened to me - different industry but reduced to pt to try and improve work life balance. I’ve been given even more work to do so still doing 50 hr week. But when I asked about compressed hours working ft, manager wouldn’t consider it as working those long days would “impact my wellbeing”
so, I now have the worst of both worlds. Don’t reduce your hours!

Yeah - although my biggest problem is work/life boundaries - I'm basically always available and often answer questions from my phone while waiting for the kids etc.

On the other hand, by being flexible, I get to demand that flexibility - for example traffic was bad this morning, so I parked up and went for a walk for 40 mins until it calmed down (and answered messages on my phone).

I figure I hammer it like this for a couple more years while the flexibility helps while looking after the kids then dial it back/retire/go part time (actually I'm officially part time right now, but that never really happens)

Yep.
NHS clinician.
I burnt out years ago.

Yes, I burnt out. I'd say it took me over a year to recover.
I was... horrified to discover that having previously worked at 150% capacity, I now work at what I would consider around 70%, and the sky doesn't fall in. I still get told I am doing a great job. My life is all round better - my health, my relationships. I was told I was irreplaceable, but this isn't true - we all are.
I knew I needed to leave, and did, but it still took months for the relief to kick in - I'm told this is common with burnout. I've met people since who have been through similar, and every single person says the same - why on earth was I sacrificing my life, my time - why didn't I leave sooner!
Wishing you and everyone on this thread a more peaceful working existence.

It's so hard trying to keep up. Especially when you have a caseload and the sky literally could cave in if you're not quick enough or miss something. It is the constant telling managers that it's too much but being ignored that gets me. I work 8-2:45 so I can collect from school, then evenings and weekends to make up the rest. I'm a lone parent. Always skint. Constantly in work mode.

I feel like every task I'm doing is an urgent one, and I'm constantly just chasing myself around doing urgent heavily chased tasks. I try and have a plan of what I want to achieve in a day but then it just gets interrupted by all and sundry asking me to do XYZ urgent things instead, therefore the things I had then planned to do get pushed back and then become urgent because of that....ohhhhh man. I need a breather.

Another teacher. It's relentless. Currently on mat leave with 3rd child. Have been denied my request to go part time after mat leave. 😥

Are you a teacher?