How do I rediscover my work ethic

[Lilysmum]

I used to be very conscientious and a diligent worker...now I'm not!

I spend far too much time surfing the internet (rather than getting on with my work) - and feel a bit guilty about it. My attitudes have changed since returning to work (Jan 2003) after the birth of my first baby.

Does motherhood just make you incapable of solidly concentrating on a task for more than a few minutes ?

It's not that I am not applying myself because I am daydreaming about my dd, I don't know what it is. But I do want to discover some willpower and develop a bit of a work ethic as I feel a fraud for drawing my salary...

Anyone else had this and is there a pop pyschology explanation?

Could it be that you don't get enough time to yourself?

Mein Got!! Lilysmum - I had thought about posting with this a few times, but like you am trying not to use MN so much at work (not succeeding as you can see). I only work 3 days, but I am totally crap at the minute and might as well be at home. Like you, I used to be very dillegent & hard working, but coming back about 6 weeks ago, I can not get motivated. Have had 2 mat leaves in 3 years & my role has changed enourmously.

I think I will have to completely ban MN and all other internet searching to get over this. Have also told my line manager that don't have too much to do just now, risky, but I think he needs to know.

Its hard isn't it?? Half of me thinks maybe I need a new challenge or something.

Snap! But for me I think it's also that I have a new job now since I came back to work (1 yr ago) and am not monitored/pushed as much. I used to be a LOT more productive. Would love some tips on getting back into that frame of mind!

Do you think you have all decided that theres more to life? I was the same when I went p/t

I am the same. I quit a more demanding and more high-paid job when I had my dd and I guess I am now on the Mummy-track. I also feel a fraud. I am paid well to surf on mumsnet and email friends all day....I can't help with your work ethos as I have absolutely non myself......

WOW! Me toooo.

In fact I should be working right now. Don't have an explanation or justification or advice. Just wanted to say you're not alone!

GET BACK TO WORK!

Coddy - I think that's a huge part of it. I watch all these people around me giving themselves ulcers trying to impress the boss and be better than the guy next to him and I think GET A LIFE!

hoorah. skivwrs united

Lol! who needs a work ethic?

No really, I have always been like this, apart from the occasional bit where I just get my head down.

Think Codswallop is right.

Every day I start anew with - I will be totally committed & productive today and by 10am I'm surfing MN buying stuff on e-bay. I'm starting to worry that somewhere they are monitoring my web useage........ah yes. Must be coffee time huh?

You're probably bored?

There's definitely more to life than work, especially boring work! I like my job, but then I work freelance, from home, with lots of time to surf...

yep - used to get upset if I didn't have a pro-active day and gets lets done. Took a real pride. That drive has just gone. Mumsnet hasn't helped that to be honest - I'm utterly addicted and don't know how to keep away. However it doesn't help I have de-motivating boss and a child I'd rather be with!!

Now, hmm, I think I mislaid my work ethic somewhere...but where...maybe under the Vertbaudet catalogue...nooo...in this copy of Living Etc...noo...or maybe behind this nice cup of tea..nope. I give up. I think I last saw it a couple of months before ds was born and there's been no sign of it since. I do think I've learned there's more to life. Mind you, I do quite a lot of work (amazingly, considering the amount of time I spend here) but I work faster in shorter bursts and I also have deadlines all the time that I have to meet. Maybe we've just got better at working so don't need to string it out so much?

Good point Aloha! Our efficiency under pressure and with a massive time constraint has increased 10 fold and to work constantly would just be embarassing for our childless colleagues who lag behind.

M2T how true!

Knew there was something I'd forgotten to do....order new Vertbaudet catalogue....

And that was after my last little burst of work ethic dissolved as I pictured Collette wearing babies tights on her head in the Time saving Tips thread. I LOL in the office thereby setting a v bad example to my staff and having to make up a respectable professional reason for laughing out loud!

M2T that's my theory. I work so hard when I do work that I have lots of time for mumsnetting!

But I do know what you mean, Lilysmum. I quite often feel as if I do not have the energy / time / resources to be extra super-good in my two lives, and that takes away the incentive to even try. I then pull myself back by breaking things down into little chunks and doing each chunk well, rather than contemplating the whole massive list of things that I will NEVER get around to.
My DP feels something of this, too. He has cut back his work committments in evening and away, re-organised his wrking life to accommodate childcare and our diary planning...but he seems free of the guilt which I find so ennervating.

OMG - Can I relate to this!! I have never been the same since I had my DD. Lazyeye you kill me, I find myself doing the same thing, I go from Ebay to Mumsnet to Microsoft Exchange (to do my real work), to Microsoft word, etc. etc. in a non-stop cycle. I do think your priorities change so dramatically, but I do feel really guilty most times. I am glad to know that I am not alone! I don't know how to get the ethic back, I have so many demands and I do alot of them really well, but unfortuntately work is not one of them right now!