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Original poster

I have wasted an entire WEEK and I am panicked

32 replies

PanickedPanini · 18/03/2021 17:54

I'm not quite sure how this has happened. I've been struggling with motivation etc in lockdown but this week has peaked. I have somehow got to the end of the week without doing any work.

I've had a few meetings but nothing that took out huge chunks of my time. I had 9 things to complete by the end of the week and I've done just 2. One of which was to send an email!!

I feel sick. I don't know where the week has gone or what the hell I'm going to say at my weekly 121 with my line manager tomorrow morning. This is not like me and I don't know what I was thinking. I've been sleeping badly and the week has just trickled away from me. I'm tired but apathetic and panicked all at once.

Do I just call in sick tomorrow morning? semi serious

OP posts:
FTEngineerM · 18/03/2021 17:55

Why stop there, I reckon you should book a flight to Tonga and start a new life.

FTEngineerM · 18/03/2021 17:56

In all seriousness, can you pas out what you did? So some extra tonight? Tell them that you’ve struggled to get through but you’ve done roughly half of what you were meant to (assuming you can do some tonight and then lad out).

OldKingCole · 18/03/2021 18:01

I felt like this about a week ago...it’s not like me at all....it’s all the pressure of lockdown and anxiety and depression that goes with it.
Can you be honest with your manager that you are finding things hard right now and your motivation has dipped? It is temporary.
As a manager I would be very understanding if an employee came to me with this issue.

Shehasadiamondinthesky · 18/03/2021 18:04

You need to work all night. I wouldn't dare do this at work, I'd be for the high jump.
if you can't work all night go off sick and work all weekend.

Icenii · 18/03/2021 18:06

Not sure on how productivity is managed in your role but do you have to complete these tasks each week or can you move I to next week? Do you have the power to cancel the 1 2 1 this week so you can concentrate on the tasks?

What task can you do tomorrow? Get quick and easy out if the way.

TheOpportuneMoment · 18/03/2021 18:07

Can you put in a few extra hours tonight? Start off at least a few of the things you've not started yet? Then you can go in and get off on the front foot, say that you've managed to get x, y and s done but wanted to get some feedback/check something. You can say you've started doing some of the other tasks but just need to finish something off before sharing it with them? Then work your butt off to get stuff into at least a half finished state and bluff your way through.

YawnyOwl · 18/03/2021 18:09

Start doing a bit of work, but don't stress at what you haven't done. Most people are feckless idlers, they just hide it well

captainpantbeard · 18/03/2021 18:10

Tell your manager you’ve had a bad week, you’ve not slept well, you’ve been anxious and you’ve got behind. Work out what you can get done tomorrow and when you can get the rest done and go to the 121 with a plan. Be honest, there’s no need to feel bad - everyone has a bad week now and then particularly at the moment when mental health can really dip.

YawnyOwl · 18/03/2021 18:12

DON'T tell your boss you had a shitty week, most bosses only pay lip service to MH and don't want to hear it (particularly if it effects your output)

Pushmepullyou · 18/03/2021 18:14

Ok, so you have seven tasks left, what are they and how long will each one take?

Jamboree01 · 18/03/2021 18:17

Really unhelpful

qualitygirl · 18/03/2021 18:19

What are the tasks can you try to do as much as you can tonight??

qualitygirl · 18/03/2021 18:19

Forgot my other "?" After tasks! Sorry

Insertfunnyname · 18/03/2021 18:19

You’d better start working now. You’ve got 4 solid hours before bedtime and then get up an hour early tomorrow too.

EasterGuineaPig · 18/03/2021 18:20

Can you have been ‘researching’ this week?

Jamboree01 · 18/03/2021 18:21

Try not to panic. Try to prioritise the most important things in order of importance.

If your manager is the type who is reasonable- it is better for you to contact them and to ask if you can rearrange the meeting.

Don’t stay up all night as you will end up in a complete state of panic and exhausted on top of it.

Do you have anyone to talk to at home?

MisgenderedSwan · 18/03/2021 18:21

Write the tasks that need doing down in a list. Annotate the list with how to complete - for example 1) book meeting - book room, invite attendees, set up zoom link, write agenda, send agenda.

Lay everything out in Bitesize chunks. Make a coffee a start. Just start. Sometimes getting through the panic and just doing 'something' helps unblock.

lovemelongtime · 18/03/2021 18:23

I suggest you try to do me or two of the high impact or priority tasks, but you need to have an honest chat with you manager. If someone in my team was usually a good worker but had a blip due to circumstances or mental well being I would be support them in whatever way I could. You are human!

TokyoSushi · 18/03/2021 18:29

How are you measured? Do you need to show evidence of what you've been doing/what's outstanding? Can you work this evening and really blitz things for a couple of hours?

AlfonsoTheTerrible · 18/03/2021 18:32

@captainpantbeard

Tell your manager you’ve had a bad week, you’ve not slept well, you’ve been anxious and you’ve got behind. Work out what you can get done tomorrow and when you can get the rest done and go to the 121 with a plan. Be honest, there’s no need to feel bad - everyone has a bad week now and then particularly at the moment when mental health can really dip.
Well put.
doadeer · 18/03/2021 18:34

How long will each task take?

AdventureIsWaiting · 18/03/2021 18:35

If you've got an understanding manager, tell the truth - if one of my team came to me with this, I'd reframe their work to spread things out (on a temporary basis) and check whether they needed to be referred to occupational health / the MH helpline.

If you don't have an understanding manager, I agree with pp who have said call in sick tomorrow and work over the weekend to finish it. I'd take tomorrow off completely so you can work better over the weekend; it sounds like you need some fresh air, sleep and a reset. If you need to send emails as part of your work remember you can set a delay function so they send at 0800 Monday morning (if weekend working would flag something).

Original poster
PanickedPanini · 18/03/2021 19:52

The things that need to be done are written reports and things that require thought and effort, not really something I can bang out in an all-nighter, hence the panic.

The manager has only been here for a couple of months so it's difficult to gauge. My previous manager would have hit the roof. But she also set deadlines and catch ups throughout the week so I never had the opportunity to procrastinate this long in the first place.

To top things off, my DM just called me to tell me she has had an urgent cancer referral from her GP so I've spent almost an hour on the phone to her instead of working.

OP posts:
hayley037 · 18/03/2021 20:38

@YawnyOwl

DON'T tell your boss you had a shitty week, most bosses only pay lip service to MH and don't want to hear it (particularly if it effects your output)
This would be my advice too, as much as managers and companies talk about MH we live in a capitalist darwinian system and are in the midst of the worst downturn we are likely to see in our lifetimes and there will be literally millions of people willing to step into your shoes. End of the day regardless of how understanding she'll be on the outside it will be remembered should there be cuts in the future.

I would either call in sick and do it over the weekend or work all night tonight.

doadeer · 18/03/2021 21:11

I wouldn't say anything either, I would call in sick and work tomorrow and the weekend

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