Notice period is dragging...

[LizLemonsGlasses]

I've got one month to go of a three month notice period and the days are really dragging. Motivation is through the floor, I just can't be bothered with the tasks I still have to do (most of which I've been fed up with for months, hence why I'm leaving). We're back in the office but I have no team to work with after our company changed hands. There are only a few of us left and I can go through whole days barely interacting with anyone except by email. My boss wants me to stay until the start of December as we're launching a new thing then. Tbh my involvement is minimal - there's an external agent handling this launch and I just know I will have achieved very little by the time I eventually leave but I feel obliged to stay, especially because it looks like they're not going to recruit a replacement for my role.

I'm not the sort of person to just throw a sickie, and I want to leave on good terms anyway - but my mental health is crappy at the moment and I do wish I could take a few days off to just pull myself together. And maybe if I wasn't leaving I would do it, but if I do it now it will look bad - like I'm trying to waste away a few days before the end of my notice.

I'm really worried that I'll be so low/demotivated by the time I leave that it will be really difficult to take on the new role - with the added complication that I'm moving from PT to FT, which I'm apprehensive about.

Anyone else working their notice at the moment and finding it tough?

It’s always tough working your notice. I always used to have a count down clock of some sort e.g x number of days to go, only one mor x meeting etc. Childish but it helps. I also took annual leave even just odd days to give me mini breaks from work e.g a Wednesday.

Is it possible to WFH? If your boss wants you to stay your full notice then start WFH. What can they do? Fire you?

@LizLemonsGlasses I’m in the exact same boat as you - but 2 weeks to go of the 3 months notice…

The last month has absolutely been the hardest as my leaving date is in touching distance… I’m also similar in that my workload is all but gone.

Sensible top tip is hang in there, grit your teeth, take your full lunch and get through it.

Other side of me is saying WFH, dial into a zoom call from months ago with someone who has left (so your screen stays on), and find a new Netflix series to binge

Yes, just over a month left, it’s dragging but I have so much to do. My role isn’t being filled by anyone so I have no one to hand my caseload over to and I’m worried about that as well.

It’s pants. Hope it goes quick for you!

They used to put you on garden leave at one of my old work places as soon as you handed in your notice - they knew you’d stop caring about work and didn’t want you to run off on colleagues!

Could you start writing handover notes for colleagues?

@Skinnyjeansandsidepart that's a tempting idea! Good luck with your last couple of weeks, hope it goes quick. 

Good point, those who've suggested WFH, I could perhaps do a few more days like that - at least then I could balance out my remaining work with housework, lunch at home, morning walk etc. That would prob help my mental state as well.

I've started a detailed handover doc, but in a similar position to @LooksLikeImStuckHere - I'm not confident they're going to replace me. I'm concerned about this too, for the colleagues who'll remain, but am also reminding myself it's not my problem...

Thanks for the solidarity and advice so far, good to know I'm not alone!

Also, are there any processes you wish you understood etc but you aren't trained on - now is the time to dig out the procedure / policy etc and become familiar. Last chance really!

Exact same position as you - I've got just over three weeks left now of a three month notice period.

Motivation is at an all time low! I mainly work from home and I've been filling my days messing around online/dealing with life admin I should think about in the evenings etc. I've even spent considerable time researching output from my new employer and getting to grips with some of the work I'll be doing once I start there. I'll be an expert from day one at this rate!

Sorry, no real advice. Just wanted to say I know exactly how you're feeling. It's the longest three months ever.

Nobody really expects anyone on their notice period to be working at full capacity or anything like it, do they? I don’t see why you shouldn’t take your holiday if you want to. Three colleagues have mine have either retired or left for new jobs this year and all ended up leaving before their official leave date as they were using holiday. People often don’t because they want the cash, but if you want to take the days off, then take them.

Take it easy and reserve your energy for the new job.

I've just done 3 months, they refused to put me on gardening leave. I had no access to anything but had into be present. It was bloody awful.

Finally starting the new role has been the best thing. Onwards and upwards op, and good luck!

@idontlikealdi

What did you do all day?

My employer did this to someone in my team a couple of years ago. She was made to work from home but couldn't access anything and they complained if she wasn't sitting by her laptop and phone in case someone got in contact.

Feel for you. I’m only 3 weeks in to my three month notice period and am feeling so checked out already. I can’t even begin to imagine how bored I’m going to be by the end!

@TheAntiGardener

Nobody really expects anyone on their notice period to be working at full capacity or anything like it, do they? I don’t see why you shouldn’t take your holiday if you want to. Three colleagues have mine have either retired or left for new jobs this year and all ended up leaving before their official leave date as they were using holiday. People often don’t because they want the cash, but if you want to take the days off, then take them.

Take it easy and reserve your energy for the new job.

I sort of hope they're not expecting me to be working full capacity - certainly no-one's giving me lots of extra work to do (although I've been having an issue with a lack of management anyway - another reason for my departure!) so I guess I need to use this to my advantage.

I'll do a bit more of what @QueenOfDuisburg has done and look into my new employer, get ready for what's to come. I also made a note for myself today of other useful things to do when I'm feeling demotivated/bored: keep up with CPD/reading/research, especially in areas specific to the new job; also to begin sorting out my desk drawers and filing cabinet, at least that would be practical!

And yes, also planning to use some holidays up - I only have about a week's worth left though and I think I'll use the bulk of it to go 'early' and then have a few days off to rest (as much as that's possible in the run up to Christmas! ) and sort my head out ready to start the new role.

@idontlikealdi your notice period sounds awful! Bet you were glad to finally leave.

@Katrinawaves

Feel for you. I’m only 3 weeks in to my three month notice period and am feeling so checked out already. I can’t even begin to imagine how bored I’m going to be by the end!

Oh dear @Katrinawaves - I hope it goes faster than mine has. See above for some good tips from PPs!