When you have nothing to do, learn something new!

I literally sat there not knowing what to do. All of my "tasks" for the day were complete. I had no calls for another 90 minutes. So I walked. And it was HOT. At the start of the walk it was 98 degrees and by the time I was done it was 103. I did not take a second walk today. It was just too toasty.

So I filled my day with development opportunities. I started watching a Udemy course regarding the science of motivation. These are the things I do when I have nothing to do. I try to learn so that I can bring something new or different to my team.

I also was working really hard not to create more work for the team. See, it starts out with a little free time. Then I get a great idea, start doing it, and then have to figure out how to delegate to my team so its sustainable in the future. With less than 18 months left doing our job, I am trying to be cognizant and avoid overloading and overextending everyone. I want them to stay as long as possible after all!

Slacking Off At Work

Even when I try to slack off, I just can't. 

I am not trying to brag here. I came to work with the intention to indulge in some mind expanding reading, I am trying to revisit an old ethnic studies book that is more than relevant at this current time, and it sat on my desk all day teasing me.

By 10 am I had completed all of my ticky tack tasks. I could, without failing in my job duties, kick up my feet, read, and respond to any emergencies. Did it happen? No. Instead I decided to dive into my team's current workload and check to see if they were doing what they were supposed to. Next I wrote up 3 more mid year evaluations that I will deliver next week. Then I decided to prep assignments for the rest of the month. I went on two walk breaks with a co-worker I sat through 2 mid year deliveries as an observer, provided feedback, and support during a corrective action conversation. And you would think, since I finished all of my "work" at 10 am that if anything I would leave promptly to go get my kids, but you would be wrong. I ended up staying almost 20 minutes late talking to a boss person about something that needs to be accomplished next week. 

This is the story of my life. Even when I'm lazy and trying to not work, stuff gets done. 

Oh and don't forget the fight I launched with our HR department and how I helped one of my managers get approval to fire someone for fraud. Technically HR is reviewing "if" we can fire the employee, even though we have proven fraud and we just completed annual fraud training in which the company says it has zero tolerance for fraud. If they don't give me the approval, there are going to be issues. 

There is something about how I was raised and those early jobs I held that really instilled this work ethic. I look around and question why everyone else isn't like this. If you know, tell me, because I can't comprehend getting paid to do nothing if there is a chance something could be done. 

Completely Unremarkable

Not all days are remarkable.

Have you ever been to or driven past a dairy farm? Rows and rows of cows, lined up in rows. That's how I see cubicle life. Every cow or person in it's place, producing to maximum capacity, if the output isn't good, they are quickly replaced.

Today was another day on a dairy farm. I did my tasks, I completed my duties, but I didn't do much more than that. Everyone is burned out. It's the summer time blues mixed in with impending doom of the closure of our business.

Everyone wants out, or wants to survive to the end, but nobody is really enthused to get work done. I'm not feeling much better, but it is my job to inspire others and model the appropriate behaviors, so work I did.

Today, Wednesday, was my Monday, and it feels like the company was on vacation. It was quiet to say the least. We'll see if there is a change tomorrow, I am not betting on it.