It has always surfaced as a potential problem in the past, but I think the inevitable has now happened: I spread myself too thin.
Photo Credit: HR Review
With graduate coursework (involving reading, writing, and group projects)…work responsibilities (which is steadily increasing, as I am at the point where my employers are seeing my value and are giving me more projects)…graduate assistantship responsibilities (maintaining Web sites, planning events, writing newsletter content, and other miscellaneous tasks)…conducting independent research (to go to conferences and create publishable work), and co-directing/performing in a V-day production of “A Memory, A Monologue, A Rant and A Prayer” (partly because I’m crazy and partly because I’m so passionate about the V-day movement and performing)….all while still trying to have a social life with friends (both in Maryland and in NJ) as well as trying to maintain a stable relationship with my long-distance boyfriend (which, thankfully, is going well, and probably best that Mike is not in MD, as he would serve as another distraction!)
I am suddenly beginning to realize that maybe, just maybe, I am taking on TOO much. This is becoming a little clearer to me now, as my supervisors claim I look too tired, or the fact that I can’t fall asleep because I have so much on my mind. (Another signifier is that I have been MIA on Twitter lately, which totally surprises me and makes me really sad all at the same time).
I was talking to one of my fellow grad students yesterday about how I’m starting to lose some steam, that I am NOT as enthusiastic and gung-ho about school and life as I was maybe two years ago when I started graduate school. I don’t think it’s because I no longer love what I am doing (because I still thoroughly enjoy classes, research, and my job) but I think it’s because I may be working a little TOO hard with everything that’s on my plate – with all these deadlines, and no break or end in sight, I have yet to stop and enjoy all the good things that are going on around me.
So what do you think? It seems like we always reward motivation, drive, passion and hard work. But can working hard get to the point where it is taken too far? In other words, is working TOO hard a negative?
Rowena-
This is a question I ask myself all the time because I often take on too many responsibilities myself. I think in some cases working too hard can be a negative, because you can’t give as much time or effort into the things that you REALLY want to and you just really run yourself dry.
My problem is that I just can’t say no when people ask me to do something. But I’ve learned to evaluate requests now and figure out if its something I really want to do before I just jump on board. Taking on a few tasks and really knocking them out of the park can often be better than taking on WAY to many and doing them alright.
By: stephmajercik on March 31, 2010
at 3:14 pm
Thanks Steph, for the comment! I completely agree with your point on finding it hard to say no – I totally run into that problem too many times myself! Even when my supervisors tell me that I can push back on projects if I have too much on my plate, for some reason I feel like I have to run myself ragged to make a deadline. And for what? Will I truly be proud of an end product that was not done to the fullest of my ability?
I will definitely take your advice on evaluating requests. If it is something that I feel will be beneficial to me in the long run, then yes, I’ll definitely go for it and put in 110%. But if it’s another extra task that will only serve as a burden, then I will think twice before agreeing to be on board. You’re absolutely right in that QUALITY, not QUANTITY, counts!
Thanks again for the great comment!
By: Rowena Briones on March 31, 2010
at 3:27 pm
These are good points and I do think that if a person works hard at something way too much it will definitely have a negative impact on your life.
By: Jason Robinson on March 31, 2010
at 4:20 pm
Jason, the more I think about it, the more I have to agree. We always hear these horror stories about people who work SO hard that they have absolutely no time to spend with family, or friends, or even some time for themselves for that matter. Not only can working too hard cause some health problems, but it can affect your personal relationships as well.
Thanks for the comment!
By: Rowena Briones on March 31, 2010
at 6:31 pm
A person can only do so much. I definitely feel you there– 18 credits, Art Director of Stylus, teaching Hebrew School, board advisor for Hamsa, writing on my own time, trying to find time for art, getting my papers in order to move to another country, working on a series of interviews I’m hoping to turn into a book someday, counseling my friends & family– there’s no Me Time. And Me Time is important to recharge, to be able to do these things. Too much can definitely be a negative, and I purposefully took on less responsibilities this semester.
By: debular on April 1, 2010
at 3:17 pm
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at 11:28 pm