Steph, all I can add is, I work insane hours fairly often, and don't imagine that I don't complain about it! Because I do. My co-workers and I complain a lot! It's the nature of the beast, with my job and the way we do things; either the day's work takes three hours to finish, or 14 hours. But you still have to set boundaries. If the long hours are a temporary push, that's one thing, but if it's becoming a "normal" thing, to work more than 8-10 hours a day, then your employer is asking too much. You can't work that much all the time. I know; I've tried! It leads to depression and exhaustion and less-than-perfect work and messy houses. So if this isn't a temporary thing, don't be afraid to tell your employer it's too much work; you either need help or an extension of deadlines. You're not a whiner.
eta:
I just don't know what's reasonable. They're not unreasonable people, but doubling my hours is...I don't know if they're just not paying attention to the amount of work they're giving me or if it's just something I have to do or otherwise I get fired. And, you know, I need to be employed.
This is when you talk to the person who's giving you the work and be frank about your concerns. There's something in-between "do whatever they want and hush" and "refuse and get fired". Talk to them, tell them you want to keep the job but the workload is untenable, what can we do?
Kind of having a panic attack. Hyperventilating and seeing spots. I think I didn't have breakfast or lunch.
Do you have something quick and easy to eat, Teppy?
Steph, I don't have any professional advice, but this sounds like a good question for Ask A Manager, although I don't know how fast she responds to questions.
Also, go eat something right now. And take a breather. You need it.
Yes, people work long hours, but they complain and vent and they get burned out. At my store we've had several people quit because they were working at my store as a 2nd (or third) job and that combined with other things means they were working 11-12 hour days, with no days off for weeks on end and it was too much so they burned out and quit.
It may feel like everyone else is sucking it up and never complaining but they are.
The fact that you are freelance doesn't make your work or work situation any easier than someone who is going into an office. You're at home so you dont have a commute, but you are still putting in long days doing meticulious work where you need to be sharp.
I dont' think it would be unreasonable to say something like "I know my work load has increased during this transitional period, I wanted to clarify how long this transitional period is anticipated to last." or something like that. If they say "It should last until the end of October" or if they say "we expected it to last through the end of the year" you have a better idea and can talk to them about what you can reasonably handle.
I could have a banana or cheese.
Yes, or a walk or something involving enough that you're not thinking about work. Time to give the lizard brain a rest or at least a diversion.
Remember, too, Tep, that they already value you a lot to trust you with all this work. If you say it's too much, there's more chance they'll worry about you quitting than deciding to fire you. They hired you for a reason, you know?
Try to breathe.
Banana, then cheese. One will take care of now (I just ate one cause shower gave me the shakes. Go Team Coffee Is Not Sufficient Fuel!) and the other will last you a bit.
Steph, I sincerely doubt they'd fire you for asking to reprioritize/ better manage workload. That would GUARANTEE the work wouldn't get finished by October. They don't want that.
And now I'm wondering if school let out early because there are tons of elementary kids shrieking through the neighborhood...
Ok, I'm off to buy birdseed. Gotta so something useful today.
Yes, or a walk or something involving enough that you're not thinking about work. Time to give the lizard brain a rest or at least a diversion.
No time. Seriously, I can't believe how much I have to do right now, and this big complex mess of a thing just landed in my lap on top of all the stuff.
Steph, I sincerely doubt they'd fire you for asking to reprioritize/ better manage workload. That would GUARANTEE the work wouldn't get finished by October. They don't want that.
Not fire me on the spot, but they can plan to replace me with someone who doesn't complain and just does the work.
This panic attack HURTS. That's normal, right? Or am I also having a stroke? I feel like someone punched me in the sternum.
