Running myself ragged
I don’t know why this always happens to me. I have a consulting gig that I agreed to take on merely as a favor to a former boss of mine. I have no interest in working full-time outside my home at this point, so this gig seemed like a good one for me. It only required that I put in one or two office days per month, and that I spend time writing e-mails and company memos as necessary.
Recently, however, my boss has totally been taking advantage of me. He’s shorthanded right now, so he asked me to fill in for three weeks while he looked for a couple of new employees. Even though I hate working every day, I agreed to do it just to help out.
But now, my willingness to help is coming back to bite me, as my employer has extended my office time to six weeks. I can’t really say no, as it’s in my best interest to have this gig to fall back on should I ever need a full-time job.
But going from working 2 days per month to 20 is really taking its toll on me, as I’m completely running myself ragged. I barely have time to eat properly, I’m not getting stuff done around the house, and I’m not sleeping as much as I need to. I guess on the positive side, I can say that I’ve lost a couple of pounds without having to take any fat burners or supplements, but that’s really a small consolation these days.
Yes, I get paid above and beyond my contract for all of this extra time I’m putting in, but money’s not the point right now. There’s a reason I don’t want full-time work, and that reason is my son. It’s his summer vacation, so I wanted to spend a lot of time with him, but that’s not happening since I’m working so much. I feel guilty about it and feel bad that the boy has to go to a babysitter (albeit my mom) every single day.
Ugh. I don’t know what to do. I just wish my boss would get his act together and find new employees ASAP!