How in the heck can you get bored trying to outwit local Planners, Flood Plain Managers, Equipment upgrades, new software, Microsoft crashes, etc.
I swear everyday something new comes up.
I almost forgot outwitting Lawyers.
Right now I'm upgrading my computer to 64 bit because that's all new software will run on.
Looking back at my post...it may come across as not accurate. I do like what I do, but I hate that it isn't all "surveying". With that, I mean boundary and traditional surveying. But realistically, not too many of of here do just boundary. After all diversification is the name of the game right?
I almost forgot outwitting Lawyers.
Careful....that old adage about being dragged down to their level and beaten by experience...and pigs in the pig pen love wallowing in their own waste....
Mind you I agree, lawyers are fun to spar with esp when they step onto a field they no little about...?ÿ
<with a sharp Borat accent> High five!!?ÿ ???? ?????ÿ
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I've been surveying ~20 years and at this point I'm not sure what else I would/could do. I'd love to be in the field (some days) but not on the daily. The field I'm in currently allows me to touch all sorts of projects, software, hardware, drawings, research and client interaction BUT it does not allow me to do any "real surveying". Instead I'm helping others do their jobs more efficiently, and in some cases training them how to do their job. (That's a whole other topic)
Sounds to me like you need either a break or to get out completely. If you're burnt out and have been burnt out a few times before now that you may find the work unfulfilling and maybe need to learn a new craft such as marine maintenance, snowmobile repair, something that you can do with your hands and see the product of your work. I'm sorry you're feeling this way, it happens to all of us but you need to do what's best for you. Keep your head up!
Perhaps the problem is a lack of personal goals or rewards.?ÿ I deal with drudgery by giving myself something to look forward to.
Currently I am planning, researching, and training for a DIY elk hunt.?ÿ Prior to that I taught myself how to successfully fish Pamlico sound.?ÿ Before that I learned successful ways to increase my VO2 max and strength.?ÿ
There's so much to learn. Pick something and immerse yourself in it.?ÿ If you are not physically fit, start there and I would be shocked if you didn't notice improvements in your mental wellness.
Studies show it takes just 21 days to establish a new habit. In the grand scheme of things, that's just a drop in the bucket.
I recently retired after 36 years. ?ÿYes it can be a grind, I probably had my ups a downs over the years. ?ÿI would actually say I liked my job the most over the last 10 years. ?ÿWe got somewhat smaller over that time period and I just had to worry about myself and maybe one other guy sometimes. ?ÿI didn??t like the paperwork, doing budgets, writing contracts and putting together proposals. ?ÿ
what exactly is getting you down? ?ÿManagement issues? ?ÿPaperwork? ?ÿYou don??t like field work? ?ÿDon??t like office work? ?ÿOnly you can decide if it??s time to make a change.
After 31 years I still mostly enjoy surveying and can't wait to get to work in the morning. But from time to time things have begun to drag a little. Those where always times when I wasn't being challenged. If the work gets too repetitive, it gets boring.?ÿ ?ÿ?ÿ
Sounds to me like somebody needs to buy a drone.
Sometimes what gets labeled as burn out is just dissatisfaction with life in general.?ÿ All the issues revolving around the current pandemic has more of an effect on us than we care to admit.?ÿ The current political scene with two distant ends and no middle ground contributes to the negativity.?ÿ As we age we tend to make note of things we ignored when we were younger, such as, how many listed in today's obituary column are younger than I am.?ÿ Driving past something familiar from your past and noticing how diminished and worn out it seems and hope you haven't done the same.?ÿ That young buck driving the Maserati may only have one fourth your knowledge but twice your income.?ÿ Family issues are everywhere and can be both positive and negative on any given day.
Changes cause stress.?ÿ Making a change can be quite beneficial but there will be a significant stress level before the full benefit is received.
About 40 years ago I attended some meeting where the speaker focused on the stress in our lives.?ÿ He passed out a simple list of questions so that everyone present could answer them honestly and privately and make their own assessment as to their current stress level.?ÿ It seems as though there may have been forty questions with some being worth one point up to some being worth four or five points.?ÿ The more points, the higher stress you should be experiencing whether you fully recognized it or not.?ÿ Most questions had a time period attached to it.?ÿ Some might ask about an occurrence this week or an occurrence within the past six months depending on the question.?ÿ I should have already died based on my score.?ÿ Job change, home change, family change, monetary change, etc.?ÿ It seemed like every question with several points was one of my current stressors.
I am Nathan. I'm an over-focuser. I work with incredible zeal. I need somebody to remind me to go home, or to eat. Once I get going in one direction, I cannot consider another.
I survey like a maniac.
I have trouble putting books back. I'm asking God for 2 brains. One to work, and one to do other things. I forget to pay bills, buy gas, or to get dog food.
Ah! I'm a reverse ADHD, who could use a 5 yr workation to the mountains of Venezuela, or Columbia. Not surveying. Just helping indigenous Indians to live.
N
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In case you wonder...overfocus is a subset of A.D.D.?ÿ Dr. Amen describes it very well in his books. Pretty interesting when someone describes exactly what is going on in my brain.?ÿ
Or I've got that cat disorder. Asbergers. It does not bother me as much as others.
Or I've got that cat disorder. Asbergers. It does not bother me as much as others.
Hi, my name is Jim. I am a surveying addict. I have been surveying since 1988 and I currently have no plans to stop.?ÿ
My aspirations of being a Calvin Klein underwear model have so far eluded me, so I guess I'll just have to keep surveying.?ÿ
It's not all it's cracked up to be.?ÿ Listen to the voice of experience. ???® ???® ???®?ÿ
@david-livingstone At this point, it's pretty much every aspect of the job.?ÿ But on the other hand, maybe all the negativity of this year has something to do with it.?ÿ On paper, it's my dream job, but lately it's just getting to be grind.?ÿ I've been dreaming of going solo for like 8 years now, my question - from a business standpoint - is "where" in my region.
Lots of different and thoughtful responses to what most have faced - 'burnout'.?ÿ I am well beyond retirement age and still like surveying, the people I work with, and my Clients.
Best current burnout solution for me is to learn something new.?ÿ For me I have two things to learn in the next several months: salt water fly fishing and integrating new gnss equipment - should keep me busy for another 6 months and both cost lots of money.
A large engineering company offered to purchase our small firm with me guaranteeing profits to equal the purchase price over the next 3 years..?ÿ One of the principals then asked I not make a significant investment in new technology.?ÿ ?ÿI offered to purchase them with same terms.?ÿ That was 25 years ago.
I sleep good at night, learn something new every day, and really like being able to help Clients with their problems.
Not sure what is best for you.?ÿ Watch out for the photoshopped green grass
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You may feel limited to your existing working environment and need a change of scenery.
Watch out for the photoshopped green grass
Wow! Quote of the yr!
Thank you.
N
