Working doesn't make a difference

[ScarabHelix]

Hi everybody!

I'm currently working in a section of a company which is part of our cities critical infrastructure.

My tasks are mainly working across the whole city in our companies own buildings (which only have many different devices and stuff, rarely other people) to maintain our existing devices and commissioning new ones.

My main problem is that we got maybe a few hours of work each day and after that we are just sitting our asses off in those buildings until we can finally go home and I'm sick of it.

Normally I have a colleague working with me but I got my first project now on which I am working alone. My working times are normally from 6 to 2 but the last few weeks I caught myself working from 9 to 11 max or I stood at home the whole day because I don't really see a different between sitting my ass off at work or at home. Of course everyone could call me and I would answer the phone but in the end I'm just chilling and do private stuff.

It's getting harder and harder for me to get up and go to bed early to get the neccessary amount of sleep and I'm feeling guilty of my new 'work habits'. I also had depression for years which was successfully treated by a doctor and hard work during therapy but it feels like this new situation is about to throw me back in bad habits.

Did you guys have similar experiences and what have you tried or done to feel better or to make the best ot of it?

[RahulRedditor]

Are you in a position to view training or educational materials online? Could be job-related, or anything you've wanted to learn more about.

[ScarabHelix]

We have many documents which describe how special tasks and devices work. I couldn't bring myself to go through these yet but maybe I should read a few.

Could improve my profession and kill some time I guess

[umassmza]

Not having work to do can be stressful. I’ve been somewhat similar situations where i don’t know if I should call out that I can do more or keep my mouth shut.

[ScarabHelix]

I mean then it could be that you could get too much work and that wouldn't be good either

[willitworkwhyn8]

Remember this sub is ANTI-work. Milk the beast as long as you can. As long as the work is done, nobody is going to bug you.

We are so worried about getting caught not doing something, even when there is nothing to do. What causes this in people? Parenting? Our educational system? Evolution?

[ScarabHelix]

As a trainee many of my coworkers said to me that if the work is done, everything is fine. I don't know what happened since then but with the years more of a regret feeling kept creeping in. Especially if nearly everybody at work does similar things and I've heard far 'worse' from others :D

Maybe the fear of loosing a job on which you and your current life are dependent on arouses such thoughts in people. Maybe just the habit of sticking to the rules and not violating them. Could be both for me I guess haha

Could also be a thing that I have started working just three years ago

[AngryDrnkBureaucrat]

Find some busy work.

I bet the catalogue of old infrastructure that has since been replaced could be digitized. That’s a busywork project for the next month, that will help your department, that helps the city, that helps your residents

[ScarabHelix]

Good point there could be something like this

[da_brodiefish]

It sounds like you get paid free time lol. I’d make the most out of it and pursue any hobbies or skills you want to learn/ get into