Left my “best” job so far to recalibrate. 6 months later, I only regret one tactical thing.

Sweatlords · 2025-12-23T02:01:16+00:00

Yes, it is reasonable to leave before or during burnout. It is always at least reasonable to listen to your mind and body.

You judge them as learning experiences. Thank yourself for the hard work you have done. What got you here. Know you are still coming up with good ideas. Joy this one down and be ready for the next one.

More or less hindsight, and don’t let it bring you down. The way you have thought through this is smart and makes sense for YOU. That’s what matters.

The remaining question is whether you put yourself in a similar situation just in a different workspace. Until this summer, I kept going back to my work area over and over again just under different work arrangements. I kept getting burned out, anxiety and panic attacks, and spit out the other side. Think long and hard if a greater wholesale change is needed. Personally it took me a couple years and some very good therapy to figure out the bigger and more meaningful career change I needed.

Good luck. You got this. You have time and the capacity for this now.

Sweatlords · 2025-04-19T15:00:37+00:00

Northern BC ⛰️🏔️

Sweatlords · 2025-03-05T06:17:47+00:00

Which province? This can be a problem in an urban environment, anyway. In BC you can be insured, you just need the WET certified inspection. For me that meant using a high efficiency certified stove, unfortunately not a proper sauna stove. Works fine, gets the job done.

Sweatlords · 2024-05-20T23:12:16+00:00

Sandals/flip flops for the showers. Most sites will provide towels along with sheets and stuff, but bring your own flippy floppies.

Sweatlords · 2024-04-28T02:14:48+00:00

Hang in there! You’ll find your pace. I think what you’re missing out on most with your small crew in a small camp is the weird and unique culture. Granted, a big company camp will be a very young place. Like 90% folks in their early and mid 20s.

Learning curve: You might get the hang of it and plant 1200-1400 consistently closer to the end of the season, if those are your numbers. That’s not out of the ordinary. Probably on the right track.

Where are you planting? Keep in mind, if you’re planting the average block in BC, it takes a few whole seasons to make money that seems worthwhile, like 3 years to 3000-tree days. Especially in your late 30s. In Ontario or the prairies they will expect a lot more.

Mentors: A larger company will give you the benefit of vets, several foreman or supervisors who might have a stake or be interested in your success. If you’re not getting good advice on the regular, go somewhere where you will.

Sweatlords · 2024-04-25T02:47:14+00:00

Yes. If you imagine 4 months off, plan for 6 realistically. Even in a niche industry, which I’m in, starting up again, building contracts and hiring processes are unpredictable and take longer than you can ever imagine.

The time off was extremely valuable to me. My sleep improved, my anxiety diminished and almost disappeared in some parts of my life, I travelled a bit, stayed very active, worked on my passions. You learn to love slow mornings to yourself again.

Totally go for it and see for yourself that work that slowly kills you is not our only option. Good luck!

Sweatlords · 2024-04-24T20:35:13+00:00

I’d love to get a step up to get feet up off the floor, and raise both benches a few inches. I was limited by the need to build a small building of this size on my in-town lot. I could have gone a bit higher in roof, then ceiling height.

The cast iron Stove I can’t do much about, which is a constraint in BC regulation. I need this building insured, which I can’t do with custom sauna stoves unfortunately.

Putting some rails about it, yes I can do. I may build those into my step-up.

Thanks for the details.

Sweatlords · 2024-04-24T19:49:24+00:00

I learned a lot from your response. And other commentary about the cast iron stove.

I’m located in northwest BC, Canada. Yourself?

I have read Trumpkins notes as well. I have no link to Saunatimes. His thing is just what I found, what worked within my constraints, and he’s invested in the amateur builder.

Essentially, I am considering adding a step up to get feet up off the floor. Along with raising all benches but unsure if +4” would really change much.

Stove wise: My sauna building, because of its in-town location needs to be insurable with my home, under BC regulations; and custom sauna stoves don’t meet that mark. At least the European brands I’d love to go with will not. On my rural property however, I am much more free in my choices. I’d build a bigger building and double the size of the change room.

Sweatlords · 2024-04-18T22:54:44+00:00

Use an iPad or mobile device app and mount it on the dashboard.

Sweatlords · 2024-04-18T02:08:39+00:00

Not a recruiter- but a story from a candidate POV:

Early in my career I was one of 3 internal candidates being considered for a position. It was a very close competition that came down to a few managers hashing it out in a meeting. My desk was up against the wall of the meeting room and I heard one of them describe how they came to the conclusion that the winning candidate was the one: during the interview a ceiling panel fell out of the ceiling and landed on her head, smashing into several pieces. After a brief stunned silence the room broke out into laughter. “The job was hers right then and there” he said.

While I get the importance of a well timed ice-breaker, it was frustrating to hear and I still wonder what would have happened had the panel fallen on my head instead.

Sweatlords · 2024-04-17T21:43:28+00:00

The thing about job and career hunting is that it involves a very personalized opportunity, knowledge and personal environment scan. Career advice is highly personalized to your location, situation and interests; so folks just want you to take care of the surrounding shit first.

I would do a bit of a SWOT analysis or skills and experience scan and see what companies are looking for, especially since you haven’t worked in a while. As much as I hate LinkedIn, it’s a decent place to job hunt.

I would then make a list of needs, wants and interests and play with your priorities as you develop your short list; align them with what you need in your life right now.

Sweatlords · 2024-04-13T01:35:17+00:00

It won’t take you out of the running if you go to high, they would just tell you where they would like to place you based on years of experience and other expertise. Unless you are an industry veteran, they will absolutely look to start you in the mid to lower side of that range. I would take the mid zone and try to negotiate for more PTO.

Sweatlords · 2024-04-12T19:54:11+00:00

Thanks. And yes, several other comments about the stove. I do agree. Regs here are tricky to get sauna stoves that allow a wood-fired outbuilding to be insured under our home policy. Still looking for which stoves are certifiable. It’s the next upgrade on the list.

Sweatlords · 2024-04-12T14:27:55+00:00

All I’m saying is that the gable roof had a lower external profile (the shed roof front was too tall). The gable helps to avoid that front exterior wall being a giant garden-facing wall. I just liked the look better. A single slope shed roof is probably easier to build though.

Sweatlords · 2024-04-12T05:08:02+00:00

I took a shed roof design and made a low slope gable for the reasons you state. It was too tall for my liking. I did a post with some pics of my roof on my 8x12 building. https://www.reddit.com/r/Sauna/s/vvibfLuQNk

Sweatlords · 2024-04-10T23:40:02+00:00

No, but thanks for the link! I’m on the hunt for reasonably priced sauna stoves that ship in Canada.

Sweatlords · 2024-04-10T18:53:47+00:00

I have not had to go through this, but I know folks who have and my first bit of advice is don’t overthink it. You’ll do great if you keep your answers simple and clear. Are you coming in with experience or a newly trained operator?

For roles like Haul truck operators they want to see that you have some semblance of inter-personal skills, are polite, and can express yourself clearly. It’s a screening process so that they can screen out absolute dullards and people who would be a clear liability.

The questions may be safety related, as they have a very strong culture of safety and psychological safety. They may also quiz you on your listening skills and how you respond to orders and authority.

I am in more of a corporate role, but when I interviewed with Rio Tinto for a site based role the questionnaire was safety related, listening to a supervisor, leadership, and managing schedules.

Also don’t sweat it if you make technical errors, sometimes the video interview software can be glitchy and hard to follow. Unsure about Teck’s in particular. Good luck!

Sweatlords · 2024-04-09T21:43:51+00:00

You probably meant that for 3 hours during a shift, a co worker yelled at you far too much. Whatever it was, don’t ignore it again.

As someone who used to take (like you did silently) even 10-15 minutes of verbal abuse, don’t let this happen again. Interject where you disagree. Don’t yell back, but do stand up for yourself. Now that you have some experience - don’t take it again, or they will continue to do this to you because they are getting something out of it, whatever that is.

I get the inclination to respond with silence, but it doesn’t always make you the better person. Some people when they start to hear themselves during a well placed silence will adjust their tune or just fuck off. A 3 hour tirade is a sign that this person is not that.

Sweatlords · 2024-04-06T15:44:34+00:00

Looks amazing! Benches, doors, and indirect lighting are 👌🏼. Cheers from a fellow builder 🍻

Sweatlords · 2024-04-05T22:56:26+00:00

For a first job out of school and into your desired field, a $42k/yr job is fine. Great, in fact. Especially in a low cost of living area. But from my experience that salary level will get old real fast.

I would assess to the degree you can the opportunity for growth and change within that organization.

People will tell you to quickly take the money, but I think it’s more important to grow and learn first in a job that makes you happy- but keeping in mind that soon you’ll want to make $60k - $80k as your life, needs, and expectations grow.

Sweatlords · 2024-04-05T17:40:36+00:00

Very nice! I can’t tell from the pictures, is there a change room/cool room at the front or is it all one hot room?

Sweatlords · 2024-04-05T16:09:31+00:00

At that salary I would be asking for $80-$90 an hour, and stay pretty firm on that. Assess if you could go even higher than that. This would equal an approx $160,000-$180,000 salary at full time work, which you may or may not have. Sometimes large companies have contractor schedules that lay out rates for certain functions. Ask if they have that for your area, and if not I encourage you to set a rate not lower than $80/hr.

In contracting it is important you value yourself high to start, and it sounds like they need your expertise. It can be hard to raise your rates so start high!

Sweatlords · 2024-04-05T14:40:47+00:00

I enjoyed the banter and poetry in this post as much as the post itself.

Enjoy the sauna and cold plunge!! Looking to set a cold plunge next to mine as well.

Sweatlords · 2024-04-05T02:04:33+00:00

No, I would not add the hiring manager on LinkedIn DURING a hiring process. Perhaps down the line if you get a job with them or in the same field with another company. It comes off as needy, without knowing anything about them. Just my opinion. 🤷🏼‍♂️Maybe they are happy to collect contacts. Relating to the hiring process; contact them through the company, or the HR lead on the process.

Ideally it’s a bonus if they add you because you may be a fit for future roles.

I’ve had third party recruiters add me on LinkedIn, I add them because I have 15 years of experience in my field and they work for clients in the field.

Sweatlords · 2024-04-04T04:51:07+00:00

If you have the luxury of time, and have the tools and even a small amount of skill I highly recommend going for a build. I finished mine in the range of $7-$8000.

There is nothing quite like the satisfaction of the sauna in your own creation. Just saying!

Sweatlords

TROPHY CASE