Let's Talk, BOTL and mental health

[Dylantaylor059]

I'm not too sure if this is the best place to post this, but I'm not too sure where else would be applicable. Before even writing it I know this is a "suffering from success" type of problem and in many peoples eyes probably a good problem to have for the most part.

I've been in my current field of work for about 4 years now and have really excelled. So much so that last year I was given the opportunity to bridge a gap between the company I work for and the law firm that we provide services to by being the first person outside of the firm ever to be given my current role. The firm was very happy with my performance and requested two additional people be added in from my company while giving my company a pretty nice investment for being able to provide this service and they are now looking to fully integrate. For that I was given a quarterly award that's pretty hard to come by since its essentially the top award offered by my company. All of that I guess could just be boiled down to I moved up really fast for my field and accidentally became important at work. This all has happened in more or less the same 10ish months where we had our son and bought a house.

I guess what I'm getting at with all of this is that I've hit a point where there's no clear goals and as someone who really does thrive on having goals I'm a bit lost. I don't know if its just living on a dopamine rush for the last 10 months finally catching up to me or what, but I just feel like I have hit a wall. I've become the go to guy for people I didn't even know existed and where that felt like a cool achievement 3 months ago it now just feels draining.

This feels like an "old man yells at cloud" moment (ignore the fact that I'm 25), but I just needed to write it out somewhere to get it out of my head and see if anyone else has ever been in a situation like this. I appreciate any advice you guys offer.

 

[Alwayslit]

I'm not too sure if this is the best place to post this, but I'm not too sure where else would be applicable. Before even writing it I know this is a "suffering from success" type of problem and in many peoples eyes probably a good problem to have for the most part.

I've been in my current field of work for about 4 years now and have really excelled. So much so that last year I was given the opportunity to bridge a gap between the company I work for and the law firm that we provide services to by being the first person outside of the firm ever to be given my current role. The firm was very happy with my performance and requested two additional people be added in from my company while giving my company a pretty nice investment for being able to provide this service and they are now looking to fully integrate. For that I was given a quarterly award that's pretty hard to come by since its essentially the top award offered by my company. All of that I guess could just be boiled down to I moved up really fast for my field and accidentally became important at work. This all has happened in more or less the same 10ish months where we had our son and bought a house.

I guess what I'm getting at with all of this is that I've hit a point where there's no clear goals and as someone who really does thrive on having goals I'm a bit lost. I don't know if its just living on a dopamine rush for the last 10 months finally catching up to me or what, but I just feel like I have hit a wall. I've become the go to guy for people I didn't even know existed and where that felt like a cool achievement 3 months ago it now just feels draining.

This feels like an "old man yells at cloud" moment (ignore the fact that I'm 25), but I just needed to write it out somewhere to get it out of my head and see if anyone else has ever been in a situation like this. I appreciate any advice you guys offer.

I'd suggest taking a few days with the Mrs and your son and relax. Get away from work and the house. We all need a time to reset. The benefits will be well worth it........imho.

 

[icehog3]

I think that's good advice from Jim, Dylan. Sometimes stepping away for a moment gives a new perspective.

 

[Dylantaylor059]

I appreciate it fellas. Yeah that's probably not a bad Idea we haven't really "gotten away" for about two years so it might be time for a trip.

 

[highsierrasmokin']

Don't forget to take time out to keep doing the things you have always loved doing.
This is my problem at the moment. All work for years now. I feel dead inside.
I'm gonna get back to skateboarding again, mixing records, biking, hiking and all the things that make me who I am.
It's essential.

 

[Alwayslit]

Don't forget to take time out to keep doing the things you have always loved doing.
This is my problem at the moment. All work for years now. I feel dead inside.
I'm gonna get back to skateboarding again, mixing records, biking, hiking and all the things that make me who I am.
It's essential.

I'm looking forward to seeing you riding that half pipe you've constructed

 

[MaytagMan]

I can empathize with being the go-to guy - I'm that guy at work for a lot of things. It got old for me when it went from people thanking me to people just assuming that I would do it, Need tech help? Need data collected and presented? Need somebody to write up complicated documents to submit for us to have National Recognition? Hey yeah, Bill will do it...

For a lot of things, I made guides for people so they can help themselves. I've had to learn to say no. (I just won't say no to kids who need me to appear in some video they are shooting for a class project or whatever, but that is different, it is fun, and they appreciate it). I've booked "Busy" time in my work calendar so I am sure to get lunch and have times where I don't have parent or student meetings.

Definitely take time with your family. Do a trip now, but make time for something, even something small, each week.

I tell the kids at work they need to take some "me time" every day, even if it is for a few minutes. Do something that you enjoy and that relaxes you where you don't have to think about work.

You're a pen guy like me... have you ever thought about trying journaling? My best buddy here is an English teacher and he has been a big time journaler for 30 years... it is crazy how much fountain pen ink he goes through lol... sometimes he does it to process things, and sometimes he is recapping his day to day.

Just a few things that came to my mind. You got this!

 

[Dylantaylor059]

Don't forget to take time out to keep doing the things you have always loved doing.
This is my problem at the moment. All work for years now. I feel dead inside.
I'm gonna get back to skateboarding again, mixing records, biking, hiking and all the things that make me who I am.
It's essential.

I'm happy to hear you're getting back after it man! I think you're right for sure I've been putting all of my stock in everything else for a hot minute taking some time to myself is a solid idea.

Also, I think If I even looked at a skateboard the wrong way these days I'd be sore for a week lmao.

 

[Dylantaylor059]

I can empathize with being the go-to guy - I'm that guy at work for a lot of things. It got old for me when it went from people thanking me to people just assuming that I would do it, Need tech help? Need data collected and presented? Need somebody to write up complicated documents to submit for us to have National Recognition? Hey yeah, Bill will do it...

For a lot of things, I made guides for people so they can help themselves. I've had to learn to say no. (I just won't say no to kids who need me to appear in some video they are shooting for a class project or whatever, but that is different, it is fun, and they appreciate it). I've booked "Busy" time in my work calendar so I am sure to get lunch and have times where I don't have parent or student meetings.

Definitely take time with your family. Do a trip now, but make time for something, even something small, each week.

I tell the kids at work they need to take some "me time" every day, even if it is for a few minutes. Do something that you enjoy and that relaxes you where you don't have to think about work.

You're a pen guy like me... have you ever thought about trying journaling? My best buddy here is an English teacher and he has been a big time journaler for 30 years... it is crazy how much fountain pen ink he goes through lol... sometimes he does it to process things, and sometimes he is recapping his day to day.

Just a few things that came to my mind. You got this!

That sounds like a nightmare with all of the things teachers already have to deal with (my MIL teaches middle school so I get to see a decent bit of that world).

I've been pushing around the idea of journaling for a little while I'll have to give it a go. I just ordered a new notebook so we'll see if I can stick to it. I need a good reason to use all of this ink haha. I appreciate the input Bill!