Disconnected at work

[blueyes]

So I just got back from vacation today - twelve fantastic work days that I split between SC and St. Maarten's in the Caribbean - and I am so effing disconnected from work. I know this is 'normal', that you have to just ease back in to the whole scheme of things...

...but you know what?

I am tired of being such a corporate whore!

I have no idea how or when, but I'm just feeling very 'take it or leave it' about my job right now. I'm not going to up and give them my two weeks or any such nonsense - but is this...normal? For the first time since starting my job, I don't feel any undying loyalty or stress over pleasing Mr. and Mrs. Client or kowtowing to the managers. I'm actually relishing the fact that I'm young, a female, and being requested by name for projects - but it isn't ME. I don't need this job to be happy - not anymore. Somewhere between the sand and the sun and entirely too much island rum, I think I finally understood the Fight Club line - "You are not your fucking khakis."

Am I delusional - or is this a good thing? :confused:

[dreams82]

I think that this is very normal. I am planning on going to Cancun in the Fall, and I dread the return into the work world. What kind of company do you work for? I am afraid to take a corporate job like the one you have because I am scared to get lost in the shuffle.

Coming back from a vacation sucks. How long have you been at your job? It could be just getting back into work mode, or you could really be feeling like you belong elsewhere. It's a tough call. And it ultimately up to you.

"Somewhere between the sand and the sun and entirely too much island rum, I think I finally understood the Fight Club line - "You are not your fucking khakis.""

I LOVE this line!!

[bridgetjones]

No you are not the only one. No you are not your khakis. It is good that you are not as attached to your job for identity and esteem. Now get back to work since it is your way of bills getting paid and such... :razz:

Besides who wants to be back at work after that holiday? That sounded real nice.

[Mad Dawg]

Check out this thread...

Kona Calling... (http://www.quarterlifecrisis.com/forums/showthread.php?t=11611)

I've been back for almost a full year, and I STILL feel disconnected. It's probably only going to get worse, because as soon as my knee heals I am going to visit my friends in the British Virgin Islands.

[GetMeOuttaDC]

Good to see you back! :green: I missed you!

I think what you're feeling is normal to feel after vacation, and the fact that you never felt undying loyalty to your company is... healthy! esp for someone in their 20s. I'd think you were delusional if you DID have the undying loyalty. So you're not defined by your job, and your happiness doesn't hinge on it... that's awesome!

[tartytwenty]

I wonder if I'll feel this way. I have a one week vacation coming, but I'm not going anywhere, too broke. But still a whole week of sleeping in and stuff....

Now I imagine it HAS to be worse coming from a nice sunny beach!!

Maybe next year I can afford a real vacation for the first time in my adult life.

[blueyes]

It was fantastic beyond belief.

I got an e-saver ticket to St. Maarten; normally, tickets are around $850 - I got mine for about $320. My friend has lived there for about 2 years now - he's a medical student with a two bedroom place and no roommate - so I stayed with him the whole time. He actually skipped class two days to hang out and we were total beach bums both days. :huge: We went horseback riding and took a day trip to Anguilla on a catamaran and hiked and played Frisbee - we both played Ultimate Frisbee in college, which is how we met - and I got sunburned as crap. :lol:

We also did some snorkling - night snorkling, too! It was amazing. PLUS, the Gendarme (sp?!) on the French side of the island questioned us b/c they thought we were spear-fishing during one of the night dives. Lemme tell you...it's not easy to be questioned at night in broken English in fins in knee deep water. But it's really funny.

I'm posting my pictures later on my Ofoto site, so if anybody wants to see in case you're considering a trip there...let me know. The island is so laid back and great. Plus, they have nude beaches on the French side...! :lol:

[wordsmith]

I'm not remotely corporate, I still feel this way when getting back from a trip.

[blueyes]

So you're not defined by your job, and your happiness doesn't hinge on it... that's awesome!
I just feel completely at ease - which is really amusing, since I'm at work right now and not stressed. I have a couple of projects sitting here (waiting for me to get back) and I'm just really not that worked up. It's a weird feeling, to be sure, but a very nice feeling.

I'm not sure I'd like to live in St. Maarten's permanently, but it'd be an amazing place to live for a couple of years.

[biodork]

Welcome back!

Aren't revelations that make you happier really nice? Its good you figured that out about your job, that you don't let it control your whole life! Congrats :)

[Skyblade]

I got a lecture yesterday from the CEO who basically said that he thinks I don't care about the company. Why should I? I get paid shit and basically I have been relegated to being a sales assistant since nobody could give a rats ass about marketing.

[samender]

I tend to use my vacation time as a couple of days here and there. I took 2 weeks in a row off about a year ago for family related reasons. It was so hard adjusting back to things and I didn't have any time off left and had to build it back up again.

[blueyes]

yeah...I am not looking forward to working to build the hours back up. But hey, working for the hours makes it that much nicer to leave again. :bigger:

Oh, and really...the whole 'I don't give a shit' attitude I'm having hasn't improved at all. I'm sort of gleeful about this...is that wrong of me?!

What's sort of weird is that a couple of my coworkers are having the same sort of attitude - out loud. It makes me wonder if something went down while I was gone...should I chat them up to see if anything happened?

[MollyMe]

I usually take a few days off for a long weekend so I don't have a problem adjusting back to work.
I feel that way all the time though.
I never was one to go out of my way to please anyone. The work that I did stood for itself. My professors in college that I worked with and my former employers loved me. I was an engineer and loved that so it was easy to do a good job on something.
With my current job, I don't care at all. I was hired into an engineering position, but I end up doing HR work. I honestly don't care if you stick this code on this position. I'm worth more that pulling reports out of a system to tell people what positions they have.

[shimmer728]

I'm going to the beach in two and a half weeks, and I can't wait. I usually feel pretty disconnected for a week BEFORE I leave, not to mention the week I come back. ;) Your feelings are absolutely normal, and I don't have the typical "corporate" gig, either.