feeling dumb

[sparky88]

Does anyone feel like their job is making them, well, less intelligent?

I've been out of college for 2 1/2 years and feel like my intelligence has declined since I entered the workforce. I've been in sales for 5 years. I've found that while a sales career is very challenging (cold calling, learning the product, developing sales skills, thinking on-your-toes) the bulk of it feels like repetitive monkey business (making proposals, sending emails, filling out paperwork, faxing information, etc). Main point: I am bored out of my mind!

I'm considering taking a few college classes on the side just to stimulate my brain.

Just wondering if others have felt this way....

[wordsmith]

No, but I'm in journalism, so it's way nerdy. Learning, researching, etc. all the time. It remains challenging.

[CTGirl]

Absolutely. Ever since grad school was over, I've felt totally unchallenged mentally, so I'm really excited to be out of here and start my new job, which will looks to be a lot more challenging.

I say if you've got the time and money, go out and get another degree or something, that's what I would do.

[wordsmith]

Although when I first started and they didn't keep me super busy (ah, I remember THOSE days :rolleyes: ), I did audit community college classes (cheap and nearby) just for fun, so I didn't get bored.

[weary]

yes, i completely feel this way and wish i could take a ton of classes just b/c i'm so interested in so many other things than what i do every day.

i can kind of understand why some people just stay in school forever and get a ton of degrees...

[WorkInProgress]

Nope. But I do research off an on for my job, which isn't that different from when I was in school. I also read a ton in my offtime, and I generally switch it up between novels and "good for me" books, so I'm not languising in one genre. I read the news daily (well, sometimes not on weekends). And I post here (hey, wait...see how I rationalize this), and every now and again there are vehement debates, which many times I take part in. You guys keep me smart. ;)

[WorkInProgress]

i can kind of understand why some people just stay in school forever and get a ton of degrees...

If money were no object, I think I would do just that.

[winneythepooh7]

My job can be boring sometimes, but others, it is very challenging and I am always learning new things and growing professionally. It's kind of hard to remain bored for a long time in the Social Work field. When I've had a few really quiet days, that is usually a sure sign that shit is getting ready to hit the fan with some kind of situation.........

[coll214]

yeah, i felt at times this job has dulled my brain; which is why i'm back in school and hopefully will leave here soonish. Just got to keep yourself occupied and challenge yourself in other ways; crossword puzzles, trivial games :huge:, teach yourself a new hobby...

[sparky88]

If money were no object, I think I would do just that.


I agree.

I would love to take a class just for fun. I need balance again.

[LaFille]

ABSOLUTELY... i don't know if it counts bc i am just waitressing, but all i can think about while at work is 'he needs a cup of coffee, she wants an extra meatball, my boss wants table 8 out in 10 minutes...' it actually is a mentally exhausting job because you have to keep so many things straight and be really quick about everything, but you aren't exactly thinking profound thoughts...

hopefully when i find a better job i'll get more of a mental workout though!

[weary]

ABSOLUTELY... i don't know if it counts bc i am just waitressing, but all i can think about while at work is 'he needs a cup of coffee, she wants an extra meatball, my boss wants table 8 out in 10 minutes...' it actually is a mentally exhausting job because you have to keep so many things straight and be really quick about everything, but you aren't exactly thinking profound thoughts...

hopefully when i find a better job i'll get more of a mental workout though!

i've actually always wanted to try waitressing. i think it would be fun to have a job that's a good [physical] workout and let's you interact with new people every day. (is it?) even if you're not "exactly thinking profound thoughts", i bet it keeps you sharp/fast.

[Kitty]

Well, with most jobs there's going to be some level of "monkey" work - whether that's faxing, answering emails, filing your papers away, etc. You're probably not going to find a job that's 100% stimulating and exciting 100% of the time.

It is a good idea to take classes outside of work, though. I've been doing that the last year or so - I took a photography class and then a charcoal drawing class. It's a lot of fun.

[wordsmith]

Right. Typesetting press releases...not the most stimulating task. Neither is hours of reporting at city council meetings while some attorney drones on ad nauseum about zoning ordinances and property law. You take the bad with the good, though, because the work actually is stimulating far more often than it is mundane. And, actually, even when I'm doing those less than thrilling things, I'm still learning stuff.

[Kitty]

Right. Typesetting press releases...not the most stimulating task. Neither is hours of reporting at city council meetings while some attorney drones on ad nauseum about zoning ordinances and property law. You take the bad with the good, though, because the work actually is stimulating far more often than it is mundane. And, actually, even when I'm doing those less than thrilling things, I'm still learning stuff.
Yeah, agreed. Even school has "monkey work" involved.

[weary]

i always HATED that almost everything had to be APA style in school. checking that damn book to make sure i had my papers right was monkey work to me. just let me write, damnit! :googly:

[LaFille]

i've actually always wanted to try waitressing. i think it would be fun to have a job that's a good [physical] workout and let's you interact with new people every day. (is it?) even if you're not "exactly thinking profound thoughts", i bet it keeps you sharp/fast.

yeah, it's not the worst thing ever... most people who try it for the first time find that it's toally different than what they expected though. you have to deal with a lot of bullshit, take crap for things you have no control over, and deal with people who see you as subhuman because you're serving them food. but you'll never be bored, and there's always the possiblity of getting a table full of fun people and/or great tippers! plus there's really no other job where you can tell your coworkers to 'go fuck off' on a regular basis :huge:

[winneythepooh7]

When I was in school, I couldn't wait to get out into the "real world" and start working. Now that I am in the "real world" I wish I could go back to school. But there are parts of being in undergrad and grad that I hated (ie. all the papers and tests due constantly). If anything, I really miss the social aspect. I don't think there is a such thing as a "perfect job". It's human nature to always want what we haven't got.

[wordsmith]

i always HATED that almost everything had to be APA style in school. checking that damn book to make sure i had my papers right was monkey work to me. just let me write, damnit! :googly:

MLA, all the way!

It was just easier for flow for me to cite that way. But, then, I guess it's all in what you're used to.

[Kitty]

When I was in school, I couldn't wait to get out into the "real world" and start working. Now that I am in the "real world" I wish I could go back to school. But there are parts of being in undergrad and grad that I hated (ie. all the papers and tests due constantly). If anything, I really miss the social aspect. I don't think there is a such thing as a "perfect job". It's human nature to always want what we haven't got.

The only part of school I miss is the social aspect and all the free time I had.

[wordsmith]

I actually have way more free time now, scarily enough.

I was the servant of too many masters when I was in college.

[Kitty]

Once I picked my maor, it was a breeze for me. The last two years only involved reading books and writing essays - both of which I do very quickly.

[WorkInProgress]

MLA, all the way!

It was just easier for flow for me to cite that way. But, then, I guess it's all in what you're used to.

I couldn't possibly agree more. Not a fan of Chicago style, either.

[weary]

MLA, all the way!

It was just easier for flow for me to cite that way. But, then, I guess it's all in what you're used to.

yes, what i was used to was creative writing, and what i was doing was business writing (biz degree), so it was a diff adjustment for me to say the least. even though i did biz writing for work all the time, it's not like my boss was checking it for APA style! :googly:

i would have prefered MLA for sure.

[wordsmith]

Mine probably would have been awesome, but I spent three years with three majors. When I downgraded to two and a minor as a senior, that helped, but honestly, if I just could have focused on English, it would have been a comparative walk in the park, readings, papers, and all.

[weary]

I actually have way more free time now, scarily enough.

I was the servant of too many masters when I was in college.

i'm still the servant of too many masters (esp my kid), but i def have more free time now. of course, i went to school (colllege) while working FT...but i still miss it (school). i don't feel like i'm doing anything useful some days, if that makes any sense (and it should, considering this thread).

[coll214]

Ugh, all my papers now in grad school need to be APA style, which is annoying. What's scary is i'm even getting to the point that I don't need to look at the book to know how to write it properly :googly:.

[Kitty]

Mine probably would have been awesome, but I spent three years with three majors. When I downgraded to two and a minor as a senior, that helped, but honestly, if I just could have focused on English, it would have been a comparative walk in the park, readings, papers, and all.

Yeah, it was awesome and I'm glad it worked out that way. When else in my life am I going to have two years to devote solely to reading and writing?

[SpaceMonkey]

yes, what i was used to was creative writing, and what i was doing was business writing (biz degree), so it was a diff adjustment for me to say the least. even though i did biz writing for work all the time, it's not like my boss was checking it for APA style! :googly:

i would have prefered MLA for sure.

Chicago style all the way!