Feeling a bit stressed and unhappy in newish job
Discussion
Hi All,
Job: Consultant
Role: Cyber Incident Response
Location: WFH
Started: January 2023
There are three main issues I am having with this role and they've become increasingly more difficult:
1) It's a global job, so my team is spread across the world. However, I am the only one based in Europe. They are looking at getting two new people - but one will be based in Asia to save money. I often feel completely isolated as all European work always comes to me.
2) Related to this is the timezone issues. My main colleagues are American based. There are 4 of them and they come online about 2pm onwards. I often find myself getting bombarded with new work or questions or requests as the day closes or after. Other colleagues are online in Asia during the early morning.
3) Related again to this is the stress. I find myself unable to switch off. I know there's my colleagues working at 7/8/9pm or in the early hours at 5/6am and probably messages which relate to me or involve something I am working on. If I don't look I will come online the next day to loads of things to catch-up on. Not always but it's the constant itching that I am struggling with, particularly as I'm on my own with it all. I feel unable to switch off.
Similarly if I need help or want support, I always have to wait until 2-3pm for help. That's obviously not ideal and just adds to me feeling stressed. I often FEEL overworked. I emphasise that as sometimes I am not, it's just the feeling I have as I am on my own, I am getting client requests, I have deadlines, I have non-urgent work. Sometimes I just feel like I'm overwhelmed by it. It often reduces as soon as I get a big thing dealt with.
...
I always knew consultancy work was a bit like this - hence the reason I am probably paid more than I would be in another in-house role. I've been doing it 5 months and starting to feel isolated, overworked as I said, and just a bit down about it all. I'm sick of being the only UK/Europe person and everything on this side being down to me.
I'm not unhappy but I am starting to feel a bit down about it all. I would also add my colleagues are brilliant people. There are about 4-5 that I work closely with and they're very nice, supportive, intelligent, hard working, etc. so I am lucky in that respect.
Not sure what I expect here but just venting and maybe to see if others have encountered similar things.
Thanks
Job: Consultant
Role: Cyber Incident Response
Location: WFH
Started: January 2023
There are three main issues I am having with this role and they've become increasingly more difficult:
1) It's a global job, so my team is spread across the world. However, I am the only one based in Europe. They are looking at getting two new people - but one will be based in Asia to save money. I often feel completely isolated as all European work always comes to me.
2) Related to this is the timezone issues. My main colleagues are American based. There are 4 of them and they come online about 2pm onwards. I often find myself getting bombarded with new work or questions or requests as the day closes or after. Other colleagues are online in Asia during the early morning.
3) Related again to this is the stress. I find myself unable to switch off. I know there's my colleagues working at 7/8/9pm or in the early hours at 5/6am and probably messages which relate to me or involve something I am working on. If I don't look I will come online the next day to loads of things to catch-up on. Not always but it's the constant itching that I am struggling with, particularly as I'm on my own with it all. I feel unable to switch off.
Similarly if I need help or want support, I always have to wait until 2-3pm for help. That's obviously not ideal and just adds to me feeling stressed. I often FEEL overworked. I emphasise that as sometimes I am not, it's just the feeling I have as I am on my own, I am getting client requests, I have deadlines, I have non-urgent work. Sometimes I just feel like I'm overwhelmed by it. It often reduces as soon as I get a big thing dealt with.
...
I always knew consultancy work was a bit like this - hence the reason I am probably paid more than I would be in another in-house role. I've been doing it 5 months and starting to feel isolated, overworked as I said, and just a bit down about it all. I'm sick of being the only UK/Europe person and everything on this side being down to me.
I'm not unhappy but I am starting to feel a bit down about it all. I would also add my colleagues are brilliant people. There are about 4-5 that I work closely with and they're very nice, supportive, intelligent, hard working, etc. so I am lucky in that respect.
Not sure what I expect here but just venting and maybe to see if others have encountered similar things.
Thanks
Edited by redrabbit29 on Tuesday 13th June 18:47
Thanks both for your replies, both really well thought out and helpful.
I have added a bit on my email signature to state I am UK based and replies are unlikely outside of the business hours.
Timetex - The simple answer is I don't need to be involved after hours 90% of the time. When I do it's a client meeting or something which is a one off and I don't mind that.
I think where I am struggling is my mindset, as I feel isolated. I also feel slightly overwhelmed with work and have no one to vent to. I am continually being invited to more client meetings as new work comes in - and of course they all say "we want to move quickly on this". It may be more associated to WFH than the timezone although I think that's not helping.
I have come to realise that I am susceptible to feeling stressed. So I'll be working away trying to finish something and get 3 teams messages, then another 2 invites to more meetings, etc. then some home stuff in the way and I'm suddenly feeling drained and sick of it all.
The stupid thing is I know the answer to most of this - I turn Outlook off, I turn Teams off and I finish the task I am trying to do. I just need to be more disciplined I suppose.
I think if I had 6 other colleagues in the UK or at least Europe, I would feel far less isolated. It just feels it's all on me.
I have added a bit on my email signature to state I am UK based and replies are unlikely outside of the business hours.
Timetex - The simple answer is I don't need to be involved after hours 90% of the time. When I do it's a client meeting or something which is a one off and I don't mind that.
I think where I am struggling is my mindset, as I feel isolated. I also feel slightly overwhelmed with work and have no one to vent to. I am continually being invited to more client meetings as new work comes in - and of course they all say "we want to move quickly on this". It may be more associated to WFH than the timezone although I think that's not helping.
I have come to realise that I am susceptible to feeling stressed. So I'll be working away trying to finish something and get 3 teams messages, then another 2 invites to more meetings, etc. then some home stuff in the way and I'm suddenly feeling drained and sick of it all.
The stupid thing is I know the answer to most of this - I turn Outlook off, I turn Teams off and I finish the task I am trying to do. I just need to be more disciplined I suppose.
I think if I had 6 other colleagues in the UK or at least Europe, I would feel far less isolated. It just feels it's all on me.
Just an update for you all and thank you too for the helpful advice.
Things are marginally better, I've done a few things which have helped:
1) I have updated my email signature saying that I am UK based after 1730 I am unlikely to respond
2) I actually deleted Outlook and Teams from my phone Friday night and re-installed this morning. Made a big difference. I routinely open apps and just scroll through them. It's a habit I hate and why I also deleted some social media apps a while back. Anyway, it helped as I obvioiusly couldn't check emails or teams - either through reflex or thought out actions.
3) I've added a "Lunch" break to my calendar everyday at 1pm. I don't get that many meetings to be fair but for me it mentally just makes me think, "I need to go for a proper break".
...
I don't want to change my working hours as I like my evenings.
Long term it's still going to affect me I think. As I said before, I just feel isolated - not just because I am WFH, but due to being the only European based person doing my job. I'm not overworked but feel exposed and a bit undersupported. I fully appreciate this may be just my own interpretation as I came from a job where I was surrounded by tons of people and there was non-stop support.
This is my 5th month - a big move so maybe I just need more time to relax and feel settled
Thanks again
Things are marginally better, I've done a few things which have helped:
1) I have updated my email signature saying that I am UK based after 1730 I am unlikely to respond
2) I actually deleted Outlook and Teams from my phone Friday night and re-installed this morning. Made a big difference. I routinely open apps and just scroll through them. It's a habit I hate and why I also deleted some social media apps a while back. Anyway, it helped as I obvioiusly couldn't check emails or teams - either through reflex or thought out actions.
3) I've added a "Lunch" break to my calendar everyday at 1pm. I don't get that many meetings to be fair but for me it mentally just makes me think, "I need to go for a proper break".
...
I don't want to change my working hours as I like my evenings.
Long term it's still going to affect me I think. As I said before, I just feel isolated - not just because I am WFH, but due to being the only European based person doing my job. I'm not overworked but feel exposed and a bit undersupported. I fully appreciate this may be just my own interpretation as I came from a job where I was surrounded by tons of people and there was non-stop support.
This is my 5th month - a big move so maybe I just need more time to relax and feel settled
Thanks again
Thanks all - interesting to hear your experiences here.
I really liked deleting the apps as it mentally just made me feel like I was "off duty". Flipping the work day is an idea but not one I'd want to do at the moment. It's not that I'm working late nights, or early mornings - it's more just feeling isolated.
Yesterday I was out of the office, at a physical site with 2 colleagues from another team. I had the best day I've had for months (not that I've been miserable). I just really enjoyed being out, being around people, not typing into Teams or responding to emails, or demanding clients who I've never even met.
It made me realise that long term (say in 12 months or so), I will definitely want to move on, probably to a British or European based company with a good hybrid working model and more in-house rather than consultancy work.
I really liked deleting the apps as it mentally just made me feel like I was "off duty". Flipping the work day is an idea but not one I'd want to do at the moment. It's not that I'm working late nights, or early mornings - it's more just feeling isolated.
Yesterday I was out of the office, at a physical site with 2 colleagues from another team. I had the best day I've had for months (not that I've been miserable). I just really enjoyed being out, being around people, not typing into Teams or responding to emails, or demanding clients who I've never even met.
It made me realise that long term (say in 12 months or so), I will definitely want to move on, probably to a British or European based company with a good hybrid working model and more in-house rather than consultancy work.
On a team call today.
Big boss says: an announcement for you all is that yesterday was Barbara's last day (she is the manager in Asia)
Lots of surprise ...
Me: oh, do you know where she's gone or which company out of interest?
Boss: Its hard to explain but let's just say there's been some restructuring
...
It's a bit confusing really as she's been clearly chopped. But we're still recruiting a UK manager - an offer has been made to the applicant. No doubt he is on way more money than Asia manager.
The Asia manager was also well thought of and very good
Made me a bit concerned. I don't think I should be as others have been with the company years and years. But it does make me a bit paranoid and WFH means it's hard to gauge the tone and atmosphere in general
Big boss said it was no reflection on team who are doing well. Even more confusing
Big boss says: an announcement for you all is that yesterday was Barbara's last day (she is the manager in Asia)
Lots of surprise ...
Me: oh, do you know where she's gone or which company out of interest?
Boss: Its hard to explain but let's just say there's been some restructuring
...
It's a bit confusing really as she's been clearly chopped. But we're still recruiting a UK manager - an offer has been made to the applicant. No doubt he is on way more money than Asia manager.
The Asia manager was also well thought of and very good
Made me a bit concerned. I don't think I should be as others have been with the company years and years. But it does make me a bit paranoid and WFH means it's hard to gauge the tone and atmosphere in general
Big boss said it was no reflection on team who are doing well. Even more confusing
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