Perfectionistic Workaholic

I had both coworkers and parents of kids in the building refer to me as a "perfectionistic workaholic" this past week at work.  I ended up back at the doctor (because my ear had gotten to a point of being unbearable), put back on two different medications (oral antibiotics 4 times a day for 10 days and ear drops that are antibiotics/steroids 3 times a day) and was told to rest.  I went to the doctor Thursday night and was supposed to take Friday off of work.  My plan was to work a half day (I know, I know.... I shouldn't have gone in at all...) and then head home to rest.  I'm sure you have already figured out, I didn't end up making it home early on Friday.  =(

I don't know why I couldn't bring myself to follow doctor's orders and stay home on Friday...  Yes, it was payroll sign off but there is someone else in the building trained on how to take care of that task if I'm not there.  After signing off on payroll I found other tasks to occupy me and when I got to the point of even thinking about leaving, one of the staff called out sick.  I had tasked someone else in figuring out how to cover that individual but when they didn't take care of it, I stepped in.  While I know I should have just let my mantra of "not my circus, not my monkeys" kick in, I ended up staying at work and worked a very long day.

I already know going into tomorrow that I'm going to end up working another long day.  The kids are out of school so the building will be open from 7 am - 6 pm; and I will be there on either side of that to open/close the building.  I don't know why I feel such a need to push myself so hard.  Maybe the staff and parents are correct in labeling me a "perfectionistic workaholic."  Maybe I'm being overly hard on myself because I still don't feel my best...

This past week at work, I worked with two inspectors that came into the building - one to do a heath/sanitation inspection and one to do a safety inspection.  I ending up spending about an hour and a half with each of the inspectors on the different days they were in the building.  The time I spent with the safety inspector was very interesting.  He ended up pointing out a couple of things (which I'm fine with since it's his job to find areas that could use some attention) but then the conversation ended up taking an interesting turn; he asked me to stop and just listen to him for a minute.  He told me that he's been doing inspections in this building for a number of years and he's never seen it as good as he did this past week and he knows that I am the reason for that change.  He told me that I should be proud of that accomplishment, cut myself some slack and find ways to eliminate some stress from my life.  That meant a lot coming from him and I am going to find a way to take what he told me to heart.

I know that for my own general health and well being I need to get to a point where work is my job and not my entire life.  I felt like I had been making progress in that general area but I'm back to work  encompassing my entire life and I wonder if that's part of why I've been to the doctor/on medication yet again.  Actually, I don't need to wonder, I'm positive that my stress levels are attributing to the reason why I had to head to the doctor again this past week.  At one point I felt as if I had a handle on realizing that work is just a job but I have unfortunately lost sight of that and need to regain that handle on things.

Well my dear readers, on that note, it is time for medication, thinking about things and time to head to bed since I have to be up early for work in the AM.  I hope you have some opportunities to do things for you in this upcoming week and that you don't get too overwhelmed by life.  Take care my dear readers!  =)