Hello, hello!
It's a holiday here in the States so most of us are off work. I cannot help but get a little tingle in my stomach on days like today because, before I switched careers two years ago (oh my. It's been 2 years) I had a very unconventional schedule and I worked holidays and weekends. On days like Labor Day, it would have been just another Monday for me, and instead of planning a day of relaxation, I planned to have more business.
Although it has been two years, I still think about this on weekends and holidays that I have off, or weekends where I have the option to participate in last minute plans. For example, this past Saturday I was offered a free ticket to the first Iowa State football game. In the past, going would probably not have been an option. This time though, I was able to go and I jumped at it! Being able to participate in last minute plans on the weekend feels amazing. Although I do still work some weekends at the agency, I try hard to keep them off because it is important to me.
In fact, due to that crazy schedule in the past, it became one of the factors that contributed to switching to the field of education. I know a lot of teachers get a lot of ribbing for the ideal schedule they keep, and honestly, that ribbing annoys me (because I know just how hard those 9 months on are for teachers!) but, the traditional weekday schedule and the guaranteed holidays off were what I craved.
Having to work when all of your friends and family are not, is HARD. I do not recommend it and many times I would get depressed about it and that only hurt me at work. It is hard to stay positive when you're angry about your schedule! I also worried about the time came for when I wanted a family. I want to spend time with my family on holidays and be home when my kids are home, not working!
So, on days like today, even though it has been two years since leaving my career in retail management, I still feel thankful for this opportunity and truly enjoy this day off with the rest of the country.
Have you ever had a job where you had to work a schedule that was not traditional?
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9 comments:
I am glad you have a schedule now that is more conducive to the life you want to live! It is wonderful to not have to work weekends and evenings!
I did have an unconventional schedule in college as I was a waitress. It was not too bad most of the time, but when I'd have to work until close (midnight) on a week night, it was very difficult. And while everyone else was making plans on the weekends to do fun things, I was loading up on evening waitress shifts since those were the most lucrative. On top of waitressing, I also proctored in the math department and sold on-campus ads for the school newspaper, so my college days weren't quite a 'carefree' as my friends' were, but I definitely made the most of the free time I had and really appreciated the occasional weekend night I would have off!!
I like to think of the schedule for teachers as one of the perks... like in other careers where you get discounts or free stuff or nice dinners out or frequent flier miles etc. We don't get any of those, but we do always have weekends off, yay :)
In high school I worked on weekends, but back then I didn't mind because I worked 2 jobs both with my friends haha.
I feel you! I used to work in retail and it sucked to not have weekends/holidays off. However, I did get my grocery shopping done a lot faster! I hate having to do that on the weekends! Also, going for a run on a weekday is a lot more pleasant as well...there are some perks to having different days off than everybody else!
I work in retail so it can suck. Sometimes I don't mind it so much since I also get holiday pay. My store does at least close for Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Before I started working though, I was starting every college year on labor day. Crazy right? But it's a private university on a quarter system where they do not recognize those holidays. We also had classes on MLK day etc.
Your reasons stated are why I do not want to leave education. I'm doing my best not to but with our economy its hard to find a classroom again and thinking about having a schedule that's weird just isn't for me. But I'll what I have to :)
Oh and go Mizzou! ;)
Totally awesome that you went to the Iowa State game! And I envy you your weekends and holidays off! I have the lovely pleasure of working every other weekend and every other holiday. So I totally understand what you are talking about!
Agreed. It's only been 7 months since I last worked weekends in retail but now I don't know that I could go back to it. It is so hard when your friends and family are having fun on the weekends and you're stuck working.
My schedule is about to change and I'll have to work Sat-Tues (10 hr days). Yeah, not thrilled, but it'll be nice to have 3 days off each week. Too bad everyone else will be working, lol! It's only for a short few months though.
I usually have to work the holidays. Last year I was able to get Thanksgiving and Christmas off so that made me excited! This year I think I'm going to be able to get them off but who knows. I wish I could always get them!
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