Down time

911, what is the address of the emergency?

My current agency works a 12-hour shift on a 14-day schedule. It works out to 80 hours in a two-week pay period. Thanks to working nights and commute time, on the nights I'm working, I tend to come home and go directly to bed.

I've developed a "on Fridays" habit of a half-hour or so of quiet time on the couch when I get home, often with an adult beverage at hand (yes, at 0630; it's my evening), just trying to come down from the last couple days.

I've heard from many people over the years, "So ... you just ... sit there and answer phones? And when the phone isn't ringing, you ... watch TV? Read? Play online?"

Anyone who's worked in this business knows just how far from the truth that statement is. Yes, we have distractions available when work doesn't need our attention - but any distraction I have at work must be something I can drop on no notice, ignore as long as need be, and get back to when I feel like it. Things like reading for comprehension and studying are right out.

I've found over the last decade that my attention span for things like movies has dwindled dramatically (although that may be a result of the utter dreck being produced these days), and books are often read a few pages at a time.

Having that quiet time when I get home lets me re-focus, unwind a little bit, and do things like write this blog.

What are your unwinding habits?

Call me back right away if anything changes.