Do you believe I may be overworking myself?

SSG VNicia Young — Wed, 19 Aug 2015 14:04:36 -0400

I am currently deployed, working 12 hr shifts 7days a week, taking 2 college classes, and study for the Soldier of the Quarter board in Sept.

Response by SCPO David Lockwood made Aug 19 at 2015 2:05 PM

SCPO David Lockwood — Wed, 19 Aug 2015 14:05:58 -0400

Sounds like your keeping yourself busy during deployment.

Response by LCDR Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 19 at 2015 2:07 PM

LCDR Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 19 Aug 2015 14:07:59 -0400

You are doing everything right! And probably overworking yourself in the process.

The key here is to take a day off occasionally. I don't mean from work, that's a little harder. But even just taking 1 day a week (more if you feel you need it) where you only do the 12 hours and skip the studying and just relax will help. It will keep you sane and more focused on the studying and college courses.

All of that aside, good on you for doing the things you need to succeed. Many wait until on shore duty or stateside to take advantage of getting ahead. Doing it while deployed sends an entirely different message; in a positive way to me.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 19 at 2015 2:12 PM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 19 Aug 2015 14:12:48 -0400

Only you can determine if you are overworking yourself. You know your limits. Others will only judge what you are doing based on their own feelings of themselves. If you are still mentally strong enough to do all that, ROCK THAT ISH!!!

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 19 at 2015 2:24 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 19 Aug 2015 14:24:10 -0400

Unless your full schedule is compromising your effectiveness in any of your commitments, I believe that you are definitely making the most of your time right now, and I applaud you for it.

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 19 at 2015 2:25 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Wed, 19 Aug 2015 14:25:57 -0400

Better question....Do YOU feel you are overworking yourself?

Response by SGT Kristin Wiley made Aug 19 at 2015 2:32 PM

SGT Kristin Wiley — Wed, 19 Aug 2015 14:32:00 -0400

Nope, I was doing more than that when I was deployed. As long as you can handle it and your command is supportive, you should be fine.

Response by SGM Steve Wettstein made Aug 19 at 2015 2:39 PM

SGM Steve Wettstein — Wed, 19 Aug 2015 14:39:25 -0400

SSG VNicia Young If you can handle that work load for an extended period of time you are not over working yourself.....yet. You might end up burning yourself out though.

Response by PO2 Jonathan Scharff made Aug 19 at 2015 2:58 PM

PO2 Jonathan Scharff — Wed, 19 Aug 2015 14:58:53 -0400

SSG VNicia Young I agree with the bulk of the responses here...only you can really know if you are doing to much. Having said that I am proud of your service and all that you are doing to self improve in very difficult circumstances. Please let us know if there is anything we can do to ease your stress. Please feel free to email me or call me anytime for a kind or encouraging word. I'm sure everyone else here would agree.

Response by COL Mikel J. Burroughs made Aug 19 at 2015 3:16 PM

COL Mikel J. Burroughs — Wed, 19 Aug 2015 15:16:50 -0400

SSG VNicia Young If you are bale to talk about it on this forum; you have a good handle on your work load; and you sound highly motivated than you are okay. Keep on trucking. You are the best gauge for knowing if you are missing key things during your normal deployed duty hours or starting to run down energy wise. If you get sick easliy when you get run down then those are indicators you are pushing to hard. if you start missing key assignments or tasks during your deployment duties then you are pushing too hard. If those indicators aren't there and you are fully mission capable then you should be fine. Keep a close look out for those indicators and know when to dial it back appropriately. It's always good to take a break every once in while, whatever that is for you (a long run around the FOB depending on where you are deployed, weight lifting or exercising, sitting back and just reading a good book or watching some movies (or) spending some quality time on the RP site like today.

Response by SSG Carlos Madden made Aug 19 at 2015 3:54 PM

SSG Carlos Madden — Wed, 19 Aug 2015 15:54:55 -0400

No. Keep yourself as busy as possible during deployment. Do as much as you can handle. I had a similar schedule and it was one of the most rewarding years of my life but everyone is different. Drive on!

Response by PO2 Corey Ferretti made Aug 19 at 2015 4:13 PM

PO2 Corey Ferretti — Wed, 19 Aug 2015 16:13:43 -0400

. If you keep it up it will certainly start to wear you down. My uncle Shoes horses 7 days a week and works between 12-15 hours a day. I watched him work the day after dental surery and work when his back was out. He was in tons of pain but did it. I watched his health go down fast. Just keep track of your health

Response by MCPO Roger Collins made Aug 19 at 2015 5:04 PM

MCPO Roger Collins — Wed, 19 Aug 2015 17:04:34 -0400

Sounds about right. There is an old saying, "The harder I work, the luckier I get." Keep it up, you will get lucky.

Response by CPT Russell Pitre made Aug 20 at 2015 2:20 AM

CPT Russell Pitre — Thu, 20 Aug 2015 02:20:42 -0400

You may want to try for Ranger School when you get back if you can pull all of that off.

Response by PO1 John Miller made Aug 21 at 2015 5:40 AM

PO1 John Miller — Fri, 21 Aug 2015 05:40:41 -0400

As long as you're not falling asleep at work and not affecting your job in any other way, keep on keeping on!