You may have seen the meme I’m thinking of but let me explain it just in case. It’s a side-by-side image of Squidward Tentacles from the Nickelodeon show Spongebob Squarepants. In the image on the left, the text says “First Day of School” and Squidward is bright, smiling, and eager. The image on the right says “Finals Week” and Squidward is haggard, drained of all energy, and completely over it. I’m sure many of you can relate to this meme. You (typically) start the semester feeling fresh and excited but by the end of the semester, you’re looking for the most comfortable bed to lie in for an entire weekend at least.  This level of exhaustion didn’t happen overnight.  

The challenges of a busy semester continuously demand our time and energy. Our plates are often so overloaded that we have to work late and/or on weekends. Even then, we always seem behind on emails, projects, or something else with a deadline. But all of this overtime usually means we are also behind on rest, sleep, and activities that help us recharge. Now, this may not apply to everyone. I’m sure there are some folks out there who have managed to achieve a dynamic balance for work and life.  But for everyone else, what happens when you’re no longer an early bird or a night owl, but instead have become an exhausted pigeon.

I think the response is two-fold. In part, we have to set boundaries for work and stick to them. We also have to prioritize our optimal well-being. Think of all the times you had to choose between work and rest/sleep. How many times did you choose work? When we get our best rest, we can give our best efforts. And not just at work, but in all parts of our lives. But the personal response is just one aspect. We also have to address our overloaded plates, which would more than likely involve a conversation with our supervisor.  Ideally this conversation is welcomed and met with great empathy but that’s not always the case. So how do you find out before you start the job how a conversation about workload might go?

The best way is to ask plainly. “How do you respond when you know your staff are behind on both work and rest?” Another way to ask would be “how do you encourage your staff to set work/life boundaries?”  This question would be directed at your immediate supervisor and/or the director of your office. It could be asked during a group/panel style interview but it might be better discussed one on one. Either way, here are a couple of things to look for.

The answers to this question could range widely, but green flags would include the director and/or supervisor purposefully spreading out the workload among the team. The intent is to ensure the workloads are balanced and (the same) people are not constantly overwhelmed with work. Additionally, they create space to say “no” when asking staff to take on new projects. Bonus points if they can provide time budgets to estimate how much time a new project or responsibility will take. Directors will also encourage their staff to prioritize time off when needed. They know your work won’t be as good if you’re stressed out or stretched too thin, so they are also willing to work with you to adjust responsibilities if necessary. Just know, this is a best-case scenario, so if you come across it don’t take it for granted. 

On the opposite end of the spectrum, red flags would include little to no flexibility around workload. There may not even be a space for you to discuss concerns about being stressed or overwhelmed. The general attitude is “get the work done and do what you need to do for yourself on your own time”. Basically, “not my problem…figure it out yourself”. The answers may not be this plain, but there will be a weak effort to show any concern for your well-being or professional boundaries. This approach is basically a one-way ticket to burnout, so if you can afford to keep searching, I would do so.

Overall, look for an office culture that respects work/life boundaries as well as your workload. And be sure to make space for the question in your interviews. It could get lost in the mix among the other questions, but you owe it to yourself to ask about it.   

TL/DR

• Ask: How do you respond when you know people are behind on both work and rest?

• Meaning: How do you encourage staff to set work/life boundaries?

• Green Flags: Prioritize time off, push people to say no, spread out work load among team, create time budgets

• Red Flags: Get the work done, work faster, figure it out yourself