I read a book once that burnout was caused by being out of balance. sm
Posted By: Frankie on 2006-03-14
In Reply to: motivation - that is my goal
Working too much and not giving time to other parts of your life is the culprit in the job arena. Variety is the spice of life, so focusing on balancing your job, your need for a good cash flow, with times to enjoy yourself is essential.
It takes work, and fortunately I have an S/O that demands that I take time for us to have fun and for "me" to have fun as an individual.
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Contracts....burnout.......etc....open and read
Hello--
I was just reading your post and I do understand where you are coming from. First of all, let me start by saying I will never do a non-contracted job again and every job that I have is contracted. :)
Secondly, I know how you feel about being "stuck inside"--Yep, been there, done that....burnout. I was so ready to go to work in the big world again. So, I left transcription at home, hired a babysitter and went to work in my secondary field as a medical assistant. After three months of it, I was so ready to come back home, and I missed my transcription so badly...AND MY KIDS.
I came back home, been here again for over a year. I can say it is better this time around, I appreciate MT more and I am absolutely taking in every moment I can with my kids. At least I know when my babies get sick, I will be the one nurturing them..and bringing home a paycheck at the same time. :)
Sometimes it is hard to balance everything at once, and the thought of going back outside the home to work seems like an easy answer, but believe me, it is better to be home. :)
Just make a note in your book and go on. Every book I read you can find an error
or 2. Nobody is perfect. Lucky you only paid $60. New it is $80 or more.
Which book did I read that in?
We must, we must, we must increase our bust. The bigger, the better, the tighter the sweater. We must increase our bust!
That would be a book I would read!
I do not know the answer to your question. I do know that our docs are QA's on all of their documents, but not transcription. If transcription has an error in the report and the doctor signs it, it is still considered his error. We are, however, in the process of putting a QA together for transcription.
QA needs to be a part of the job because most MTs are paid by line and that encourages quantity over quality.
Good luck on that book!!
Read Lou Dobb's book
called War On the Middle Class or something like that. He talks exactly about this kind of thing. I watch his show every day. It seems our own government is against us. I am not hopeful with the Democrats coming into power that they will change things either. I feel that the Republicans and Democrats are not at all on the side of the working class American.
I read the book and thought it was......sm
amazing. It totally changed by thinking of a lot of things.
sorry you haven't read the Book of John
he is the only way to get in and you have to believe in what he did for you. Doesn't matter how good you try to be.
Read Suze Orman's new book
on women and money. She says never put yourself on sale. She says women tend to undervalue themselves and not ask for raises, and not get paid what they are worth.
My husband read about that in the book The World Is Flat.
Makes me mad! What has happened to our country!?
I read the book "Saving Keystrokes" but it still didn't help.
You can't make many shortcuts and remember them all if you don't get the same dictators saying the same thing day after day.
Oh, yeah. I had this guy about a month ago. What was that shortcut for his physical exam?
I read that book as a young girl, loved it. Just bought
it for my 12 year old. Fantastic book for younger girls that age!!!!!
Read a boring book or watch something boring on TV.
Sometimes I go to bed so tired, but by the time I get in bed I'm not sleepy. I do one of the above and 15 minutes later I'm asleep. My DH works third shift so he isn't there for me to bother him, may not be an option for you.
Three-job burnout
A co-worker took on a second and now a third job. I can see where in trying to get a "balance" her work is suffering especially in turnaround time and also some quality issues. I believe that if you take on additional work, your first obligation is to your first job, second obligation to your second job, and so on. If the second and/or third jobs pay more, that matters not. I think it is called honoring your committment. Anyhow, too much work will eventually leave you burned out and you may end up sick and/or running as far as you can from this work. Would think very carefully about divying yourself up into too many pieces. Best regards.
BURNOUT?
So, if your post is correct it seems you probably need a vacation, at least. I have done what you say you do and, believe me, it can suck you dry. It is hard to do so many things 24/7/365, used to find myself sitting in my chair at home in the same pajamas I had on 14 hours before. I found I needed a better quality of life. My best advice to you is to take a break and post us when you get back and feel better and not so offensive/defensive. Good luck.
burnout
WOW - I couldn't have said anything better than these posters. Have been there several times over the past 25 years - the last after my son died, and am so thankful I didn't get fired the several years it took me to get back up to speed afterward. Truly, maybe working inhouse would be a good thing for a while for you.
Love, blessings, hugs, understanding.
Burnout
Would it be possible for you to take a part-time job doing something -anything - else to get out of the house and be with people and cut down a bit on your transcription hours? I know you have to make your bills, but if you're not producing would you be losing a lot by trying something else? Or maybe at least ask for a different account? Or maybe find a different service for whom to work? I know this is scary to think about, much less do, particularly as we age. My guess is I'm a bit older than you, having been in transcription for 31 years, but perhaps not. Perhaps you are a late bloomer (she smiles). I've been where you are, and sadly, the road I'm traveling down at the moment is starting to look familiar, like I'm headed back to that same spot. In my case, the first time around, I took a temporary part-time job in Geographic Information Systems for a local municipality. I'd taken the classes for fun at the junior college but had no experience. I was given very low-level work, but it was different from transcription, I was learning more about GIS than I had at school, I loved it and the people were super! When I came home to start transcribing, I was in a much better mood and production increased. I hope you can find something, because your pain is coming through loud and clear.
ahh, burnout
After about 12 years of being an MT, I found myself suffering from burnout. Right about that time, I was offered the job of 1st & 2nd grade teacher at the tiny Christian school my kids attended. I was really looking forward to something new. After only 2 months, I was over my burnout but I was committed to finish out the rest of the school year. It was the longest 7 months of my life.
I think the burnout came from having had the same account for so long (nearly 10 years). Every day was the same. Maybe just learning a new account or a new specialty would help you get over the burnout. Although I hate the pay cut that invariably comes with any new account, I always feel proud of myself for rising to the challenge and learning new things. It keeps things interesting.
This may sound silly, but do you have any scenery where you transcribe? I sit in front of a picture window in my office and watch the birds and squirrels. I have become quite an avid birdwatcher while I work. It doesn't take a lot of time out of the day, but it gives me something else to look at besides the computer screen. 
Do you know what caused the ....sm
water damage? Is it something that could happen again like flooding?? I would certainly wait until after inspection. Personally, though, I would probalby keep looking. Do you have a realtor? They could answer your money questions.
on the edge of burnout
It sounds like you're on the edge of burnout. I was there a few years ago. You just have to force yourself to stop working at 5 (or whenever your shift is done) and close the door and not look back at that computer.
Dealing with burnout
Hi:
Is anyone out there dealing with burnout due to their transcription job? I have been doing this for 7 years as an Independent with only 1 vacation in that time. I work weekends and holidays and feel like I am about ready to yank my freaking hair out  from the responsibility!!!
Lynn
How do you handle burnout as MT? Any
suggestions would be greatly appreciated. I've only been doing this for 7-1/2 years and I've about had it with all the junk. 
severe burnout
I just can't do MT anymore. I've been doing it for 30 years, the last 6 with a national that begins and ends with an S. I so tired of their lies and garbage. I also edit as an IC which I enjoy but can't get steady hours. I'm presently on intermittent FMLA from "S" for my mom who is a paraplegic and they're giving me all kinds of grief over it. My supervisor is doing everything she can to put roadblocks in front of me. She won't me change accounts permanently. I get put on an account I'm good at and can get good line counts on for awhile and then I'm put back on the account I told her I hate and can't make money on. This happens over and over again. She also won't let me taking an editing job or change my hours. I received their "certificates" for quality and attendance, but not for production which is the only thing they care about since only 62% of the company made 98% or more quality. Some days I just can't sit and work. I'm totally burned out and the above doesn't help.
I'd leave in a minute if I thought another place would be better, but I'm not convinced it would be. Add to that the fact that I only have dial-up, need health insurance as I am single and can't afford a good computer at this time.
Sorry for the long post. Just needed to vent. Has anyone been in this situation? What can I do?  I'm working 50-60 hours a week and still can't make a living. I'm really ready to go on welfare rather than keep working.
So your answer to the the OP's burnout
the boss and I am a child. If that is what you got out of the post, then I AM SO RIGHT ALL ALONG!!!! 
burnout/changing companies
Hi everyone - I post here frequently but I need to remain anonymous for this one; hope you understand.
I'm looking for thoughts from MTs about whether switching to a different company alleviated burnout. I am trying to figure out if it's MT itself, or just the service I work for, that is causing my severe burnout.
I'm on the verge of hauling myself to a doctor for antidepressants (paying out of pocket, of course... no psych insurance coverage as an IC!) and my line counts have dropped drastically. I have bilateral CTS to boot. I'm struggling pretty badly with all the "classic" burnout signs.
Thanks all!
Taking a vacation due to burnout
MTs to boost production. Having contests to see who can do the most is more like something a 12-year-old would do in my opinion. Furthermore, this is not a game people play. This is a job. The doctors are relying on transcriptionists to do a good job. We cry we want more money, we have to work for it, and then we cry that we're burned out????  Get a life! 
Plain and simple burnout.
I used to carry two pagers for two hospitals all by myself, 24/7. They went off maybe a couple of times a month. The chore of being on-call is now shared with a few other people but now the after-hour pages come in nonstop and I don't know why. Me thinks some deal was made to keep an account or something but I really am just pulling that answer out of my tuckas. It's gotta be costing the hospitals a mint to have us at their beck and call like that....either that or they got a really sweet deal.
The other issue is it used to be a much more laid back environment. You logged on, did your work, and you were left alone. You kept an eye out for stats yourself and took care of them, because you are there because you are responsible.
Now you log on, strike up this thing called Instant Messenger, and sit there at your desk working your alloted shift but can't get up because you must be present if you get an IM for a stat...even though you are already on it because it's your job to be. Want to take a break? Yeah, sure, once you finish up this stat. Oh wait, I've got another one here that needs to be done super duper stat....you know what I'm talkin' about too, lurkers.
Ya know the movie, Office Space? I'm always referring to it with this company. You know the scene with the TPS reports, where the fella has 4 bosses telling him the same darned thing even though you already know your job? That's what I'm dealing with and, yeah, I've been reduced to the mumbling dude who worries about his stapler.
I don't blame my bosses at all, but the micromanaging thing is out of control and I have no idea why it has come to be, because it wasn't like this before. The days of a happier Hayseed with high line counts and company pride are long gone. I don't know who works there anymore as the folks I knew have all left, and that's made an impact as well. Ask for new scenery because of burnout, and all you get is a strokin', nothing more.
Yes, if I could have the right balance of
administrative support and the power to hire/fire employees who are worth keeping/letting go.
Yes, I would.
How to balance it all.
I've been doing MT for 7 looooong years now and have recently gone back to school (pre-med). I've had to find a new job, a child with ADD/depression who takes massive amounts of one on one time to get school work done, etc., and another little one. I'm struggling getting work done and my homework. I took a fairly light load (13 credits) but am just feeling overwhelmed. Any time saving tips would be greatly appreciated!
Hey Susan..I don't think it really caused any flames.
x
I bought one of those cat fountains and it caused
A brown area on the white fram around the plug. I sent it back and got my money back. Most of this stuff is made in China now and I think they use cheap wiring. I was glad I was home and noticed it because it could have melted the plug and started a fire.
Did try - it caused my supe to giggle :{ NM
.
I am pretty sure braces CAUSED my DD's TMJ
She never had it before she had braces, and has had it ever since. I started to do some research on the web about it, and it seems it is pretty common for orthodontists to line up the TEETH, but not the jaws - which is kind of a DUH thing to me. I mean, you would expect an orthodontist to know they needed to have both in line, right? My DD's teeth look beautifully straight, but her jaws click and sometimes get stuck.
caused me to go severely in debt
that 10 years later I am still recovering from - was writing checks on charge accounts to pay mortgage - this was local and when I would go to her house to pick up and drop off tapes I was seeing boxes from QVC yet she said she wasn't getting paid. Still angry.
I have heard that this can often be caused by stress.
In the early years of my first marriage, my husband soaked the sheets nightly. He was in the middle of a nasty divorce and child custody case. When those issues resolved, the night sweats disappeared.
Updating surgical references - new Stedmans Word Book, Tessier Surgery Book or others - best one in
nm
I suffered from major burnout about 4 years ago. sm
Was at a major company that I liked for a year, then they made some changes and it was a nightmare for the second year. I went to a smaller company for awhile, they were great but I found it harder and harder to sit down and pull reports. I got to the point I was only doing about 300 lines a day. I made a change to a small company as IC, and chose one where so many minutes were dumped on me for the day. I knew I had to finish those minutes, and before I knew it I was back to about 800 lines a day, six days a week. That is all I can do without developing CT myself; I have learned this over the years. Now I'm starting some editing part time, so I can earn more without losing the use of my hands.
If you already have CT, you might have to get into something different, like editing. It doesn't seem realistic to keep working, knowing you're doing more damage and will shortly be unable to work anyway. I'd be looking for a change.
Whatever you do, try to find the motivation that works. I didn't find thinking about unpaid bills or setting a financial goal each month helped, it just made me depressed when I couldn't reach it. I focused on the positive, like being able to do 50 lines more daily this week than last, adding minutes each week until I reached my goal. I also make sure to take two weeks off at different times each year and go some place at least once, something I neglected for years. I come back refreshed.
Best of luck to you; it's a difficult situation.
It's tough to balance it all.
I've got a very full life, too. DH puts in a lot of hours at his job, but he doesn't see that I put in just as many. When he takes a break at work, he gets to sit down somewhere and actually eat or drink a Starbucks coffee. I have to make my own coffee, drop a kid off, pick a kid up or swap out a load of laundry during my "breaks" just to keep up. He does put in long hours at his job, and he's too tired to help out with household chores. He doesn't have time to get his errands done during the day either because he's got a demanding job. The kids do help out around here, too, but they have really full schedules with school, sports, jobs and friends. We've got pets contributing to the mess. Even my relatives call during the day for help with stuff. Cooking, grocery shopping, errands, bills and finances all fall on me to do. It's a load of bunk. I told DH I wasn't going to do MT full-time any more because of everything else I do around here. Why should I make as much money (or more) than he does, work just as many hours, and do EVERYTHING else that is expected of me? I even got hired part-time at an MT job, but they're trying to creep the hours up on me again. Plus, I have a second part-time job that's pretty demanding and just not worth what they pay me. I've got people demanding of me from sunrise to sunset, and I'm sick of it all! I'd like to sit on my backside and watch a TV program or movie for a change. I'd like to be have time to pursue my hobbies.
You (we) gotta get mean! JUST SAY NO to all the people badgering you all the time. Don't answer the phone or the door. Use caller ID and put a "do not disturb" note on the door. Lock or close your office door if you have one. Stay focused. Set work goals for yourself. I type at least 30 minutes of dictation before taking a break to go swap out laundry and stretch, then I get back to it. Assess your life and see what you can cut back on or streamline. Make a list of daily chores that take less than 5 minutes to do, and do those throughout the day. Delegate, ask for help.
How do you balance time
This especially causes problems for me working at home. I help take care of grandchildren and help my children also, hubby, pets, housework, cooking, errands, etc. I can't seem to balance that with my work. It cuts my production with the constant interruptions.
Here's a different perspective on what really caused lung cancer.
http://www.vialls.com/transpositions/smoking.html
That is what caused me to be unable to transcribe anymore.
I have to do QA now and it is a good thing I like QA, but I cannot do anymore transcribing due to the mess it has made of my back and to my hands/wrists. I also did minimally 2200 lines in 5 hours and have done as many as 3200 before. Those were the good ole days. Do it while you can because at that rate, it takes its toll on our body.
Apologies all around, we experienced a glitch that caused
the content on the inside of the post to not belong to the original job ad post. The error has been rectified.
I would buy book by Dog Whisperer. His TV shows covers things like this and would think his book mi
//
There is a balance though, people who are too social
People who tend to spend a lot of time alone seem to be a little sad. Just mix it up a little and find your balance. For me, if i'm around people too much, I feel absolutely drained, but if i'm totally isolated, I feel trapped and sad. So I socialize a couple times a week by taking classes, seeing family members, talking to neighbors, meeting up with a friend, and thats enough. Just not everyday, maybe not even every two days!
Balance Ball chair. Has anyone tried?
I found this in a catalogue: http://www.gaiam.com/retail/product/95-1004
I have a balance ball, and now and then I sit on it at my desk. It really does feel great, but the problem is keeping it steady. It's large and I have a hard time keeping myself at a comfy distance from the keyboard. I was thinking of getting this chair as a "supplemental" chair. I don't think it would work for 8 hours a day, but I think it would help alleviate some pressure and strain for periods during my work sessions.
And, this may be TMI - but this past summer I had a breast reduction. (Best thing I've ever done for myself!) The change in my body has definitely affected my posture and has alleviated pain in my back and shoulders. But I really need to strengthen my back and obliques more. I thought this chair might help with that.
Has anyone used this type of chair, or even used a balance ball at their desks? What do you think?
balance...sm (long message)
just wanted to encourage you. i suffer from burnout too (30+ years in this industry would burn out anyone!) =) ...but I have found ways to overcome it.
i would suggest that you NOT change companies. often when we're really stressed, making major changes is the LAST thing we should do.
for me, i find if i lower my MT expectations and quit being as perfectionistic as i want to be, i decrease the stress load. if you have the ESL from h*ll leave the allowed amounts of blanks or let QA deal with them and move on! you have nothing to prove to these difficult dictators...i try not to take it personally that they don't give a rip that they make our job nearly impossible....
i also need to keep my work life and home/personal/creative/school/community/family roles in balance. i work 2 jobs (1 MT, 1 not, go to school--online, and am a single mom raising 2 kids--older now) IT CAN BE DONE! And burnout can be BEAT!
if you need some moral support let me know--i'll give you my email addy.
ALSO, as far as the CTS, for YEARS I've had to wear typing gloves...best ones I've found are "MouseMitts" http://www.mousemitt.com/wrist.html
i have no affiliation with them...just passing on a good product that's saved me from having to have surgery...
hang in there...there is a creative solution to your burnout...
now, back to MT work for me!!!
=)
The OP was asking how other MTs balance homelife and work....
she didn't ask to be judged on whether or not she had experience working outside the home, et cetera...if you don't have anything productive to say to her than why bothering posting a response...obviously it sounds like she has a lot going on in her life and just needs some positive encouragement not judgement by others who feel they are more "grounded"....
Any advice on finding balance... sm
with working as an MT, the ebb and flow of the business of IC working from a pool, being a mother of a 10 year-old and a wife. How do you find the time for a well balanced family and work life? Finding time to be with your growing children, teaching them values, finding time for your relationship with spouse so that all of your family are happy, working as and MT at home. I find I work way too long although I am still in the learning phase of my company just starting full time. I find my daughter is growing up and I barely have time for her or for my husband. I want to provide a happy home and I want my daughter to learn values. She is having trouble at school and at home with her attitude.
Due to finanancial difficulties we had to move in with my mother-in-law and father-in-law and it really is not the best situation but could not be helped. I am slow as an MT. I just have a hard time finding a good balance for my family and working. I wondered how some of you out there do it and are happy with your work life and family life raising children and finding time for a well-balanced relationship with your spouse. My huband is trying to find a job now working as a cook in a hospital. He just has to wait for the hiring manager to contact him.
I appreciate any advice.
chapped lips are caused from dehydration in the beginning and sm
chapsticks are a chain reaction causing continual need.
Mwahahaha. Just call me the dealer that caused the shuffle. SM
I'm like you, I couldn't understand how this particular subject could cause such a ruckus. I got a little picky about how the question should be answered because there are many variables when talking about line counts.
So I'm just going to give my answer and hope that this helps you.
I work 8 hours a day and my line count is based on a 65 character line with spaces.
In an 8-hour day, with very few interruptions, I produce 1800 to 2000 lines a day. If the kids are home (as they are today), my production will slip to around 1500, sometimes even lower, but let's not talk about those days!
Having a couple zero-balance accounts open is okay . . .
but the available credit DOES count just the same as having that same amount charged. Lenders want to see open, good-rated accounts . . . just not so many that you have the potential for LA arge debt-to-income ratio. Keeping 2-3 is good. More than that isn't. Hth.
They are trying desperately to balance their runaway budget
Have you heard about the new naturalization process aimed at 11 million illegals in the country... along with some hoops to jump through (Learning English - ???) etc., they must pay 2000 dollars.
Do the math 11 million x 2000
its not a lot but its something
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