It’s been busy. I’ve been working ridiculously hard at my new job. We’re a startup lab set to open at the end of next week, and I’m the only senior staff member that has knowledge and control over the lab operations that form the basis of the business. The number of elements in that last sentence that are new territory for me can not be overstated.

Two weeks ago I had been working 60 hours a week for the preceding month, and I’m not even a full time employee. After a month of that I decided to just cut off my work at the hours I signed up to do. It helped a lot because I was burnt out, unfocused and not efficient at that point. I’ve been offered to go full time already but I’d much rather just be working less. If I had ended up working 2x the hours I’d signed up for part time, would I still be working 2x the hours at full time? I don’t even want to find out.

It also does not help that this is in downtown LA and commute is terrible. The original plan was to come on part time and work like that for 6ish months, giving me time to grow into the roll and relocate to a more commutable area. Basically that’s all changed and we’re full speed ahead and I think the extra stress from a move would destroy me.

So I’m looking down the last 10ish day stretch and wondering if that’s really the end of “crunch time” or if there’s another month beyond that. Im spent. I’m about as spent as I’ve ever been. Wish me luck.