As the title suggests, this blog is a little different. I can give all the tips and tricks I want but the truth is, sometimes it's tough going.
I work a part-time job in retail, and during festive season, that also doubles as deadline time, it's hard. Social life be damned this festive period is about to be a sucky one. With 3 assignments due, Christmas shoppers in full swing and my rota becoming increasingly demanding I have no idea where I think I'm going to get the time. But I know I will. I'm trying to be chill.
Christmas in retail is a funny one. Stuck listening to the same Christmas songs on repeat (I know every word) and for the most part, the customers are great. Most people are polite, they understand you're trying your best to deal under pressure. But, once in a while there's someone who thinks you personally are responsible for the stock levels on the shop floor, or once someone even asked me if they can get staff discounts for doing the staff's job (they were at the self-scan till and decided the queues at the manned tills were too long). It can be challenging when customers are frustrated, but I get it, everyone's stressed this time of year. Sometimes I find myself cleaning up a smashed jar of Nutella or eggs that have smashed all over the floor, and I find myself wondering what's it all for? The other day with a massive queue at my till and a small bead of sweat forming on my forehead (and tears threatening to spill out) someone got angry with me because of the long wait they had and the fact that there were 4 other checkouts and only me serving. Believe me, if the choice was there I would have had help, and in my flustered state all I could utter was "I'm trying my best, I'm sorry". But, it's really not all bad, it's just intense sometimes. As I said, most people are great, like a regular who always gifts us a big bar of chocolate when they're leaving, or the way we'll buy big boxes of sweets between staff for everyone to help themselves to, and just the shared feeling among staff that we're in it together. When it’s all over, we’re all swapping stories like we’ve survived a mini battle together. As much as I'll complain about it, I do enjoy retail, just at this time of year the part of me that enjoys it is fighting for her life.
Aside from work, those assignments... I am snowed under. I'm angry with myself too, because it is completely my fault. I am FAR too easy going. I wish I could be that organised person who starts the hefty assignments 3 or 4 weeks in advance, but sadly that's not me. I am notorious for starting my work at most 4 or 5 days before the due date. This blog also ties into my coursework analytics, which felt like a great excuse to finally sit down and write something honest. I am a procrastinator to my core (hence the last blog). The last blog was actually rich coming from me because if I could take my own advice I would never have found myself in my current predicament. But, I also always get it done, and I always get the marks, so I suppose don't fix what's not broken? I know my process is unconventional, but it works for me. And although I'm saying I'm stressed about it, I guess I'm not really? I mean, I'm aware I probably should be more stressed than I currently am, but it's almost like I need the pressure in order to perform. Diamonds form under pressure! The diamonds being my assignments...
The thing about it all that's probably bothering me most is the lack of social life I'm about to have over the next few weeks. Work and assignments are priorities, and aside from those I don't have a lot of free time. But, realistically I'm being dramatic about that too. I do have a flair for the dramatic.
Anyway, I'm off to start one of the assignments that I probably should have started about two weeks ago. If you're like me, well then from one overachieving procrastinator to another, we got this. This festive season will be full of long busy shifts and late nights trying to hit the word count and hopefully some of them will be spent over a glass of wine with some friends. We'll get there, never stress.
- Toni x
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