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Couple ideas (these are all things I do): drink lots of fluid - you have to go to the bathroom, find random spots you can stand and work, grab a coffee or drink every 3 hours, call SO around 6 and talk / walk for 10 minutes, work out in the morning, and last, and most sadly, this is normal-get used to it.
I average probably 12 hours at a desk a day and I make it work pretty well.
Being a good consultant doesn't mean no lunch breaks.... But no lunch breaks does mean bad management. Def escalate to counselor. Lack of analysts/consultants escalating on shitty managers over the years is why the culture is so bad right now!
@OP This is not a healthy way to live your life. It definitely would be awkward for your counselor to talk to your manager. The obvious question first - have you tried asking your manager about it directly (but gently)? If they're worth their snuff, they'll already know that different people work differently. What works for you isn't the same as what works for the next person. Be prepared to mitigate any "perception" problems this my cause if that's what you anticipate your manager's response will be - "it looks bad" isn't good enough. At my current engagement, we are doing testing - at first we worked through lunch, then when we felt like we demonstrated that we were worth the hours and had the client's trust, started taking that time. It makes me personally much more productive over the same period of hours (even including the break). Try teasing out your manager's concerns a bit first. But trust me, you can't sustain this forever. Those who are saying this is "normal" didn't set good boundaries and is paying for it in other ways, I promise. If you wanna get really technical, it's also against the law in some states to NOT be given a lunch break, and most corporate policies tend follow that... you'll work through it! Won't happen overnight but you can do it.
Manager here: take a walk, go on coffee breaks, and get some fresh air. It's not productive for anyone to be in the same spot for 9+hrs and your manager should know that. Assuming you are pumping out good and timely outputs, it's not reasonable for your manager to expect you to be glued to the desk. Set up some time and talk to them abt boundaries
What's a lunch break?
My counselor won't do anything about this other than confront my manager. For obvious reasons, that's not the way to go. My manager gets the job done and that's what the firm sees and cares about. I wish there was a chance to provide honest feedback.
Do what every dad in the world does, spend an extra long time on the can. You can meditate in there, check your phone. Nobody will ask why you're pooping for so long
Manager here: tell your manager to fuck off. That's not a healthy work situation
D and A3 - She said it very clearly. She cares.
Been there dude. It blows. Got excited that there was team dinner first day of my first chargeable project only to realize the MD got a separate table for me to sit alone and review decks 🙃
There are walking desks on our floor. I'm pretty sure I'd fall off the treadmill while trying to work but others seem to manage it quite gracefully
Claim irritable bowel syndrome 💩💩💩
There are these things called labor laws. You are allowed breaks and a lunch. Google it.
Just get up and take a walk later. Don't say anything beforehand, and don't be gone more than 20 minutes. If asked, you went to the bathroom & got a breath of fresh air/had a hallway conversation/took a phone call/whatever you wound up doing. Repeat 2-3x/day. If you make a big deal out of it, it becomes a big deal. Don't lie about it, if you get caught it looks bad - but also if you don't make a big deal out of it, it's likely no one will even notice.
Funny how about 1/2 the likes on my comment came from Deloitte folks. 😅
Get out of D. Period
Lmao wtf A6? That's insane
Take up smoking.
Well I had a lunch break for years before I got into consulting. Try to get at least a few Ali's in around the building.
Thanks for the advice, everyone!
Be tougher
C2 😂 - yep it's only bad managers...terrible advice to go nuclear on your supervisor, there are gentler ways to handle this situation