feeling overwhelmed

I woke up this morning and thought, what am I doing? How did I get this heavily involved in secret shopping? I guess like Jude, I feel disillusioned because my last two have come back to me, one rejected, and one with extensive rewrites. I looked at my messy house and thought of my primary responsibilities to my family and to myself (not to be so stressed out), and canceled a few shops on Market force. I feel relieved. I didn't realize how pressured I felt with these deadlines lately. Also, I am taking a 12 step class at church on healing past hurts, and I feel kind of raw from exploring all of that. I just need a break, (or at least cut way back.) Anyone ever been in the same spot?

Carol

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Oh boy.I can relate to that. I am feeling the same way. I had an amazingly busy week, and I just found out that 7 gas station shops I though were scheduled for 10/6-9, and I did this week, were actualy for 11/6-9. A total waste of time. I was so busy with other shops as well, I failed to look at the forms more carefully. I still have a lot of shops next week, but Iam schduling far less for the second half of the month. I have to use more self control and be more selective. But hopefully, Carol, it can be done. Take some time to take a deep breath and have a cup of your favorite tea. I plan to take it one day at a time, and promise to think twice before I click on the enter button.
Enjoy the weekend.

Thank you Pat! I appreciate your kindness.

Well now I really know my mind is not in gear, I am feeling stressed and it is not good. While I was sitting in here on the computer,I had no idea it had started to rain pretty heavily. I had left my poor, blind, helpless dog outside who has no orientation as to how to come back inside. I heard these humble little barks, and finally went out to find a drenched, pathetic looking shih tzu. Yup. I gotta take better care of myself, and my family,(including the fur kids), and cut back a bit here at least for now. My own work is part time right now, but the hours will be piling on as it gets closer to the holidays. I think I may finish what I have got going on, but be VERY careful about what I add via shopping. I don't know if it is the thrill of applying and then finding out you got it, or instant assigning, or whatever, but I feel like Toad in The Wind in the Willows. Mole, Rat, and Badger shaking their heads and saying, "Now he's got a NEW mania." ha ha

Carol, I had a period like this not too long ago. Take a deep breath, step back, and use the opportunity to reassess. I think it was this period that really made me think hard about what jobs I was taking, and how it was preventing me from being productive in other areas of my life. I'm now much more selective about what I'll do. For a while, it was hard for me to say no -- it's much easier now.

Sometimes we just need a break. And a fresh start with a new perspective. :-)

Thank you Nicelytwicely, I am going to do just that. Be far more selective both about jobs and about companies I will work for. I know they aren't everyone's favorite, but my two best in terms of paying and respecting my work and not being fussy and making me correct it to suit their standards, are Bestmark and CORI. Second to None is good as well. They always get back to you quickly when you e-mail.

Carol

The feeling is not uncommon. It takes only a couple shops gone awry to cause a reassessment of what you are doing and where you are going. I determined in July that I would take only great jobs and things that were fun in August and it turned out to be my best month in terms of fun and $ in several years.

I am comfortable that my house gets dirty especially during the first week(s) of the month. I do expect others to help share the load, especially since they have distinct benefits from what I do. Then there are the 'days off' later in the month when there are no shops and I can get done that which I really am not happy with the results when I delegate. My list of 'monthly chores' for years was performed the first weekend of the month. It now has been moved to the 3rd week of the month. It is called 'adaptation' and somehow it has not torn a hole in the universe that I changed the dates.

Carol I can really relate to you. The last two weeks, I have been up late with sending in these reports. I have been so exhausted. I went to a bank at the wrong location. I could not believe it, two banks were actually on the same block. I realized when I went to upload the business card.

I too have learned to be more selective. It is when I think I do not have enough work, and before you know it, my whole week is all taken up. There is just not enough time. I don't work weekends and I am not working Monday.

Thank you 57 Carol for putting a smile on my face. I too am addicted to the instant and e-mail replies saying "accepted" ! Sometimes, it's as thrilling as the ding ding ding song of a slot machine. I write them in my pocket calendar as soon as I get them and never rely on my memory, but that's me I love "to do" lists. I've been known to write in: brush your teeth and record who dined and when below a recipe.
I'm cutting back on those MSCs that demand too much for too little and call it "fun", a masochist I'm not. I just shared with a friend that I don't know if I'll ever be able to bank or grocery shop without getting paid to do it, although, I have reajusted beautifully and no longer look for name tags on waitstaff, time or poke my food, temperature testing, while dining out. I could care less what color hair they have and I don't stand up next to them to confirm their height. I'm not eating out much anymore but I'm also no longer an embarrassing date.

I as well think the applying and getting is the "high" of shopping, not the actual work, and certainly not the end result ($$). This is a thankless job, if not for the self scheduling and being one's own boss, I could walk away. I had a tough week as well, cost me money having computer go out due to a job. Being age isn't in my favor, there's no where else to pick up a few dollars.. I'm retired, but this last week has cost more than I can afford. So, let's all hang in there and hope tomorrow is better (it usually is). Did a casino today, drove a couple hours for a day of "fun"...had a lousey lunch, lost 40.00 on slots, came home dead tired with a stomach ache...oh the wonders of MSing.

Live consciously....

I recall my first year was often overwhelming. Getting started in this business, we pay dues, figuratively speaking. I was getting my feet wet to gain understanding and experience. Self-assigning shops was fine. Also though, I was applying for lots of shops, never considering they'd all be assigned, or what I'd do in that event. By the third week of the month, I often felt like throwing in the towel. The end of the month though was rejuvenating, and I'd start anew with the beginning of each month, promising myself not to overdo. Relief was never more than a couple of weeks away. And it has continued that way for me.

That's not to say there haven't been times when I stepped back. It is necessary when fires spring up at home, or just because I want to. That's one of the things I most appreciate about shopping.

I try to avoid being overwhelmed. I've grown tired of the hour+ shop with the hour+ ( sometimes two hrs) to enter + clarification/confirmation( lately always) all for $20 and gadly accept two bank shops usually 5 min in the bank and 5 to report even at $12.50 each they are worth it. Bank shops can get stale so I alter scenarios, that helps a bit. Gratitude is hard to come by although now and again there is that phone call to work on a "special" project or a bending of the rules to do one more shop with a bonus to boot. Those can even be fun. I once bought canned soups, removed labels, coded them, shipped the labels away and delivered the naked cans to a mall parking lot. It was kinda a CIA style drop off. That was a lot of work, lot of $ outlay but immense fun... and the MSC paid $25 over the original $75 amount and arranged for a Fed Exed grocery reimbursement check.
I know what you mean about "age", Irene, there are no "age" folks shopping the malls only walkers. Meanwhile there are banks, supermarkets, insurance co., and vitamin stores truly EASY shops. Are there really Casino shops? I've heard of cemetery but never casino. How fun is that?

Casino shops are offered in my neck of the woods all the time. Thanks, guys, I do feel a bit better.

Carol

Better read up on those Casino shops first. They can be pretty overwheming trying to observe 30 different employees and keeping track of ht/hair/eyes/age/etc.

The Indian casino I do near Santa Barbara (which is a beautiful drive along the coast) only requires either a buffet, lunch or gift shop (no gambling tables), not overwhelming. I lost all on my own. I've had great days there and actually won $102.00 last time on $1.00. This time was different. The ups and downs of MSing are a little like life. This too shall pass. The good thing is you can control it, so, today I'm doing a Ben & jerry's and a movie. Next week I'm working a run Wed.....back on track. Woke up this morning with the sun shinning in anbd all looks good!!

Live consciously....

Carol, I'm sending you hugs....as you know, I can easily identify with what you're feeling. I shut down all shopping jobs for a few weeks. I will start to ease back into it next week.

I'm taking a page from Flash's book: only do great jobs that should be fun. Why put additional stress on oneself? Don't we deal with enough on a day to day basis?

In the meantime, I read all the lovely emails from the MSCs I'm signed up with....and smile as I click Delete.

Thanks, friends.

I just did two reasonably close together shops yesterday, and actually for stuff that was needed. Today I'm going to at least two, possibly 3 grocery stores. Again, it's needed.

Carol

Carol,
You certainly won't have to worry about MarketForce anymore because if you cancelled your shops, they cancelled you. That said, it does get overwhelming at times, but at least you know what is important.

Hi jack, you know i thought that would be the case as well. But my upcoming shop is still on the list and I can access the long list to choose and sign up for others.

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