Short-Term-itis

I have it bad this season. For those of you not in the seasonal world, yet, you still know what short-term-itis is, don't you? It would be that time after you or someone else has given their quit notice but still is working those last couple of weeks.

At least I recognize the symptoms in myself and can deal with them, hopefully, without anyone else seeing them. I've had a countdown calendar near my bed for a couple of weeks now. I know in my head by now, how many days before the end of my agreement; subtract any time off so how many days left..(actually the same now since yesterday was my last day off); how many hours of actual guest contact; time before my plane takes off; and days before I start the next gig.

I have picked up some extra hours at the Red Mill restaurant this week, just because I know it will make time seem to pass faster. The extra bucks on my way out doesn't hurt either.

This is also the time when all those guest/visitor comments that you have heard 100s of time during the season get to be really irritating, even the compliments. Actually, I'll change that to especially the compliments. I'm not sure what it is about them... but if another person tells me that they want me to come home with them so they can have this fantastic breakfast everyday, I feel like I'm going to scream. But I will just end up smiling and thanking them and somehow try to make them feel like they are being original the every half-hour that I've heard this at least once the entire season.

I'm usually planning for the workload at least three days in advance. But short-term-itis means if it'll get me through tomorrow that is good enough. I stopped into HR to double-check on all the things they want done before you leave, not being thoughtful, but wishing I'm already doing those things.

What is most annoying about short-term-itis is seeing it in other people who don't recognize it, or deal with it if they do know they are inflicted. People who have been on-time or even early all season start sowing up late. Name badges are forgotten, well other parts of uniforms too. Yap-yap-yap-yap-yap. Shave? well, if you feel like it. Clean up?...we'll be doing a major cleaning right before we leave so why bother now.