[skurry]

Some more data points and thoughts:

- I have 23 days of PTO per year, which is generous for the US. I did several two week trips the past years, mostly to Asia. My job is fairly low stress, I work less than 40 hours per week. But still, as soon as I set a foot into the office, it feels like all life energy gets sapped out of me. Maybe it's the fluorescent lighting? The crappy HVAC that oscillates between freezing and muggy? The open office plan we moved to last year? The constant sitting? As soon as I'm on my bike on the way home, I feel better.

- Worst case, if I do it: I get lazy and don't do anything during my time off, and won't have anything to show for at the end. But that's entirely in my control, and I won't have anyone to blame but myself.

- I read many blogs and comments about this. A recurring theme is people saying "I'm afraid I wouldn't be able to bring myself to go back to work after taking such a long time off." While I can see the point, aren't they implicitly admitting that there is something wrong with their current situation?

[eru]

> The constant sitting?

Try to get a standing desk. It worked wonders for me.

[skurry]

I've been talking to my manager about this. The problem is, after moving to an open floor plan, paradoxically we don't have room anymore.

I'm trying to work standing up for a bit. It does help, but of course is far from ergonomic at a regular desk. It probably also looks ridiculous, me doing a semi-split to get low enough to reach the keyboard and mouse.

[eru]

Try using a few reams of copy paper (or books and boxes etc) to prop up monitors and input devices. I had such a makeshift setup at first.

Also, have you tried working from home? Orthogonally, negotiating a four day work week 4x8h (at 80% pay) might help you enjoy yourself more. Managment might not be too happy, but if you insist and tell them that the alternative is 0 day work week at 0% pay (i.e. you leave), they might see the light.