i am fucking beat.
as i said a while back im a programmer but currently the market is in crisis and i got fire and remained unemployed for almost a year, so i went to work in the factory to at least not run out of money in difficult times we are facing.
i was never a athletic person, even as a kid when playing outside always had week constitution, run slow, tired easily, shit coordination and never got better.
i applied for a job in a shoe factory, and got put in storage and man, labor sucks major ass. it porly organized so a lot of work was overdue and the rhythm was frenetic, slowed by outdated software and so on.
anyway, perhaps this is the cue for me getting my shit together and study hard for public employment, less physically tiring and better pay.
Been doing factory labor for five years now and yeah, you have to sort of build your life around it. I need to shower every night because of all the sweat, my wardrobe consists only of sweat whicking fabrics, I own several pairs of work shoes and rotate them throughout the week to make them last longer, I plan and time my meals to ensure I don’t get super hot on a full stomach but also don’t come home starving, and I pretty regularly have panic attacks and sobbing fits.
I don’t hate it but holy fucking shit it takes a lot out of you. Really need to go back to school…
i feel you, i need to buy some clothes specific to be drenched, specially in brazil hot climate, as for shoes thank the left by law they have to provide us with personal protection equipment so they lend steel reinforced boots, still i need to also acquire a water bottle because cups don’t come by easily there, and the salary sucks, anyway we fucking need communism right now to make factories decent places to work.
Oh yeah, last year I lost consciousness because they didn’t install a fan in my work station even though I told them every week and submitted continuous improvement forms and everything.
The DAY I passed out they installed a fan. Fuckers could have done it whenever they wanted they just didn’t give a shit.
Death to capitalism death to America inshallah
my time working in a factory was similarly crushing, though, i always believed that if the job had paid well enough and considered me as a person and not a number on the floor, i would prefer manual labor over the mindless white collar shit i’m doing now. but we’ll never be in a position where labor workers are compensated entirely for the body and soul crushing work they’re expected to do, so i’ll never be in a factory again.
hopefully, anyway.
Here’s my advice for you as someone that’s worked in a few factories and a warehouse: Get insoles for your shoes if you can, they’ll help a lot. Prioritize protein dense foods, maybe take a shake to work. I basically abused acetaminophen when I was working my 12hr shifts, try not to poison yourself with painkillers. Some factories or warehouses have massage chairs in the break/lunch rooms, if your’s does remember to use it! A little less ethical depending on how your factory handles breaks but try to take a little extra time than you’re allowed if you can. In the same vein, if you have time to clean you have time to lean! Take every chance you can to rest.
You said you’re in storage and I don’t know what that means specifically but in any case, optimize your movements, especially if you’re palletizing or something. Do not twist your body left or right to lift, remember to use your legs to lift, and keep objects in your power zone! The core of factory and warehouse work is about optimizing your movements to minimize pain and last longer.
Oh also if you can sneak earbuds into work and you’re able to do your work safely with them, use music or podcasts to power through the shift. My best shifts were when I was able to sneak my wireless earbuds onto the factory floor. If that’s not possible for you I’d recommend getting some nice reusable earplugs. They should be more comfortable and more effective than whatever your work is giving you, if they are anyways. Save your hearing!
And one more thing, remember to be careful outside of work too. Something as small as an RSI in your wrist can be enough to not make it through a shift, jeopardizing your job. That’s all the advice I have, stay strong comrade.
thanks for the tips, i will get the correct size shoes and some decent insoles, one day and my feet already hurt. i will see about protein at home, since the factory forbids the entrance of any liquid due to problems with workers drinking alcohol on shift, the least we can do is bring empty water bottles and fill with water inside the factory.
as for hearing im comfortable since i don’t work close to machines. when picking up things i squat, so it doesn’t hurt my back
I’m not pretending I know anything about working in a factory or a warehouse, but I have done quite a bit of walking recently, and you really feel much, much better if you wear additional pairs of socks especially if the shoes tend to rub against your ankles
there was that one time in high schools that i used a small sock that didn’t cover the achilles tendom, it burned my skin from friction alone, after that i always make sure that my socks are high enough to cover all my feet.
the problem in having with the boot is that it is a bigger size and it has a shitty insole so my feet wiggle inside and the sole is hard, so that makes my feet hurt like fuck, also i walk a lot during shift to grab materials and whatnot and there isn’t a place to sit nor time, i will put a distance calculator on my phone to see how much i walk daily.
I used to work in a steel factory and the first few weeks were really heavy. As in, I couldn’t move my hands when I got home heavy. But the thing with bodies is that eventually you get stronger.
My advice would be to eat well, get in your carbs and protein and even though it may seem ridiculous: stretch before you start working.
Currently working at a UPS warehouse - I am a physically fit young adult and the shit is still grueling. I feel you heavy.
i gotta work up the courage to do some exercise at least to not be so deadbeat and you know, prepare for revolution, im thinking in doing capoeira, since the least shitty body part is my legs and i have natural flexibility, which could be better if i practiced. my first thought was tae kown do but theres not gym that teaches it in my city. gotta get fit and learn some self defense, fascists are getting bold out here.
I’m trying to get into factory work. I’m looking at going to tech school and getting a job as a technician. Everything else has kind of fallen through.
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This book really helped me.
“Discover What You Are Best At.” Linda Gail. I spent years looking for work I didn’t hat, and then found a career.
Also, if possible, start applying for Civil Service jobs. In the US they have great unions and excellent health benefits.