Surviving Friday Frustrations: Inter Alia, High Maintenance Co-Workers with Low Mileage Tasks

Friday afternoons have a special kind of magic. The clock ticks slower, the coffee tastes weaker, and the to-do list somehow grows longer. You know the feeling: racing to finish tasks before the weekend, only to be slowed down by unexpected hiccups and, of course, those high maintenance co-workers who seem to demand more attention than a needy pet. Welcome to the World of Friday - where productivity meets pandemonium.

The Friday Task Race: Why It Feels Like a Marathon with Hurdles

Does your office transform into a battleground of unfinished projects and last-minute requests every Friday? You start the day with a clear plan, but by noon, it’s clear that plan was written in sand. Emails flood in, meetings pop up like whack-a-mole, and your carefully prioritised list becomes a chaotic jumble.

Take, for example, the classic “quick check-in” meeting that somehow lasts an hour and involves everyone except the person who actually needs to make decisions. Or the urgent request from a client that arrives just as you’re about to hit “send” on your final report. These moments are the Friday equivalent of stepping on a Lego: painful and unexpected.

Understanding ‘Low Mileage but High Maintenance’ Individuals

Now, let’s talk about the high maintenance co-workers who add spice to this Friday frenzy. These are the people who, despite having a relatively light workload (low mileage), require constant attention, reassurance, and troubleshooting (high maintenance). Think of them as the office equivalent of a vintage car that doesn’t get driven much but needs a mechanic on speed dial.

They might send you emails asking for updates every 10 minutes or call you to clarify a detail that was perfectly clear in the original message. Their tasks might be few, but their demands are many. Managing these colleagues requires patience, resilience, and sometimes, a well-timed coffee break.

Friday afternoon chaos on a cluttered desk

Tips to Tackle Friday Frustrations

• Prioritise ruthlessly: Focus on tasks that truly need to be done before Monday. Let the rest wait.

  
  

• Set boundaries with high maintenance co-workers: Politely but firmly manage their requests. A quick “I’ll get back to you after this task” can save your sanity.

  
  

• Use humour to diffuse stress: A light joke can ease tension and remind everyone that it’s almost the weekend. Make sure it complies with Employment Law requirements! (Actually, on reflection - may be best to skip this one!)

  
  

• Take short breaks: Step away from your desk to recharge. Even five minutes can boost focus.

  
  

Fridays can feel like a test of endurance, but they could offer a moment to laugh at ourselves and the insanity of it all. Whether it’s the endless email chains, the “urgent” requests that could have waited, or the quirks of your low mileage but high maintenance colleagues, these experiences connect us all.

Next time you find yourself stuck in a Friday frenzy, remember: you’re not alone. Embrace the chaos because you're getting paid, prioritise what matters, and save some energy for the weekend ahead.