don't get me wrong, I like the guy well enough, but I just want to watch youtube videos and listen to music without feeling like a bad employee.

Because this job has a LOT of downtime, and you can only do so many "busy work" things before needing a breather and I feel like his presence puts a pressure on me to not take those breathers.

Yes, I have training online to do, and yes, I'm working on a report, as well as creating a training course of my own for the hospital personnel but all those things are not things that need to be done immediately, and working on all of it gets a bit overwhelming at times.

so sometimes I like to take a half hour here and there to -for lack of a better phrase- fuck off. I mean I have enough downtime some days to watch movies if I really wanted to!

I mean, does it make me a bad employee to take advantage of my downtime and solitary work environment like that?

1. Everyone needs a break sometimes to refresh. 2. If you feel like you shouldn't do it when you're being watched, you probably shouldn't be doing it.

good points

would say the same thing. maybe find something else to do in those moments you need to take a break. do a breathing exercise or a few minutes of stretching or light exercise? I'm not one to ask though, there's barely any down time when I'm at school.

not to make a further argument for its own sake or anything, but during the site tour when my boss was explaining my job scope on site, he basically said that if I wanted to i could leave the building and take a walk down at the marina to "see the dolphins" if I wanted.

and to me that conveys a super relaxed atmosphere with a lot of freedom to do what I want.

and it's like... I'm not used to having this much freedom and solitude. at all. It's actually in stark contrast to the environment to which I was accustomed in the military. So that plays into my thoughts here too.

Maybe while you've got a shadow use your downtime in a way that doesn't have such poor optics?

Take your shadow for a walk down to the marina or around the building

Make sure as you do that you clearly explain the culture of the workplace, of course-- you're not slacking off, you're in a role where the work flows in this certain way and your boss trusts you to manage your time

Or whatever's appropriate for the workplace

If it's only going to be for a few days, why not chat with your shadow? Tell him about the role, or the organization, or the culture or whatever, or just get to know him

you're totally right. we've talked quite a bit and theres not much to my job, tbh. But you make a good point. I can definitely find something to utilize our time better. thank you

Nella is smart

Also I've read like 200 pages of back archives of Ask a Manager