New at my job and struggling to learn a routine, is this normal?
I started a new part-time job about a month ago, and there is a specific multi-step cleanup and reset routine I have only done about four times. This process is only done once a week. The job rents out the space, so at the end of the week we have to move everything back into storage in a very specific way.
I feel like I am improving each time, but I still do not fully remember all the steps yet, and it is starting to make me feel discouraged and a bit anxious going into it. I almost dread that part of the job because I feel like I am being watched closely and not picking it up fast enough, even though I am trying.
I have a coworker who has been there for about 7 years, and she sometimes makes comments like “come on guys,” “take a picture so you remember,” or “you don’t know where this goes?” I understand she may be trying to help, especially with the “take a picture” comment, but it feels like she is getting frustrated with how long it is taking me to learn, and it is starting to affect my confidence.
I am almost at the one month mark, and I do feel like I am getting a better grasp on the job overall. It is mainly this cleanup process that I am struggling to fully remember.
Is this normal? If you have worked somewhere with a specific physical setup or routine, how long did it take you to fully get used to it? Since I work with this coworker regularly during this process, are there specific things I could ask her or do to learn it faster?
Also, any tips for remembering multi-step routines would really help.
Thanks!
Posted May 1, 2026, 9:10 PM UTC