job stress, or why I need to meditate

[JackieOnLine]

so my biggest problem currently is dealing with stress at work and the two things I notice are both not being "in the moment" -

1. while not at work I worry about it - I hate this! I enjoy Saturday and then at some point on Sunday I start not enjoying the day because tomorrow I go back to work.

2. while at work I fight it - I am constantly thinking ahead, when will I be DONE - with this patient, with this day so I can go home. I need to relax into it: accept I will be there and be OK with that.

seriously, it's a good job but of course there are problems and I can see that cranky co-workers are going to be a bigger problem than the last job where, because of or in spite of conditions being worse we had kind of a "we're all in this together" kind of attitude going, at least sometimes. at the new job, a couple people seem to feel if I just stopped using "their" computer, all would be well. uh, no. I have to use it sometimes and you need to get over it. it's not MY fault there are not enough computers (that work).

so I need to control the only things I can: my thoughts, attitude and behavior. I need to do my best, relax, and be in the moment.

I'd love to do some yoga but don't feel up to taking a class...maybe just get a video. and meditation: that's free, right? no need to pay someone to teach you how; just start.

I'm not finding a Zen or Meditation smilie ??

meanwhile, yesterday was very busy: got up super early and got some organization done, realized the closets were stressing me out because I just trusted they were clean without doing it myself and so I emptied them, cleaned them, and feel much better.

workers & the landlady (we are going to end up friends, I think, that's so nice) were then here all morning while I took the dogs and did other stuff including walking in the Gale Force Winds and then PM I got some unpacking done. feels good!

 

[chevtow]

A good 15-30 minute hard workout always seemed to cut the stress for me. Or Crown Royal - lol.
I know exactly what you are saying. My surgery is in two weeks and I'm still one employee short for the Christmas season. If I can't find someone soon I won't be able to train them and will have to depend on my manager. In the last two weeks I've had three days that I only slept an hour, while my brain tried to figure out all the logistics. It sucks but what can we do????? Keep the faith

 

[k9ophile]

Dammit doll? I do know about that Sunday thing. My trigger was the start of the TV program 60 Minutes so I quit watching it.

 

[bearmom]

I second the the Crown Royal.

I've had some really ****** jobs, and some great ones, but it did come down to overall attitude of the employees around me that made some of the jobs what they were. I wish I had some solution and have had a little luck with a "kill em with kindness" tactic, but never figured out a good solution so ended up working for myself.

Sounds like you're making the best of it. I don't know why I'm always surprised how good I feel after I do some cleaning or a delayed chore, as I feel better every time I see it (especially cleaning the car interior), but sometimes it's the only pick me up available.

One thing that I started using to distract me from mulling worrisome thoughts for hours at night when I needed to sleep, or working in empty rentals was audio books. I bought a player that I could just plug my ipod or gadget into, since I often find earbuds impractical, and the laptop has a cheesy speaker that can't be heard if I get too far. I then started leaving music playing on it if I weren't listening to anything else, and if I don't let it access any folders of rock or anything too rambunctious, it really has been calming.

I was finally convinced just how calming when recently painting inside a rental house where the tenant had an autistic child that had used color crayons on every fricking inch of wall under 3 feet, and then I realized they also colored the all wood work (natural colored, just clear finished) which had a lot of carved detail. I'd cut them a lot of slack on the deposit, and refunded almost all of it based on what they told me needed to be done, as I couldn't go in the house right away, but she needed the money to get into the next house. Knowing it was going to take me longer to clean up that woodwork (or give up and cover it with a layer of paint, GRRR) than to paint the rest of the interior, AND the fact that an otherwise good and previously honest renter lied to me, I was doubly pissed. Clair de lune started echoing through the room, and it was truly music taming the beast, lol.

Hmm. Back to thinking about the Crown Royal. If it doesn't help you, maybe put some in cranky co-workers drink and see if it helps them.

 

[DianaCox]

Well, while you did say "meditate" rather than "mediCATE," I think both could be useful in proper proportions ... I hope your Monday goes well!

 

[Jo777]

Jackie, I feel for you. Similar situation.. save for one major PITA, with a constant negative attitude.. who happens to be my direct supervisor, and sits less than 8 feet from me.. the REST of the crew are pretty cool most days. But have one person that is constantly in a bad mood, and the stress becomes almost intolerable some days. The only thing that really gets me out of my head again is going for a hike/walk in the woods.. but. Not really useful when you are stuck at work 10hrs a day!

 

[JackieOnLine]

well, I liked your post but *dislike* for your supervisor.

 

[Sheanie]

Oh boy. My daughter just had her immediate supervisor (a complete and total A-hole) move into her office, which she already shared with her co-worker. NOBODY likes this guy, and he talks like he's got a mouth full of mashed potatoes. He cannot do the simplest of computer tasks, and so tries to foist them off on her. She was raised right, and she is nobody's fool. She amazes me with her professional demeanor and attitude. She gets it from her dad, for sure. I would end up cutting his head off and, well, you can guess what else I'd be doing.

Seems like the solution (or part of it) would be to purchase one more computer. The payroll spent waiting to use the computer should be enough to justify the purchase.