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Chief
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29, Boston, $75k
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Bowl Leader
Bowl Leader
Daily Reflection 1/21
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One minute at a time. HP will give you strength to tackle the next minute in front of you
I was lucky enough a few years ago that I already had a lunch date schedule w a friend that worked on the weekend in a hospital role... she broke down in tears that day from work stress, fights w her husband, difficulties getting consistent daycare for her kids and she just happened to kinda be so overwhelmed, emotional and drowning that day that she was just over everything and like rallying up to her quit her job and give up trying to replace a caregiver....
Anywho, I recognized a previous time in my life where I had gone so past the point of recognizing my own burnout, that I do remember the days I felt like just slamming down my computer and quitting were the only option or solution tangible to me in that moment of like tunnel vision/rage lol.
I reminded my girlfriend that although it feels like the nuclear option is the level of solution that feels right today, she could also just call in sick tomorrow... or even just call in sick for a week straight and at least maybe get a couple extra free paydays.... or maybe some time to calm down and properly put in quit notice under less pressure in case maybe she wanted to go back to work later.
The amazingly funny part of that conversation was how many times she was too scared to call in sick and worrying about her manager/coverage to do it... and then she was worried they'd fire her... so she'd rather just quit right now than have more stress..
I literally had to circle back to joke and remind her that if she just gets fired a few days later for calling in sick, its still net better few extra pay days, maybe actually its just an immediate way to take a break, like how is somehow the idea of faking a sick day less risky than rage quitting your job today?? Lol.
We still look back and laugh about that day. It turns out she legitimately had a fractured hip from snowboarding but didnt know it yet. She did call in sick and then coincidentally had enough time to swing by urgent care, finding that surprise out... anyways long story short, she's been "out on sick leave" for almost like a year now-hip almost finally healed up enough that she's bored and looking forward to going back to work, but at a better location of the chain.
So anyways, maybe get the flu and just call in sick. Dude, its almost a long weekend. You could turn that 3 day presidential weekend into a 4 or 5 day break and worry about all the other shit next week lol
Ty! That's a good story. I am going to Florida with my significant other for the long weekend. But I have anxiety about needing to work or be availaby. SO is understanding at least.
Bowl Leader
What’s the source of the work stress? My base tendency (and character defect) is perfectionism (which is another way to say control). The less control I have in a situation the more overwhelmed I become…I usually have to suffer pretty tremendously until I remember (or am reminded) that I can truly control almost nothing, and that serenity comes when I turn it over to and trust my HP.
When I reach that point the I can come at the situation more objectively i can decide which things are mine to own, which things are mine but don’t need to be done at the A+ level, which things I can delegate, and which things require me to say uncle and to ask for help.
The “blow things up” option sounds appealing to the alcoholic brain, but there’s always another option. I’ve changed jobs because the stress wasn’t worth the paycheck. I’ve also found that “this too shall pass”; life has its ups and downs and we all “take our turn through the rock crusher”, but overall, the trend is upwards. Focus on the trend, not the daily trials and tribulations.
I think it's just perceived threats and fear that I'm not good enough, not doing enough, etc. A couple things did pop up that I have little to no control over, and spot on that it made me want to pull back. But that's all it is, fear. It's alot to manage and your advice on figuring out how to triage is helpful. And this shall pass. I know it will pass. But in the moment it seems overwhelming.