Work Stress: How are you coping? (Support needed)

Eener31 · February 2014

Hi ladies,

How are you coping with work stress? My job is really stressful and I have been dealing for the most part, but the heat has really turned up in the past week and now I'm having a hard time letting it roll off.

Case in point: I know that my team and I will be reamed out by our boss first thing in the morning tomorrow. I don't feel it's deserved, especially since it will be done very unprofessionally. It fills me with dread even thinking about it. It's so hard to face the day, and I do not work in an environment that is very receptive to employee input, so there's not much for me to say or do without potentially making the situation worse. I have been feeling really emotional lately (damn hormones!) and I do not want cry or freak out in this meeting or after it while at work (so embarrassing and unprofessional). Most importantly, I don't want to stress so much that it affects my sweet baby.

So here's my question: when faced with a work situation that is super stressful to you, how do you keep your stress (and emotions) in check? All strategies, ideas, and advice welcome!

glitterclaws · February 2014

Can you call into this meeting? Do you have a work from home policy?

I find if my client needs to blame me for something, I do it best in a conference room or working from home. I try to isolate as much as possible. And then I just take it on the chin because that's my job.

I've changed some stuff - no reading work emails in bed (morning or night), work from home 1-2 days a week so that I get my alone time and wearing more comfortable clothes to work. It seem silly, but when I'm too hot, too cold, pants too tight, etc, I get pissier.

Also keep in mind that you will get a break in just a few short months. Good luck!

futuremrsgorski · February 2014

Sorry you are having work stress! Ready for my secret to stress? Just stop caring about work! Whaaaaat? True story! I teach and used to work 12 hour days then come home and do more work. Then I had my son and my priorities got straightened out. I learned how to stop worrying about what I couldn't change and work effeciently to spend my time with what is most important, my family! I now do my job and then go home and forget about work. Remember, it's just a job! Baby doesn't like a stressed mommy

. Whatever your boss says tomorrow just let it roll off and move on with what you can do. Good luck!

jensavicci · February 2014

Work has been ok. My job is very organized, detailed and fast. Lol it's the fast part that hasn't been so easy. Pregnancy brain has definitely kicked in and I'm feeling slow as all get out, mentally and physically. But I think my clients (most of them) are pretty understanding towards me being pregnant now. Some however are just real selfish bitches who I would love to punch. Regardless, I'm getting the job done

littlemissmarla · February 2014

i am also going through a stressful work period right now, new boss who doesn't like the old staff.. i am trying my hardest to just be professional and do my job it is definitely hard to keep the pregnancy hormones in check, and sometimes i cry lol very quietly.. the only thing that keeps me going is that i will be on maternity leave soon and i don't want to do anything to jeopardize that. It's so hard for me to tell you to just smile and nod and not give in to the pressures to make a snappy remark or comment or an eyeroll (which i want to do 100x a day) but i think thats the reality of the working world

and remember, it's hard but leave work at work.. don't take that stress home with you.. you go to work and do the best you can and know you did what you were supposed to. i hope the situation gets easier and keep that LO in your mind and know that soon you will be able to focus on something so precious that the other stuff won't be important!

eta: because i cant type

middleschoolmommy · February 2014

I'm counting down the days until school is out and I am DONE with my crazy boss lady. I'm trying to avoid her as much as possible. I've been having 2-3 work related "nightmares" a week. I'm not sure I have very useful advice, but I feel better after I vent to my DH about work.... and then I go and mark another day off my calendar. 72 work days and counting...

Eener31 · February 2014

@csmith0085, I wish I could, but I teach, so no. I love the comfy clothes idea. I definitely felt better at work when I started wearing maternity clothes. It is a really good suggestion! I am keeping the break in mind too. I have spring break coming up in 3 weeks, then 9 weeks until the end of the year. It can't come fast enough.

@futuremrsgorski and @eadams08, I know exactly what you're talking about, because I'm a teacher too. I used to teach college, and this is my first year teaching 10th grade English. My principal is really focused on end-of-year testing and how our students will do on the state tests. I teach at a low-income school with many students severely below grade level in reading. I teach from bell to bell, but my students still do not test well. The same is true for the other English II teachers. We've been pretty harshly singled out lately and tomorrow will be round 3. It's hard to take because we all work really hard and are doing the best we can. That doesn't mean there's no room for improvement, but the admins are coming at us like we are bad teachers. We have actually been told we have "dropped the ball" and aren't doing our jobs. It's the philosophy that all student achievement depends solely on the teacher, so teachers get 100% of the blame.

@littlemissmarla, Thanks for the advice. I will really try to focus on my little girl tomorrow to stay cool during this ordeal. Your situation sounds similar to mine in terms of the boss' attitude. I hope it gets better for you too.

Eener31 · February 2014

Luckynumbers81 said:

Work is killing me right now, just too much to do and everything is a top priority. For your situation, if I knew it was going to be a wicked pisser of a day I would plan something relaxing in the evening. That way I could use it as a focal point when I would get stressed. Good luck tomorrow, hang in there.

Thanks, that's good advice!

jamboree jess · February 2014

I have got a fairly stressful job as well. It's almost like being in high school again, and all of the employees fall into cliques. There is constantly some completely stupid drama or rumor flying around because everyone hates each other for no apparent reason. Luckily, my boss is pretty cool, so as long as I do my job to the best of my ability, I just try to ignore everything that stresses me out and remind myself that going to work everyday is how I'm taking care of myself and my growing family. That typically makes me at least be able to tolerate putting up with all of the nonsense I deal with 40-55 hours a week.

ashleymarie1027 · February 2014

I get the stressful work thing... I've got a big deadline at the end of march, my role in the project is only small (so it wasn't really planned for), it's critical to successful completion, and nobody else on the project can help because they don't understand what my group does. My part was supposed to be done in December, but I'm having to redo parts almost daily because other people keep changing the inputs I need...

So how to sane? I try to stay as organized as I can at work, make lots of lists so I can cross of small accomplishments, and eat lots of healthy snacks. Then when I leave I don't think about it again until I'm back at work the next day. I also think its a really good idea to find something outside of work to look forward to, even a small hobby can help... I'm trying crochet... I'll let you know how that goes

cakebatter27 · February 2014

I had an incredibly stressful couple of weeks that have finally blown over. Let's just say an internal investigation and possible police involvement. I was about to lose my mind over it and only confided in a Co worker with 2 small children how I was so worried the stress would affect the baby.

Luckily everything was perfect at my appointment last week and the worst is behind me . I'm putting in my notice is May so I just keep reminding myself 10 more weeks!

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