Dealing with workplace stress

LegacyUser

Hi all,
I was hoping to get some advice on coping with stress. I have been under huge pressure at my job for many months and I'm struggling to keep going at the moment. I don't want to get in to the nitty gritty of the issues themselves as I've tried all I can to resolve them and am now looking for a new job as I don't feel that things will improve where I am. However I feel I need help with coping strategies in the meantime as the stress is overwhelming and taking over every aspect of my life.
Main problems I am having are an increased workload, a lack of support and currently an issue involving having to work long shifts with no breaks with almost no notice- eg a 12 hour shift with less than 8 hours notice. I find I am constantly exhausted, stressed and bad tempered from it all. I'm trying to keep on top of a decent eating and exercise regime but failing miserably because it seems like so much effort. I'm not sleeping well. I cry most Sunday nights at the thoughts of the week ahead. I obsess about work- I never stop thinking about it and often find myself ranting about it to friends without even realising. I feel like a robot who just works and never has any fun, everything just feels like a chore. I absolutely hate being like this, and I really need to learn some coping strategies to tide me over until I get a new job. I'd really appreciate any advice anyone can offer

Feisty

I feel your pain Theres nothing worse than a job that stresses you as you have to spend most of your waking day there.

You need to find a way to let it go when you walk out the door. The problems will still be there tomorrow, so there's no need to worry about them this evening. Easier said than done I know - but remember - that's your job, not your life. Enjoy your "life" part of the day.

I use sunsets to let go of my stresses. If I've had a bad day, I go to a pretty place like a lake and watch the sun go down, and let the problems disappear with the sun. Today is over, tomorrow is a new day. It really works for me, lets me relax and just be.

Good luck with the job hunting...

LegacyUser

What industry? Allowing no breaks is illegal for one. Are you been given no breaks or are you taking no breaks. How is there such short notice on shifts and do you have the option to decline or speak up for self? Or are you allowing this all to happen and suffering the consequences?

LegacyUser

Dontuse wrote: »

<Snip> Post is just there ^. No need to repost.

Thanks for the replies.
I'm not going to be too specific about my industry as I don't want to be identifiable. No breaks is unfortunately standard in the industry and role I'm in, hence I'm trying to move to a different type of role. There is no option of declining the shifts, essentially I am expected to provide sick cover for colleagues on top of my own hours and have no options for escalating the problem when I am contacted out of hours by said colleagues. I've definitely made the mistake in the past of being too accommodating for this stuff but have genuinely made the effort over the past few months to work with the company to improve things- unfortunately nothing is changing hence my plan to leave.
Basically I feel at the moment the situation won't change and the only thing I can change is my own behaviour and reactions towards it all, but I'm so stressed and stuck in a rut that I can't even think of how to start relieving the stress. That's why I'm looking for tips on how other people have coped with or reduced stress caused by work.
Also mods I'd meant to post this in personal issues instead of relationship-could it be moved please?

via4

Could you go on the sick for a while?

Teyla Emmagan

I'm not sure how much coping strategies will help when you can't get the one most important thing i.e. a break. You sound absolutely worn out and are never getting to recharge your batteries. And when you're chronically tired everything is do much harder to cope with. Can you take a few days off? Or do as someone else suggested and pull a sickie. Everyone else in there seems to, and they clearly have no proper cover system (as you know). And they have no incentive to put one in place atm as you are filling the gap. At the expense of your own health! I think at this stage it is time to be selfish and put yourself first before you fall apart.

LegacyUser

Thanks again for the replies.

I have considered going out on sick leave but even a week out without pay would leave me very tight financially at the moment-even with the overtime I've been doing, it's just been an expensive couple of months. I may have to though because the longer this goes on the worse I'm feeling mentally

Another day

If you are not rostered for work you can arrange to be uncontactable. Divert your phone and screen your calls. You don't have to answer. You are entitled to your time off and being dragged in with little or notice really isn't acceptable especially if it is constantly happening.

Learn to say no and mean it. And go job hunting find somewhere that will appreciate you. No job is worth the stress...we spend so much time in there we have to be able to enjoy it...

jimmycrackcorm

One coping strategy is to focus on the fact that you won't be stuck in that job indefinitely. It's not a prison sentence and knowing you will get a new job soon makes it easier to put up with in the sort term.