Are you stressed?

bitofabind

I have a lot of work stress in my life, particularly at certain times of the year (eg end of each quarter when deadlines are looming).

I try to manage it with fitness classes, therapy, eating as well as I can, not drinking alcohol and switching off as much as possible on the weekends. But then there are weeks like this when it all descends into hell in a hand-basket and I'm eating like a toddler, not sleeping and injecting caffeine into my veins whilst having nightmares about not hitting my target.

Then again, I don't have to worry about money or the roof over my head or feeding my (non-existent) kids, so as far as privilege goes I can't exactly complain.

Are you stressed AH? If so, why? If not, how do you manage to keep life balanced and harmonious?

I went through a prolonged spell of extreme stress a few years ago..

What brought it under control was taking Phosphatidylserine for a couple of months..
It addresses cortisol imbalance..

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1

No, not stressed. Of course I'm now retired but stress only ever affected me for a short time when I worked. I was advised to learn to say No and it worked for me. I found my hobbies and a supportive family life got me quickly out of the downward spiral that stress can bring on.

ILoveYourVibes

yes I spam post here...it relaxes me

hellsing101

I'm in the same boat as yourself. Have a lot of work stress which affects my sleeping patterns and social life.
I find working out helps me to relax, lifting weights in particular. I don't eat particularly well and drink a fair bit at home so that could be contributing.
I would think a lot of people would be in a similar predicament if they work in a field where they have a good few responsibilities placed on them.

bitofabind

Yeah eating well and exercise definitely helps. Fitness classes are probably the only time in my day where I actually get out of my head and into my body and focusing on getting through the class instead of the work stuff can be really cathartic.

Alcohol is the worst idea for me when I'm under serious work pressure. My moods dip so so low the next day after even one or two drinks and I can get nothing productive done.

Telly

Too blessed to be stressed

muppetkiller

2 kids under 3 with my missus stuck in a sh"thole of an apartment paying through the roof for it...loads of bills that I cannot afford and it's christmas where everytime someone opens their mouth it costs money.
Stressed .....is the new norm

eviltwin

Yep, working full time, studying for my degree and a kid with special needs means my default status is stressed. But sure things could be worse and it's not forever

Your Face

A bit stressed with my current job but I applying for other places and as soon as I get something that pays the bills - I'm gone.

WrenBoy

My resting heartbeat registers as a panic attack.

WrenBoy

Your Face wrote: »

A bit stressed with my current job but I applying for other places and as soon as I get something that pays the bills - I'm gone.

thats the way to do it, best of luck

Strumms

bitofabind wrote: »

I have a lot of work stress in my life, particularly at certain times of the year (eg end of each quarter when deadlines are looming).

I try to manage it with fitness classes, therapy, eating as well as I can, not drinking alcohol and switching off as much as possible on the weekends. But then there are weeks like this when it all descends into hell in a hand-basket and I'm eating like a toddler, not sleeping and injecting caffeine into my veins whilst having nightmares about not hitting my target.

Then again, I don't have to worry about money or the roof over my head or feeding my (non-existent) kids, so as far as privilege goes I can't exactly complain.

Are you stressed AH? If so, why? If not, how do you manage to keep life balanced and harmonious?

So, you don’t have to worry about money, you have a roof over your head, no family responsibilities, no kids ?

Why don’t you quit, take a mini career break a better job where they are not trying to suck every last drop of your energy...

Pointless slaving away for a sham of a company who don’t regard your health, or wellbeing.

bnt

I don't have much stress now, but that's because I have to avoid it for medical reasons. So the need to avoid stress has shaped my life and career, basically: if I was subjected to the kinds of stress the OP is, I wouldn't cope with it well at all, and that's for purely physiological reasons, not out of being "lazy" or having a "bad attitude". I learned that the hard way years ago.

The thing about targets is that they're always moving. If you made x amount of money this quarter, or took x number of calls, the target for next quarter will be x+1, and so on until something breaks. Whether the target is reasonable is not a consideration.

muppetkiller

bitofabind wrote: »

I have a lot of work stress in my life, particularly at certain times of the year (eg end of each quarter when deadlines are looming).

I try to manage it with fitness classes, therapy, eating as well as I can, not drinking alcohol and switching off as much as possible on the weekends. But then there are weeks like this when it all descends into hell in a hand-basket and I'm eating like a toddler, not sleeping and injecting caffeine into my veins whilst having nightmares about not hitting my target.

Then again, I don't have to worry about money or the roof over my head or feeding my (non-existent) kids, so as far as privilege goes I can't exactly complain.

Are you stressed AH? If so, why? If not, how do you manage to keep life balanced and harmonious?

Try managing your stress when you have no time for Gym , therapy, eating well going for pints etc....kids consume all and you pile on the pounds too.

jester77

I don't recall ever being stressed. I am a laid back type of person and just don't see the point of worrying about things. It's not going to change anything.

Look at what is causing issues for you, create a realistic plan to tackle it, break it into subtasks and tackle each one.

Widdershins

Yes. I burn out now and again. I like my life fairly full (of people and all sorts of relationships and experiences), but it catches up with me. Insomnia, suddenly blank mind, zoning out. Nausea. Functioning on autopilot.

Do something to balance your life while you still can, OP. It sounds like you have choices.

henryporter

No

bitofabind

bnt wrote: »

The thing about targets is that they're always moving. If you made x amount of money this quarter, or took x number of calls, the target for next quarter will be x+1, and so on until something breaks. Whether the target is reasonable is not a consideration.

It's true, it's a fickle game. You screw yourself over by performing well and hitting or exceeding your targets as they become doubly aggressive once the next quarter kicks in.

Don't hit your target and you're worrying about your job security.

bitofabind

Widdershins wrote: »

Do something to balance your life while you still can, OP. It sounds like you have choices.

Strumms wrote: »

Why don’t you quit, take a mini career break a better job where they are not trying to suck every last drop of your energy...

Pointless slaving away for a sham of a company who don’t regard your health, or wellbeing.

Thanks guys. Fair points. The problem is I really love my job and enjoy the rush of a fast-paced adrenaline fuelled job, don't really know any different. But it takes its toll that's for sure.

Do give Phosphatidylserine a go for a while..you'll get it on amazon or wherever..

Widdershins

Vitamin B5 50 or 100 is helpful in mentally strenuous and demanding times in addition to a good diet.

I'm addicted to adrenalin too. I suppose the way to be at your best as often as possible, is to find a way to recharge when necessary. I haven't found it yet

IAMAMORON

It is a mental condition, worriers worry.

Ideally you should occupy yourself with things that don't stress you out ... although...

I do think that everyone needs to struggle a little to attain achievement. Our ancestors fought and hunted in the nude, i think that is part of everyones makeup. We need to fight and struggle for actualisation. It leads to contentment.

Strumms

bitofabind wrote: »

Thanks guys. Fair points. The problem is I really love my job and enjoy the rush of a fast-paced adrenaline fuelled job, don't really know any different. But it takes its toll that's for sure.

You are loving a job that causes you stress, you are loving a job that is negatively impacting your health.... enough that you know it, acknowledge it and post here about it...

That’s like me saying... “I enjoy crossing the motorway when it’s busy with traffic, I might get knocked down, but it’s fun”

Take it from someone who knows, you are just a number.

ILoveYourVibes

jester77 wrote: »

I don't recall ever being stressed. I am a laid back type of person and just don't see the point of worrying about things. It's not going to change anything.

Look at what is causing issues for you, create a realistic plan to tackle it, break it into subtasks and tackle each one.

Would love to be like that.

mr_fegelien

Widdershins wrote: »

Vitamin B5 50 or 100 is helpful in mentally strenuous and demanding times in addition to a good diet.

I'm addicted to adrenalin too. I suppose the way to be at your best as often as possible, is to find a way to recharge when necessary. I haven't found it yet

Isn't adrenaline the chemical responsible for stress? adrenaline and noradrenaline. Lower levels of it would make you less stressed.

No, It's cortisol that stresses you..

Blaizes

I may be wrong but I think a lot of people are stressed, pace of life here, work, kids, bills, traffic. Look at all the madness and stress of Christmas for example. When I’m working I’m stressed trying to organize stuff before I even leave the house, school lunches, clothes, what’s for dinner that evening etc. But being organized and planning ahead does offset the stress though inevitably something unexpected can turn up like something kids need for school or a birthday present I need to get etc. That means more running and racing obviously.

Stress seems to be the new normal some stress is positive if it leads to good outcomes other stress is negative. Long term stress of course can’t be good for anyone.Maybe we all need to slow don’t but can’t see that happening in Ireland anyway.

bitofabind

Strumms wrote: »

You are loving a job that causes you stress, you are loving a job that is negatively impacting your health.... enough that you know it, acknowledge it and post here about it...

That’s like me saying... “I enjoy crossing the motorway when it’s busy with traffic, I might get knocked down, but it’s fun”

Take it from someone who knows, you are just a number.

Yup, fully aware of that. I'm good at what I do and am financially incentivised to be good, in addition to having some incredible colleagues. What makes me good is my tendency to take my work home and not give up until I've found a solution though, which makes it a catch-22 scenario.

eviltwin

jester77 wrote: »

I don't recall ever being stressed. I am a laid back type of person and just don't see the point of worrying about things. It's not going to change anything.

Look at what is causing issues for you, create a realistic plan to tackle it, break it into subtasks and tackle each one.

My stress isn't worry. I'm the type of person who always believes that everything will work out. I'm just so busy I feel like I never get any down time, I'm constantly 'on' and there is always something that needs my attention and not enough time for everything. Unfortunately I'm not in a position to do much about it at the moment.

jester77

eviltwin wrote: »

My stress isn't worry. I'm the type of person who always believes that everything will work out. I'm just so busy I feel like I never get any down time, I'm constantly 'on' and there is always something that needs my attention and not enough time for everything. Unfortunately I'm not in a position to do much about it at the moment.

You could tackle why you are so busy, anyway of moving things around to deal with that?

Do you exercise? It's great for energising, fit it in whenever. I'm fairly busy most of the time, but I still get to the gym 3 times a week, 2 of those are alway around midnight as it is the only time I can get it in during the week. It's tough when you know you have to get up at 6:30 the following morning, but I've never regretted going for a workout.

eviltwin

jester77 wrote: »

You could tackle why you are so busy, anyway of moving things around to deal with that?

Do you exercise? It's great for energising, fit it in whenever. I'm fairly busy most of the time, but I still get to the gym 3 times a week, 2 of those are alway around midnight as it is the only time I can get it in during the week. It's tough when you know you have to get up at 6:30 the following morning, but I've never regretted going for a workout.

Yeah I run so that's really helpful, everything seems better after a run. I can't really do much about the rest, I have to work, I don't have to go to college but it's going to help me long term and I can't get rid of the kids. I do get some time to myself just not as much as I need and sometimes I'm overwhelmed with it all. But I keep telling myself it's not forever and I make the most of the time I do have to relax. I don't think stress is necessarily the issue, we all have to face it sometimes, it's how you react to it that matters.

tastyt

Used to have a sales Job with deadlines targets, a lot of pressure, absolute relief if you made your target after weeks of worry, stress and dreading monday mornings.

Moved department into a less pressured role, still have targets but the workload is there , you don't have to create it or going looking for it.

Took a hit on wages, few hundred a month which of course would be nice in the back pocket. But i weighed it up. I can still pay the mortgage, go for a few pints when i want, take the family out at weekends and a small holiday in summer.

Life is too short to be worrying about the bottom line constantly at work because they sure as hell don't care about you if its a big company.

Get out of the rat race, Ireland, Dublin especially is losing sight of the important things in life. Yes it might cost u a few quid but I'm my experience its more than worth it. If they doubled my wages i wouldnt go back

Strumms

bitofabind wrote: »

Yup, fully aware of that. I'm good at what I do and am financially incentivised to be good, in addition to having some incredible colleagues. What makes me good is my tendency to take my work home and not give up until I've found a solution though, which makes it a catch-22 scenario.

Well whatever, you know the issues but you are obviously comfortable with the idea of your health being potentially compromised as long as you are being paid well enough... the only solution is to fûcking STOP taking your work home, STOP looking for brownie points off the managers, STOP creating the expectation that you are ALWAYS contactable, ALWAYS available, ALWAYS working...

Separate work and home life...

Mehaffey1

Not a bit

Worked flat out at a job I despised every day for 2 years with 100% effort and commitment. Handed my notice in this time last year to leave by the 1st March 2019.

Walked into my current job and have zero work stress even if it isn't long term or anything that I'm passionate about. All the while my relationship with my girlfriend has came on better than I could have imagined and I've never been happier.

Was a real eye opener that sometimes you have to put your own emotions and mental health first.

bitofabind

Mehaffey1 wrote: »

Not a bit

Worked flat out at a job I despised every day for 2 years with 100% effort and commitment. Handed my notice in this time last year to leave by the 1st March 2019.

Walked into my current job and have zero work stress even if it isn't long term or anything that I'm passionate about. All the while my relationship with my girlfriend has came on better than I could have imagined and I've never been happier.

Was a real eye opener that sometimes you have to put your own emotions and mental health first.

Yeah. I can imagine that being the case. I had a breakup a few years ago and just nose dived into work, became really good at what I do by giving 110% and am now in the position of zero life balance. Zero love life as no time for it. I’ll hopefulyl find the courage to do the same at some stage. The success and ego rush of being good and huge bonuses is just bloody seductive

nigeldaniel

I used to be. Then about 8 months ago I had a long look in the mirror. Thinking I am 43 and look 60 made me draw the line, now I do not give a flying banana anymore. If someone does not like me... too bad. If the world is about to go up the crib too bad 2. I am finding content and that's that.

Strumms

Mehaffey1 wrote: »

Was a real eye opener that sometimes you have to put your own emotions and mental health first.

1000% correct, even further... ALWAYS..put your emotions, mental health and wellbeing and that of your family... FIRST.