How to Avoid Stress at Work
We spend most of our younger years trying to find the perfect job. We try out different directions, crossing ideas that seem silly or jobs that just don't appeal to us off our list. We apply a hundred times and get twenty replies, and out of those maybe five invitations to an in-person interview. Often we wait more than three weeks for those, too. That makes us insecure. We forget that we have so many strengths, because we're judged not on our talents but on our grades.
When we finally land a job, we give everything to keep it. Even when it doesn't really suit us, because that's still better than being unemployed. Avoiding stress at work doesn't seem to be an option here: a job has to be stressful, otherwise you're not really 'working'.
But where does this dissatisfaction come from?
We often think we've found the right job, but after doing it for a while we realize we don't feel fulfilled by what we do. Yes, we have a secure job for the time being, but does that make us happy? Are we really satisfied? We want a career that doesn't just bring in money but is also fun, because ideally we want to keep doing it until retirement. So why does disillusionment so often follow?
Most of the time we work in jobs that society thinks are right for us, whether that's friends, family or the job finder at the employment agency. As teenagers we're told that we can't make money from what we enjoy and what we're passionate about. So we apply for a job that society 'approves' of and assume it will turn out to be the right one. That makes us dissatisfied.
Pressure from the boss
When pressure from the executives is added to this general dissatisfaction, motivation is usually gone. Deliver more, with less time, for less money. We feel exploited and not fairly paid. Getting promoted, climbing the career ladder, that must be the solution! But once we have a higher position, more tasks follow, even less time, and the salary once again seems unfair.
Avoiding stress at work is out of the question here. On top of that we still have to run the household, stay fit, take care of the kids, and so on and so on. Deep down we know we have to change something, but we're afraid of it.
We spend most of our younger years trying to find the perfect job. We try out different directions, crossing ideas that seem silly or jobs that just don't appeal to us off our list. We apply a hundred times and get twenty replies, and out of those maybe five invitations to an in-person interview. Often we wait more than three weeks for those, too. That makes us insecure. We forget that we have so many strengths, because we're judged not on our talents but on our grades.
When we finally land a job, we give everything to keep it. Even when it doesn't really suit us, because that's still better than being unemployed. Avoiding stress at work doesn't seem to be an option here: a job has to be stressful, otherwise you're not really 'working'.
But where does this dissatisfaction come from?
We often think we've found the right job, but after doing it for a while we realize we don't feel fulfilled by what we do. Yes, we have a secure job for the time being, but does that make us happy? Are we really satisfied? We want a career that doesn't just bring in money but is also fun, because ideally we want to keep doing it until retirement. So why does disillusionment so often follow?
Most of the time we work in jobs that society thinks are right for us, whether that's friends, family or the job finder at the employment agency. As teenagers we're told that we can't make money from what we enjoy and what we're passionate about. So we apply for a job that society 'approves' of and assume it will turn out to be the right one. That makes us dissatisfied.
Pressure from the boss
When pressure from the executives is added to this general dissatisfaction, motivation is usually gone. Deliver more, with less time, for less money. We feel exploited and not fairly paid. Getting promoted, climbing the career ladder, that must be the solution! But once we have a higher position, more tasks follow, even less time, and the salary once again seems unfair.
Avoiding stress at work is out of the question here. On top of that we still have to run the household, stay fit, take care of the kids, and so on and so on. Deep down we know we have to change something, but we're afraid of it.
Juggling it all
To-do lists, not dragging work home with you, and really taking time for yourself. You have to set your priorities clearly and ask yourself what you really want. We have to break out of this vicious circle and set our priorities and goals clearly. Only then will we reach them and be able to turn our passion into a career. Positive change starts with ourselves, not with society.
To-do lists, not dragging work home with you, and really taking time for yourself. You have to set your priorities clearly and ask yourself what you really want. We have to break out of this vicious circle and set our priorities and goals clearly. Only then will we reach them and be able to turn our passion into a career. Positive change starts with ourselves, not with society.