Another week of high stress levels and work anxiety. It literally got to the point this week that I felt like I couldn’t take it any more. I never cry at work, but last night I found myself furiously pounding away at my keyboard (and running late for an industry event), holding back tears and wondering (for the 500th time) what I can do differently to get out of this place. Luckily, my manager walked over at that very moment and saw me about to go through the window (figuratively) and convinced me that we should discuss my problems after a few glasses of wine. How’s that for a manager?
Today was a little bit calmer, but I’m feeling like I need to make a change. A BIG change--or I’m going to continue to slide down this path of unhappiness, stress and probably pre-mature hunchback.
I turned to the blogosphere this evening to find advice from some of the other ladies who seem to have their lives so together. Most of the women whose blogs I read are in far different positions than me, mostly mothers and housewives. I wasn’t sure that I’d be able to find a solution to my work problems from these women, but I think the answer is less about fixing all my work problems (because honestly, most of them I can’t fix myself) and more about taking control of my life, my attitude and my response to stressful situations. Now that’s something these stay-at-home mommas have mastered. What’s more stressful than caring for a two-year-old and a newborn, cleaning a home, doing laundry for two very messy little people, making 3 meals a day for a family of 4 and planning events for the Junior League? I started looking at how they get it all done. Two words: organization and schedule. These women have binders for everything from recipes and laundry schedules to doctors’ appointments and feeding schedules. They have “life planners” (all by this same woman who sells them for $50…I’m still wondering if that’s worth it) that organize their lives down to what day they’re going to dust the end tables. It might sound extreme, but I think it sounds comforting.
I think I need a schedule, a plan for getting through every day. If I know what to expect and can follow a schedule, maybe I’ll feel a little more balanced and calm when I’m approaching more complicated issues at work.
I’m heading to Pittsburgh this weekend for a little relaxation, but Monday night, I’m going to work on my life schedule. Plan out my week and have realistic expectations about what I can accomplish. Chart out my trips to the gym, grocery shopping, laundry, cleaning, happy hours, dinners and even my favorite TV shows. If I set expectations early, maybe I’ll feel better about achieving accomplishments, even if it’s as something as small as running on the treadmill three times a week.
I also think I need to focus more on looking forward to the happy things in life. Setting my sights on something positive will help me get through the tougher stuff. So tonight, I’m looking forward to seeing M, riding rollercoasters this weekend and listening to my audiobook on the drive up. I know that’s more than enough to get me through a quick client meeting tomorrow morning.
To putting together the binder,
Lia
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