DOWN ON THE JOB?

This weekend a friend told me that they find it quite inspiring that I am always “into it” (my work). These words took me by surprise. You see, even though I do enjoy my work and rejoice as my clients enjoy small accomplishments on a weekly basis, my work doesn’t exist in a vacuum. Swirling around the sessions, and prep work are the winds of my personal life and familial responsibilities.

Last week in particular had been especially rough and my level of motivation was practically flatlining. So as my friend commented about my always being ‘into it’, I wondered if there was indeed something to his words. It is true that I do keep on ‘keeping on’ despite my periodic feelings of personal inertia, despite sometimes feeling that it is ‘all for naught’. Why is this?

I thought that the question deserved some introspection as I know that many of you face feelings of personal overwhelm, feelings that can have very real influence on your work performance and job satisfaction. How do you balance and address this without employing self-destructive measures?

More and more the workplace has become an artificial arena for staged performances and plastic impressions of uniformity and ‘pleasantness’. Not exactly a forgiving or understanding arena for the rough edges and sometimes introspective impulses that can be caused by dealing with the illness of a loved one (or ones self), the ending of a relationship, or clinical depression.

It is easy for us to feel that we have to shut down, to shut off our pain and anger with prescriptions, with sarcasm, with power struggles. After all, we -need- this job for our own material well-being and how else can we be expected to get through the 8, 10, and sometimes 12 hour work days that are demanded of us?

I have no clear answers for this. Each situation and person is unique and I believe should be addressed as such. However I feel that maybe in offering what has worked for me, you can find an idea or two that you can tailor to your own circumstance.

Firstly: I Find My Resolve.

When I feel overwhelmed I turn to my Higher Power and ask for a ‘refill’. I find it very rewarding to believe that I can ‘let go’ to a certain extent and still be protected, nurtured, taken care of. To those agnostics/atheists out there, I am perfectly willing to admit that this may all be a psychological illusion on my part, but it works and I recommend that you try it using whatever terms you find most palatable.

Secondly: I give to myself

You can not give to others indefinitely without giving to yourself. This becomes even more important if there are people who rely on you (on the job and off) for direction and input. Ways I give to myself include regular exercise on a morning, a healthy snack once a day, meditation. Find ways that you can give to yourself in a loving, affirming manner on a regular basis, even if it is only for 10 minutes a day.

Thirdly: I remember my reasons for doing this in the first place

Why do I do what I do? Well because I love helping people and I love to see them realize their true potential. Why do you do what you do? That’s for you to find out. But once you do I hope that you will see that you do make a difference, you do have meaning, and that even if you can’t perform at 100%, even at 30% you are contributing to something that matters to you in a way that no one else can. Creating a personal mantra and/or dream map, has helped me to internalize and visualize the difference and contribution that I want to make in my life. Give it a try!

Fourthly: I do my best to maintain my structure/routines

Structure and routine give us a feeling that there is something reliable in this crazy world we live in. That’s why when I get down I fight, and sometimes I really mean FIGHT, to keep my routine as stable as possible. Even if I slide and sleep in for an extra hour here and there, when I do wake up, I try not to beat myself up about it, and instead tackle the next thing that is due to be tackled, as if I had never missed a beat.

Fifthly: I get the hardest thing out of the way first.

What are you avoiding or dreading today? Tackling this very thing first is a quick way to boost your productivity and morale on the job with very little extra manhours and/or effort.

Sixthly (and finally): I make time to express my thoughts and feelings.

This is actually probably the most important thing on this list but I have placed it last because this will usually be done at the very end (or beginning) of your day when you are all alone. I highly recommend journalling (yes even for your guys) about what is going on in your head in a notebook. I know that blogging is all the rage now but there is something about handwriting that I find is more in tune with expressing internal patterns than typing. Still this may just be my preference and if a keyboard is what helps you to ‘get it all out’ then by all means go down that road. For those feelings that can’t be expressed with words feel free to rediscover the worlds of dance, music, painting and sports.

I hope that these tips will have some practical use for you in your own work-life. There -are- healthy ways out of these crisis periods that hit all of us from time to time. You just need to raise your head out of your hands to see them. If your pain is especially acute at this time you may need help. Don’t be afraid to ask. Turn to a trusted friend, a religious leader, a life coach, or a therapist. If your employer offers an Employee Assistance Program take advantage of it. Don’t lose faith, the light will return to your life. Welcome it.

RESOURCE:

• Depression in the Workplace (HealthyPlace.com): http://www.healthyplace.com/communities/depression/related/work.asp