Work stress

I have been exploring work stress for a couple of years now. I left my job in academia and at the time thought it was the cause of my stress. Shock horror, that was not the case! Whilst I would say I definitely do feel less stressed in my current job, there is a general underlying stress there.

This has become super noticeable after taking a 2 week Christmas break which was so relaxing, where I was really boundaried with my time and energy and there was a lot of time for free play.

Some areas which I think are contributing to the underlying stress:
– The current project I have been on for the past 18 months. There have been external colleagues who at times have shared feedback which match my inner critic dialogue. I have received coaching at work on this around re-framing it as coming from a place of love, even if they are operating from fear, and this was helpful
– The 9-5 working week. I am feeling a lot of resentment towards having to work so many hours, and am spending a lot of time thinking about this. I think parts of this are true, and parts aren’t. The facts are that I can work flexibly, and do not always have to go into the office. Therefore on days I work from home then I technically have hours in the morning for myself. However I do not necessarily see them as potential free play or activity hours.
– Imposter syndrome. General thoughts and anxiety around not doing enough, and not doing things right. I have had coaching on this before. It causes a lot of procrastination which has been happening this week. This then causes more stress and then guilt because I do not get done the things that I want to and it reinforces the belief that my colleagues are more consistent than me.
– Masking. I am exploring the topic of masking and how I have this idea of what an employee “should” be like and how they “should” work and to understand how I might be performing a role at times which does not match how I feel inside and which can be exhausting.

I really want to unpack and understand my work stress because on paper I do work in an area which is aligned to my values and I really love my colleagues. I don’t want to keep undermining my own power. I am also exploring a career change and doing a course one day a week, and so if that career change happens I ideally do not want to bring this stress along with it!

 

 

Answer:

You’ve got some great insights here. We’re celebrating you being able to explore this, and that you’re making choices that feel best to you. Every time we make a choice, we learn. Action creates clarity.

I would offer that you pick one thing you want to focus on for now. What sounds the most fun? What is the most difficult area you want to find some relief in? You pick whatever you want.  Do a thought download on where you are now.  Explore what shifts you want to make. What sounds just 1% more powerful?