How Do I Manage Stress From My Current Job?
Hi Allison,
I hope you're doing well! Thanks for all the work you do, it's been so helpful to my own mental health journey. My question for your column is below.
I've been working at my job for over a year now, and I've grown to hate it in the last couple of months. There are a slew of reasons why - I feel underpaid, overworked, and underappreciated. I know this job is bad for my mental health, as it causes me anxiety and distress daily.
For financial reasons, I feel unable to quit. I don't know how long it will be until I find my next job, and I can only support myself on savings for so long. So I've been working during the day, while job-searching mornings and nights for the last couple of weeks. This has been taking a toll on me, as I have less time for rest and am exhausted. It can feel like I'm sending resumes into the void, as most places never get back to me.
I recently got an interview somewhere, and even got through to their second round. But I didn't make it past there, so now I'm back to square one with job searching and struggling to find the motivation to continue. I want to go slow and pace myself with it, but I feel the pressure that each day I don't apply to jobs is another day that I'm stuck at my current job.
In sum, I know my work is negatively affecting my health. I'm taking active strides to leave said work. But I don't know how to soothe myself in the meantime, while I'm in this in-between phase. I know what needs to change and want to change it, but the timing is out of my control. My question is, how do I manage the anxiety and stress from my current job, if there's nothing else I can do at the moment to release myself from it?
Thanks for any help you can provide.
Best,
Anonymous
Dear Anonymous,
I feel like your question touches the heart of what so much mental health social media tends to ignore. Sometimes you can be doing everything “right” and your day-to-day still stinks. But the fact that it stinks shouldn’t distract from all the incredible work you are doing to prioritize your mental health and overall happiness. There is another version of this story where you wouldn’t even be looking for a different job because of how discouraging the process can be. Your continued ability to push through that is a huge strength. It is clear you know how to be your own advocate and that will continue to serve you in all areas of your life.