Today’s post is by guest author, Catherine Cason. Catherine is a San Francisco resident and serial maker. Her love of sewing and design lead her to start an e-commerce startup basiccontent which lead to blogging about female entrepreneurship. She started a blog called Gem Hunt about jewelry as an outlet for her love of gems. You can learn more about her blogging and projects at www.catherine-ellen.com.
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[DG EMPL | Flickr | Modified]
For me, it was a disaster.
When I first started working, every criticism, annoying co-worker, or thing that went wrong got to me. I was a nervous wreck all the time – I absorbed everything.
As I got older, I learned not to take everything so personally. My job didn’t define who I was.
I developed the strength to be very zen, no matter how many fires burned. I became “bombproof” (it’s a horse term – you can light a bomb next to one and they won’t flinch).
So how can you go from a nervous wreck to bombproof? Here’s what worked for me:
[ONE] Don’t talk about what is bothering you
This is probably the opposite of what you think you should do. But it’s the right thing do for a few reasons.
First, talking about it can make it worse. The more you verbalize an issue, the more you give life to it. It’s much easier to move on from something when you don’t remind yourself of it daily.
Second, if you hate your boss and tell your boyfriend you hate your boss, he will probably agree with you because he loves you. But this adds external reinforcement to your negative feelings, which makes it even harder for you to move on.
[TWO] Find what fuels your soul
When you first start a job, it’s easy to make it the center of your life and attach a big chunk of your self-worth to how you feel at work.
But if you have other projects or goals – a side hustle, an art project, or a fitness goal – you have a way of giving back to yourself, feeding your soul, and building confidence outside of work.
This gives you strength to tackle the big things at work.
[THREE] Get some head-space
I know, I know. Every day you read another sappy-poetic post about the benefits of meditation.
But they are real.
Take 5 minutes to meditate and breathe every day. I guarantee it will lower your current stress levels and help you better manage stress in the long-term.
[FOUR] Just say no
This is harder to say than to do, but your energy and feelings are yours.
Someone or something else can only effect you if you let it; it’s your choice to let that happen. One trick I use is to imagine I have a physical barrier around me which negativity cannot enter.
When you feel yourself getting upset about something, remind yourself you’re in control. Say no to taking on negativity.
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Discussion Question: What tips or tricks would you add to this list? Share your answer on Twitter or in the comments.
The post Surviving the “I Hate my Job” Phase by Declan Wilson appeared first on A Millennial Type.