How do you deal with work-related stress?
Here’s a topic that I would like to hear some opinions (advice) on. I work in a pretty demanding software role. The positives: I am well compensated and I like the work I do. It also helps that I work on a genuinely useful product whose sole purpose is not only to extract profits from the consumer base. I also do not work overtime.
Therefore I am covered on all bases: moral, financial and personal interest. However, for the past year or so my responsibilities have grown, and I have to juggle more and more (both in number of tasks, their complexity & deadlines) during the same period of time (remember, no overtime).
So now I find myself periodically stressed for longer & longer periods of time. I don’t have energy and motivation for my hobbies, and I dread having to engage in anything more intensive than the occasional walk. But I can tell that this state of being is not sustainable for the long term.
To whoever can relate: what are your thoughts?
Edit: some good things that I have going for myself, that help a little; I have a good sleep schedule, I rarely drink, I don’t stay connected to work outside working hours and I have a very supportive partner.
Can you take some time off? Even if it's just like a week, a slightly extended vacation does wonders. Even before you take the vacation, knowing that it's upcoming will feel great
It usually does help, but I get only so many days off per year. My next vacation is in December.
any chance you could negotiate to get more days off? if time off is your biggest need right now, you could request more days off instead of a raise, or even ask if you could be part-time for a couple months with a reduced salary. Or an unpaid sabbatical for a month etc.
I have always tried to deal with such issues with making it about priorities. Making it clear to management that they can't have seven different things at top priority. That just means nothing has priority. Some things need higher priority than others and some things won't get done and everyone dependant on it will need to accept that. Of course that ain't always an easy message to get across, and sometimes things need to crash first. No one can take infinite responsibilies, regardless of high up in the ranks they are. And you shouldn't feel you need to take on more than your time allows.
I second this advice, and would add that sometimes it's also necessary to say no (diplomatically of course). I understand this isn't always possible, but I've seen too many people not even daring to push back, only to end up completely burned out. Inevitably they are forced to take time off for their health and the work gets passed on to someone else or somehow miraculously it wasn't that important and could wait after all.
Agree with this. If you're already in a situation where your hours of work are fixed, so you're not having to set boundaries in that regard, then realistically there's only so much one person can accomplish in a single day.
Perhaps management is trying to "find efficiencies" or "sweat assets" or whatever the local buzzword is, but that has a limit.
My approach is to be the squeaky wheel (respectfully and professionally). I approach these conversations as simply transactional and part of my job. If i don't say anything, no one will know until it's too late (whether it's burnout or missed deadlines). If i do say something, then it's on management to act: either they hire more or deprioritize work.
I fully acknowledge that I'm lucky in that i not only have an incredibly receptive manager, but also one who essentially mentored me on this idea so it's not a stressful conversation for me. If you find the idea stressful (not saying you do, just spitballing), i generally find reminding myself of the transactional nature helps me broach these types of conversations.