Why do I care? What can I do about work stress?

Question

My job is ridiculous. I have been here over 2 years and it just gets worse. The owner is so optimistic he's unrealistic. I get 20-30 calls a day from suppliers looking for money. Our sales are down, the bank won't give us a loan because we've taken out too many loans, yet the owner tells me it will be better in 4 weeks. Which is what he tells me every month.

I have been applying for jobs left and right. I'm either overqualified for the positions I apply for or local companies cannot afford me. I can't take a cut in pay due to financial obligations but I am at my wits end. I swear my Zoloft is not helping and I'm stressed out to the max. Its affecting my job as well as my personal life.

Do you have any advise?

Answer 1

First, the fact that you recognize the company may be in trouble and that you are looking for other opportunities says that you are a forward thinker who is preparing for the future. You also are obviously a committed employee who views the company's success as instrumental to your own success. These are good things.

What's not so good is that you are ownign problems you can't fix. Worry about the things that are under your control (maybe getting a certification or taking a class to better prepare you for those jobs you aren't quite qualified for yet.) There is no point about stressing over things that you cannot control (like whether the company has enough $$ to pay its bills.) Those are the problems of the owner, and as much as I appreciate the fact that you take ownership of these problems, you have to realize that you cannot fix them.

Put a little more emphasis on you and what you need to do to take care of your career. Let the owner straighten out the problems he's created.

And BTW, there is far too much reliance on Rx medication to deal with stress (IMO.) Try meditation, yoga, aromatherapy, or any number of alternative treatments that can teach you how your body responds to stress and what to do to counteract it.

Feel better.

Answer 2

first take a deep breath... second let go of the work problems you are not the owner so why should you care? Keep a positive attitude and look for that other job and consider the posiblity of a job change with a lower salary and take a part time job until you are more secure. Most business are slow, like mine is and we have to do what we have to do...

Answer 3

It's a job. You do the best you can and keep looking for another job.
It is not your job to stress over the problems you employer has, just do your job the best you can. who knows,, your boss may pull through the hard times and make it good.