Ways to relieve stress at work

Post Reply New Topic

I've been assigned to a five-month project where everyone has to work together (lots of interaction with other engineers) to deal with an unstructured, extremely large code reorganization project with high pressure and very little immediate gratification. I'm not good at engineering, and all of the "fun" stuff I had been doing -- the self-contained bug fixes -- have been outsourced to India. This is extremely stressful, and the only way I know to reduce the stress enough to clear my mind is to ask other people for help (who just tell me to go do my job) and eventually I blow my stack. Clearly, this is not a good idea.

How do you guys relieve stress at work? I need something -- pronto -- which will not make me seem unproductive as a side effect.

Note that my manager has also told me I need to be more open and friendly to other people there ("say hi to everyone! Ask them how they're doing! Be part of the team!". As a result, assume anything which forces me to isolate myself from other coworkers is out. Note also that there are no other projects: my manager has basically told me that it's take this project or find a job somewhere else.

I've looked around for a transfer to another group in the company to get out of the project -- and they turned me down. Ironically, the HR agent said there was an opening -- in the group I had just left. So they put me back where I started.

Thanks in advance,

ACG

You've tried the obvious? (Fnarr fnarr. Couldn't resist. Sorry.)

I usually just smoke during breaks. Before smoking, I step outside the building into a quiet courtyard or a parking lot. While smoking, I watch the cigarette smoke slowly rise into the air, pretending that it's the stress that's vanishing into the air, never to be seen again. Lo and behold, it works.

Get drunk before work.

I'm with space on this one. They make those little pocket size Jack Daniels bottles that seem perfect for your situation. If they decide to fire you make sure that you break someones nose before you leave.

Stim like hell.

Actually, if you count little nervous things like leg shaking "stimming", I try -- and my manager says to not do it because it "looks weird". He's on the look out for it.

Finding creative places to hide during breaktime ALL ALONE to calm down.

Nothing like a bit of work place intolerance and forced conformity to send you completely insane.

Looks to me like your boss is looking for ways to get rid of you. If I was you, I'd definitely be on the look out for other jobs. If they've already outsourced to India they clearly don't have much interest or compassion for the workers they've got so making any noise about "discrimination against disabled people" will get you most likely fired.

Chances are that several of the other engineers will be having a hard time with all this forced closeness too and that might be why they are telling you to go away and do your job. If you have to ask for help, try to bug a different person each time, or explain everything to one person you know will be sympathetic (and doesn't like your boss), and ask if they will help you out with ideas or instructions.

Hi --

A few thoughts:

1) keep positive (try the 10 golden rules from dale carniggeeare a great start - they are on the web.)

2) Give yourself credit - you have to be on the project for a reason and it is not because you are a bad engineer. Build on your strong points. I am an out of the box creative thinker. What are your strong qualities that coworkers value?

3) Run don't walk to a doctor for diagnosis and help. It is painless and the psychiatrists may be able to help in several ways: give you a diagnosis which makes you ADA protected; teach you coping methods and skills; give you someone to call in a crisis before you loose it. Long term stress changes your biochemistry and can cause problems like depression that can be medically treated.

4) Take care of basics first -- Don't let yourself feel too hungry, angry, lonely, or tired -

Do one fun thing for yourself tomorrow.
Julie

Break out the shotgun and go on a rampage.

Oh wait you wanted good ways of relieving stress. Nevermind.

variation on the theme

Find an indoor shooting range - and learn to fire a gun. Pretend the target is your problem and shoot it to bits. Should feel good if nothing else.

I find leaving the building for a half-hour for lunch helps calm me down because it gets me out of the environment. Also, it splits the day up, making it seem like two short days instead of one long day.

I work at a checkout so I try and maintain everything in neat and tidy order. Keeps me occupied I guess.

Ouch...that's a hard one. Sounds like a job I would absolutely hate. Good luck there.
I second the going off on your own during lunch thing.

I let my mind wonder like crazy!! It works real well The only thing you have to watch out for is that you keep on task!