Staying Focused on My Goal

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This topic has 9 replies, 5 voices, and was last updated 7 years, 4 months ago by Runningwithcats.

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November 6, 2016 at 4:22 pm #119785
Skyrah
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Currently I work in a high-stress job with a long commute time. Several of my co-workers have been out on stress leave and had health problems due to the never-ending workload and fast pace. People also backbite each other quite horribly. It’s truly a toxic environment. I’ve applied to other jobs, but have yet to get past the interview stage. I’m also working on an advanced degree, but feel so tired that I have almost stopped studying.

My goal is to finish my degree by the mid-June 2017 so that I will have more work options. My key challenges are constant exhaustion, dealing with work/school stress, remaining focused on my own goals/steering clear of vicious work gossip, and finding ways to eat healthily and perhaps even exercise.

Steps I’m planning to take include:
* Enforcing a fixed bedtime — I’ve just set a bedtime reminder alerting me that I have 30 minutes until bedtime.
* I have purchased the “Headspace” meditation app and will use the stress pack before bedtime.
* Set aside moments during the work day to focus on/visualize my school goals.
* Exercise 20 minutes in the morning.
* Order food through Amazon, so that I always have healthy food available and to save time.

I will report back at the end of the week.

Does anyone else face these challenges? If so, how have you successfully dealt with them?
- This topic was modified 7 years, 5 months ago by Skyrah.
November 6, 2016 at 5:04 pm #119787

Sandra
Participant

Dear Skyrah, I understand your situation, as I was in a very similar one a few years ago. You’re doing absolutely the right thing – stick to your list, tell all the gossipers to piss off (even if you have to do it mentally), and please, please, finish school! Each morning, when you walk in, remind yourself that one day soon, you will have a diploma on the wall, a great job, and will be packing your things into a copy paper box to LEAVE THAT PLACE BEHIND!!!

Don’t fear the change. Even if it’s scary, it’s better than being unhappy. I was unemployed for a year after (thankfully) getting fired from the toxic job, and was blacklisted, will probably never get hired in my field again. But, I Sent a rock thru the back glass of my truck and was hired on the spot by the body shop I took it to for repairs! I’m happy at this job, I never dread going to work, low pay, long hours, but a fun place.

I know good things will happen for you. I had a young friend who is struggling with addiction help me in the yard today. We were watering a recently transplanted shrub, and I explained to him that, even though the shrub looked as if it were dying, it would be ok, because it had a strong root. Find your strong root, that which anchors you. Hold on to it when you feel exhausted or discouraged. Be good, good luck, peace.

November 13, 2016 at 2:12 pm #120282

Skyrah
Participant

ncgirl, Thank you for your comment! I especially like the idea of having a strong root.

November 13, 2016 at 3:10 pm #120284

Skyrah
Participant

It’s been a long week and I’m reporting back on what worked/didn’t. Work sucks, I don’t think that is going to change. I wanted to think that there was some magical job out there that wouldn’t suck so much, but each time I’ve changed jobs, it’s the same bullsh*t with a slightly different configuration. Maybe the secret is to accept that work sucks and try to wring as much enjoyment as possible out of time off.

Opinions?

November 13, 2016 at 5:52 pm #120302

Anonymous
Guest

Dear Skyrah:

You wrote in your original post about your workplace: “People also backbite each other quite horribly. It’s truly a toxic environment.” and in your post above, about different jobs: “the same bull*&^% with a slightly different configuration” (I like the latter word combination, witty)

My opinion/advice is to play relaxing music on your long commute to and from the workplace. While in the workplace be a scholar: study the people there and their backbiting methods and dynamics. Take notes and put those later in a word document. It can be a dissertation-in-the-making for a future PhD you may pursue, or a topic for an article you may want to publish some day.

Make this particular bull(&^% configuration a learning opportunity.

anita

November 13, 2016 at 8:24 pm #120320

Skyrah
Participant

Thank you so much for your reply, anita!

I really like your suggestion about studying the people at work and listening to something relaxing to/from during the commute.

Thanks again for your helpful comments!

November 14, 2016 at 10:13 am #120378

Anonymous
Guest

You are welcome, Skyrah.
anita

November 17, 2016 at 6:24 am #120559

Jessy Mae
Participant

Dear Skyrah,
What is it that you do at work? I’m in finance and it can be a very high stress job with sales quotas, etc. That being said, I listen to motivational Audible content during my commute and it helps me deal with the toxic work environments I’ve been in. Keep doing what you’re doing, you are going to rise above. You are focused on becoming better and you just need to keep that focus and drive in place. My favorite motivator is Grant Cardone. Check out his 100 Ways to Stay Motivated. He’s a sales guru, so if that’s part of your job, you’ll love him. He has tons of free content on youtube and FB too.
You’ve got this!
Jessi

November 18, 2016 at 5:54 am #120630

Skyrah
Participant

Thank you, Jessi! I appreciate your positive comments and suggestions for getting motivated.

December 6, 2016 at 8:29 am #122028

Runningwithcats
Participant

Making a list and working on it is a great idea, and each part of the list makes a lot of sense, they’re good things. I think just focusing on going through each part of your list may help you get through each day.

I just heard a sentiment about focusing on the now rather than telling yourself that things will be better later. Not that you can’t plan or expect better things once you finish your degree, but focusing more on each good part of your day or living in the moment may help. And, to you point about all jobs sucking, maybe that’s right, maybe it’s all relative. If you have no choice but to work, like most of us do, then a way of dealing would be to make the most out of it while looking for a new job and finishing your degree.

I hope things work out for you.
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