I’ve chosen a new work motto: You can only do so much.
Sometimes I have to talk to myself in my head. When I’m on the phone with someone who’s raising his voice, demanding to know why he got an e-mail about a problem that turned out not to be a problem, why he’s been burdened for five minutes of his morning double-checking something he’d already done.
Or when our little work projects become bigger work projects, coupled with other work projects and now with hiring (!) two more people when I don’t have time to get my regular work done.
That’s when I’m–inside–reminding myself that really, my job is not especially important, not in the big-picture sense. It’s not like I’m performing brain surgery or sending people to the moon or something. It’s a job, and I like it. And I’m really, really glad I like it. But really: it’s a job.
I can just do my best.
From now on, I’m clocking out at the end of the day and relaxing.
Filed under 9-5 |
3 Responses to “I’ve chosen a new work motto: You can only do so much.”
Leave a Reply
That’s the perfect attitude to have. Since I quit teaching, I’ve taken on a number of jobs that are high stress, but no matter how much is heaped on my plate, the mantra I keep repeating to myself since I left the classroom has been, “If I have a bad day, kids will still get into college…”
Keeps things in perspective.
That is a great attitude! I also remind myself that my job isn’t life or death. And so while things get screwed up once in a while, it isn’t the end of the world.
[...] was honored to have my post, I’ve Chosen a New Work Motto: You Can Only Do So Much be included in the editor’s picks for the third carnival of work-life balance, hosted by Are [...]