Stressed out.

[Dawn.]

Everything has piled up on my plate again due to work and Covid-19 and it's only starting to get bigger. Work has literally become my life. I no longer do as much as I like such as going to the gym or going shopping due to the thousands of cases that are being reported in the state I live in. My quality of life has dropped dramatically and I realized only recently just how much it's affecting me such as waking up more frequently during the night and lack of appetite. I feel more guilty about things that I didn't in the past such as spending time with my family and friends and I just feel so tired - emotionally, mentally and physically - all the time.

[Everglow.]

I know you have had a really tough time lately, and I'm sorry that you're dealing with so much, especially with covid cases on the rise. If you ever need to talk you can always message me. Thinking of you.

[Dawn.]

Originally Posted by Everglow.

I know you have had a really tough time lately, and I'm sorry that you're dealing with so much, especially with covid cases on the rise. If you ever need to talk you can always message me. Thinking of you.

Thank you for your reply.

[Arabesque- golfing girl.]

Hi,

I'm sorry for everything that you have been going through and I hope that you will be okay soon. When we have a lot going on, it can be hard to be okay with all of this, when you come home from work try to read for 10 minutes or draw or get a cup of tea that can help calm you down and hopefully you will start to feel a little bit better for the next day. I hope you will be okay soon. to help.

[Rivière]

Myself and many others can definitely relate to this one. The constant uncertainty of whether or not governments will close things down or put the country in lockdown, I find, is the biggest stressor. Plus concerns of passing things on to family, especially if they're unwell.

There are some things we can control, and some things we can't. The government closing things down due to rising Covid cases isn't one of them. But your job is something a little more within your control. Look at the parts of it that are causing you stress. Is it the hours? The staff? Management? The tasks you have to perform? The pay? Establish which parts of these are the issue and then break them down further.

Once you've worked out which parts of your job are affecting you, write down potential solutions to the problem. For example, perhaps you're understaffed so have too many hours of work. You could consider seeing if you're able to take some annual leave for a few days to help wind down. Or maybe it's a member of staff you're struggling with, you could consider talking to them, or management, about their behaviour.

I know it's not as easy as just writing down lists of For and Against, or Pros and Cons, but writing things down will at least give you some direction on how to tackle the issues you have at least some control over.

[Dawn.]

I am slowly working towards improving my work life - I'm studying to become a teacher so I'm trying to get as much work done as I can to not have to work so much.