Something really strange is happening today...

[EighteenPagesFrontAndBack]

For the first time in a long time (excluding when on annual leave), I did not have the 'Monday Morning Dread'. I work in an office with very toxic people who make my working life very difficult and also have been one of the main reasons for long periods of Mental Health related absences etc, but I really enjoy my actual job. There is only one of me in the whole organisation so it's not like I can just up and leave for another role.

Anyway, I digress... I had no dread this morning, in fact, I even came in at 6:30am (I don't normally start until 9), just to crack on with my work and I am very content. I had a nice drive into work this morning and was oddly satisfied when I saw I was the first one in the whole building when I arrived. Some of the toxic colleagues started arriving from 7am and I'm not phased by it, I'm just plodding along and now just grabbing another cup of tea :)

So what is going on? Am I developing the ability to block out the toxic feelings?? Am I imagining this lol?? whatever it is, I like it! Just a strange feeling I have never experienced in this job and the many years I have been here.

Are you still asleep and dreaming?

😄

Are you of an age to be experiencing the meonopausal ‘ I don’t give a fuck’?
Or maybe your body is protecting itself and just choosing to ignore it.
Whatever it is, enjoy it!

I hope not haha! I'm mid 30s! I'm enjoying this feeling!

Pinches self Nope, definitely awake! I only got 4 hours sleep last night too thanks to a snoring DH and a very clingy cat...! So that makes it even weirder haha

Why get in so early?

Finish earlier ;) That makes it all the better! Plus, I'd rather just get into work and get a head start on the day, rather than lying in bed, trying to fall back asleep.

You've reached the plateau of zero shits given. It takes work but you've done it.

I even came in at 6:30am (I don't normally start until 9), just to crack on with my work and I am very content.

Goodness me, I love my job but I still wouldn't turn up several hours early, especially after just 4 hours of sleep.

I'm pleased you're not feeling the dread, but i'm curious about why you've arrived so early.

I'm pleased you're not feeling the dread, but i'm curious about why you've arrived so early

I can recall walking into work early one day and a manager was already there and working. He said 'I was lying in bed thinking about all the work I had to do and thought, rather than lie here thinking about it, why not get up go in and do it?'

I used to love getting in early. Office was quiet, phones were quiet and I could sit and organise my day. 6.30 would be pushing it, though.

Ride that wave, OP!

The department allows flexible working, so I can come in early or later, so long as I work my daily hours. Some staff come in early, some come in later. I'm normally 9-5 due to toddler and morning routine etc, but DH is off today so he is doing the morning routine :) Plus It means I can finish up at half 2 which is nice too.

Good for you op. 💐💐💐

I found starting work earlier less stressful. The traffic was clear, and I would be with less people. Seems like that time suits you, could you always do that shift?

Are you doing dry Jan? I've found my mood lift massively in the last week or so. They say it takes about a month to see the benefits.

Interesting. I've been doing it and I'm quite surprised at the sense of well-being I have the last few days.

You've gone Teflon, long may it last!

I think it might be the lack of sleep honestly (sorry!). I feel a bit euphoric if I don’t get enough sleep and then I crash about lunchtime.

I think it's having some control over your environment. You claimed the territory first, staked out your claim. If you can rearrange things to give you this benefit regularly I would.
Everywhere I've worked I've done some kind of super early shift, either opening up, breakfast club supervision or the like. I like the empty streets, saying hi and getting the gossip off the cleaners/security staff in the building. It meant I had allies and friends on the staff even when everything else went tits up.

Not always just due to morning routine with toddler and dropping off at childcare etc. I could certainly do it 2 mornings a week if I really planned it.... which I might do :)

Nope, I hardly drink as it is, but that's interesting to know :)

You could be right. I'll let you know at the end of my working day how I am lol!

@MrsDanversGlidesAgain I will confess to having cheated this weekend but partly as an experiment - I had an aperol and tonic, so basically a single measure of 11% alcohol like equivalent to about 1/5 of a medium glass of wine. With tonic it tastes quite grown up and hit the spot, I had got to the point of not wanting to drink more tea or water. Going forward that's going to be my usual drink in place of a wine/g&t or aperol spritz - much much less alcoholic than any of the above.

I don't actually drink a lot - a couple of beers at the weekend or a bottle of wine spread over two days. I put the good mood down to getting back to sensible eating (lots of fruit and veg) after Christmas, but the lack of any alcohol at all has probably helped as well.

I think I was about mid 30s when I'd given my last fuck. It is liberating. Smile and nod, the toxic ones will be so confused.

Enjoy, harness the power