Work stress, jet lag, irrational - what should I do?

[RichterScale7]

About 8 hours of sleep across last 3 nights, so my head is not right and I am starting to cry as write this. Work has been awful last two years due to restructuring. I have not left partly due to low confidence, partly hoping things will settle.

Just been away, came back with this monster jet lag and on first day back more people from my team resigned and the rest completely wore me out by their complaining and negativity in catch up calls. I am due a meeting with my manager today who is oblivious to our struggles, expects me to be constructive and piles his own problems on me. I just can’t keep it together today. I had not taken a sick day in 7 years but today I feel like I calling in sick for the rest of the week, recover from jet lag and crack on with job search, while keeping up appearances at my current job from next week. I am massively anxious about doing this as well as I am not really ill, just stressed and tired and hopeless at that place. Any advice is welcome.

take a sick day
job hunt

i don’t imagine you’ll be much use today to colleagues in any event

Go sick. You sound absolutely shredded

Time for a new job OP

Yes, this.

One step at a time. Honestly, jet lag is your own issue, not that of your workplace. That one is on you.

The rest though is not on you. Try to separate each issue to identify the root cause. You mention restructuring, ineffective leadership, staff morale, and staff attrition leading to overload.

These are the things to go through in your meeting with your manager. One by one. Clearly set out what you believe can / cannot be done and ask for agreement as to the priorities and accept any changes. If you have ten things that need doing, but only resources for five, list what you think the five things should be. Every time the sixth thing is added, clearly ask which of the existing five does not get done to make space.

Lastly, whenever your manager starts complaining, shut it down with something like "can we stick to the agenda here", or "you should try being in my position, let's carry on with our agenda".