How much does your job play on your mind?

[Changnsme53ew]

NC for this as I don’t want to get too identifiable

Just as title says really, even when not at work I constantly think of work. I keep checking my emails and when I do get an email I get a sinking feeling and have to read it whilst dreading what it will say.

I don’t remember feeling like this in my previous places of work. Not sure if it’s a mixture of having kids and working part time (previous to kids I was full time in a different place), not sure if it’s just anxiety or if it’s actual normal or maybe just the workplace I’m in. Most people I work with look stressed out all the time so I don’t think it’s just me.

I work in a secondary school btw. I went to speak to headteacher today as things I need to do job not given to me so needed his help getting things moving. He asked me if I had other interests outside of work and what I do to relax! That got me thinking maybe I am letting work play on my mind too much. I feel a bit embarrassed by his comment for some reason like it was negative.

Not sure what I’m looking for by posting this, I just feel like I need an outside opinion on this. I feel really stressed out all the time. Anyone else feel like this about their job?

Primary teacher on SLT.

A lot of the time, not much.

Last night- far too much. Awake again straight after falling asleep and awake for 2 hours with work things and jobs to be done running around in my head.

Busy time of year.

I do. I’m a teacher. Find it very hard to let go of the stress / worry. Sometimes it keeps me awake at night.

I used to. It bothered every aspect of my life so much that I resigned.

Sorry that's probably not the answer you wanted to hear. The sinking feeling of opening emails. The dread of the phone ringing etc. All gone now.

Depends really, not all the time, but as I work in healthcare I have had many a sleepless night worrying about my patients.

It depends on the workload tbh, or whether things are generally stressful, eg a deadline coming up. But most of the time, no.

I appreciate teaching is a different beast though and it is nowhere near the line of work I’m in.

Do you worry about things you’re solely responsible for, or just more widely about a range of work things?

Also a teacher. Quite a lot.

@DrMadelineMaxwell if a teacher in your school came up to you regarding things she needed to get done for next year would you think she’s doing her job or would you think it’s OTT? Nothing that costs money at all and network technician could fix in like 5 minutes. I keep getting a feeling they want me to be chilled out and worry about it in September. I rather sort things now than run around later

I just feel as my kids are so young I’m failing them by not being present here and now with them. I feel like resigning but there’s no guarantee of work in September. At least I know what days I have off to be with baby otherwise with supply there’s no guarantee

Yes, and it started quite soon after working from home full time, so well over a year now. My work massively increased due to Covid which didn't help either. I am constantly stressed about work. I wake up around 6 and will be logged on by 6.30 latest. The stress of not working is almost worse than working so my working days have gotten longer and longer if that makes any sense. I am now pretty convinced I'm heading for a bit of a breakdown. I have been meaning to start a post on it to try and get tips on how to get a better work/life balance again. Hope you are OK OP.

A huge amount, especially at the moment

Not at all.
I walk out the door, and work is done till I walk back in.

No, once I leave work I literally forgot about it until the next morning. I'm off now until weds and I won't give anything a second thought. They can manage without me. I won't even turn on my work phone/laptop to check.

Not at all really. I'm a nurse so days can be stressful sometimes and the responsibility is huge but I love my job. At the end of my shift I handover to the oncoming nurses and then I'm gone and don't give work a second thought until I'm back again.

Truly - take your emails off your phone. Only look at them when actually logged in and working.

You will feel better for it.

Teacher. Yes very difficult to switch off. I think as a parent, it’s even harder - especially if you were a workaholic/perfectionist pre-children which many teachers are!

There is no end to the job and always more to be done.

I spend a lot of my evenings decompressing from the day - reliving conversations with kids and staff.

I try to keep my weekends work free though - which helps a lot. But Monday to Friday I am 99% job.

I’m sorry a lot of you feeling this way too. It’s not fair is it. I think the isolation makes it worse for us. Those of you working from home especially.

Teaching's a bastard to switch off from because you've generally got planning and marking to do in an evening or at weekends.

It's very difficult to just leave at the door.

A lot at times (social worker)
I find myself problem solving/ working through stuff in the shower or in bed
But I try to stop because I’m part time and I try to think of it like I’m paid for my time ans that includes my thinking time

Do not look at emails outside of work hours
I never do that, as once you see something you have to act on it, or at the least it will just keep your mind whirring

Not a teacher but last night I worked til 11pm. Today until 7.30 (start at 8) mostly dealing with an incredibly difficult Partner. I am pregnant and didn't eat until 8pm today.

I actually like my job, it's very stimulating, and the people I work with but this week I've been dreaming of spreadsheets and wondering if the juice is worth the squeeze!

My husband thinks about work all the time. He takes his work phone out on weekend trips with the family, listens to podcasts about financial services and talks about finance all the time. I'm glad he's passionate but yeesh.

@FindingMeno @qualitygirl

How do you manage this? Say if an important email comes up that you needed to read before work on Monday?

The times I have tried to de stress eg there was a bank holiday so didn’t read my email and went to work Tuesday I had an external visitor come into my lessons! Had I read the email Saturday/Sunday/ Monday I would have known. It was sent 5:45pm on Friday. I had gone home 5pm and not checked my emails.

It depends how much I have on and how stressed I am. It constantly niggles me how little a colleague does and how much I do.

I’m a primary teacher and my mind is often on work.
Not emails and stuff as such as I don’t have to have much to do with that but lesson plans etc.

@Changnsme53ew mine is not an email sort of job. Manual worker!

I'm a part time teacher and completely forget about work when not there.

I really relate. Head of pastoral/DSL/SLT. Had a breakdown in September and resigned... I miss the job and my colleagues so much, but the constant email checking and lump in throat feeling, not so much.