Stress you can't avoid

[Cnmorgan13]

Next month is the busiest time of year at my work. Stress levels go through the roof and I'm 18 weeks pregnant. No one else can help shoulder the burden as its a small workforce. I know I shouldn't let it get to me but I can already feel the tightening in my chest just thinking about it. They are not very sympathetic at my work very much if you don't like it, there's the door. Any advice apart from winning the lottery

How long are you planning on taking for mat leave? If you are likely to be away this time next year then you (and they) need to make a plan for how it will work then. Maybe now is the time for someone internally to step up, or recruit for your maternity cover.
If it was me (and you are more conscienscious than me clearly) I would be making it very clear what you can and can't do. Work your hours and ensure you have regular breaks. Your body is already doing loads, give it a break.

When I had to cut back a bit at work my boss said that I am not normally pregnant and they could cut me some slack.

Good luck??
K

I also have a stressful job and sometimes find de-stressing difficult.
Ways I've found to deal with is to separate things when end of the day - mobile phone off, cook a nice dinner, watch my favourite program to zone out and a small chocolate treat.
I usually find the more angst I get sometimes it's not as bad as I feared. 5 minutes outside just to breathe is also helpful.

Tell me about it. I'm 31 weeks and in the middle of training up staff to cover my mat leave as well as wrapping up a billion other things prior to going on leave. This morning I have a mediation session with a member of staff who is driving me crackers at the moment and not doing his job. I can feel how stressed I am by it and how I am running over my to-do list at night before bed.

Having seen a programme where they suggested that consistent stress in the last trimester had a significant impact on cognitive development I'm trying to be chilled, but it is difficult to divorce yourself from something you've worked on for so long.

Having said that, most of the time I am more chilled and I have found that this corresponds with me just giving less of a shit. Nothing more complicated than that. So I guess that is my bit of advice from one stressed woman to another. Give less of a shit!

Yes to the things the others have said!

My job is all deadline-based, so that's where my stress comes from. For me, controlling my stress level has been about learning to say 'no' to those little extras people so often need, and to flat out turn down work when I'm at capacity (normally I work like a dog, then crash and recharge, but that recharge isn't going to be possible, so I have to throttle back.)

I also walk to and from work, and on all my breaks, even if it's just around the block. Getting out of the building really seems to help, and I decompress on the walk home.

The last thing for me has been making sure I have good food. I'm a pot noodle kind of person sometimes, especially when work is crazy. It just makes me crabbier and more tired. Healthy stuff (even just a sandwich with fresh lettuce and tomato instead of cheese all by itself) really helps.

Oh, and water. I would drink tea and coffee till I dropped dead, but wired and tired is no way to feel.