People with difficult jobs: what are your coping mechanisms?

[bluejelly]

I got home from work 3 hours ago, had two glasses of wine and a hot bath.
I still feel really stressed out about a situation at work. How can I unwind?
Does anyone have any tips for switching off and finding that work/life balance?
Mine is far too heavily skewed towards work the moment

Surely someone must have one or two!
please?

'Fraid I don't work any more (apart from with the children, obviously) but I htink you've got in about right with hot bath and wine. Maybe a job to clear your mind?
I found my children keep me too busy to get stressed about other things!

JOG - I meant JOG not Job (stupid stupid me)

A job? what kind of job?
I think as my dd is 8 she doesn't really keep me that busy anymore. When she was younger it was much harder work and I didn't obsess about work anymore (also I was a a lower level so less responsibility).

Maybe I need to have another child!

Oh yes Jog! that makes sense. Will go for one in the morning I think.

I think sometimes there's not a lot you can do. I recently had a particularly difficult and stressful couple of weeks and was working very long hours. I found it almost impossible to switch off in the evening or even at the weekends. It's settled down again now thankfully.

One thing I find really useful actually is cooking. I really enjoy making something nice for dinner and it helps me to wind down. Other than that, a glass or two of wine is good (if we have any in the house) but last week nothing helped.

I listen to the radio on the way home and sing along at the top of my voice and pass comment on all the other drivers (just to my self). I will sometimes have a drink when I get in but I don't like to do this all the time, I usually come on here for a short while even if I get in late.

Its the singing along in the car that is my work/ home switch over period though.

Wine / Cider.

Chocolate.

Ranting at DH (about work, not general rants iykwim).

Emailing a particular friend (this works for both of us - ie, we both offload this way).

If my brain is still churning over work or other stresses when I go to bed I do some logic puzzles like sudoko, it focuses my mind and and I can't think about work or worries if I am trying to figure out what number goes in which box .

It takes me around two hours to wind down from work, whatever I do, be it reading, cooking, meditating, a glass of wine, sorting out the piles of bills/washing whatever. The other night I drank a bottle of champagne (you can't leave it - can you) No hangover. Possibly not a good policy for every night but it was the best, really. The worst thing for me is exercise - it leaves me totally wired. Not good for a wind down

I try to focus on being logical about problem soving, to think about positive outcomes in the past and why I actually do the job itself. If it's tough, I have to accept it but think that this too will pass and 'just deal with it'.
wine and hot baths help a lot too.
Going for a run.
Listening to my favourite music and texting friends helps me.

Love the champagne option
Also the singing loudly on the way home.

I wish I had a dp to rant at, sadly I am a single mum and feel a bit odd ringing up a friend to rant down the phone (also would have to be doing it 3 times a week at the moment, which could get dull for her!)

I think it is just part of working life bramblebooks. The pay off for all the other things that work gives me ( money, security, status etc)

MMM maybe I shouldn't grumble so much

Don't know how healthy it would be ranting at your partner about work every night anyway .

I like to switch off from work before I start interacting with the kids, so when I pick them up PIL may ask how was work but I answer briefly then quickly ask what the kids have been up to and let them tell me all about school or what ever, rather than them listening to me, I get absorbed in them for a while. I mat chat about work another time with MIL though but not as part of the unwinding process.

I think it can be helpful to have a switching over process, to make the defination between work and home. Like the singing in the car or going for a jog when you get in or having 15 mins peace when you get in upstairs to change out of workclothes and get on the comfy gear or even retreating to the kitchen to cook the tea if you enjoy that.

thanks scramble. I do usually focus completely on my dd when I get home-- today was the exception and I did actually rant to her! She was actually quite helpful.

The thing was thought that after supper (and the wine) I was still thinking about it and as I was reading her a story my mind kept wandering back to work , and that really annoys me! Wish I could just think 'sod it, it's Friday night and work is really not that important'.

Actually coming on mumsnet has helped quite a bit. Made me realise my problems are pretty minor compared to some

Sorry I didn't mean that you weren't focusing on DD, I know what you mean about the mind wandering back to it all. its hard to stop it when you are reading bambi for the umteenth time .

I agree Scramble tbh, but it's not every night, and he's a good listener. It helps me rationalise stuff and I can settle sooner.

And of course I'm there for him when he needs to offload.

I do rather like the champagne option.

I would love the champagne option too sweety , but it is usually a cheap red from the corner shop.