New job stress

[rache86]

Hi all,

Sorry for having been away for so long, it's been a manic few weeks. I've recently started a new job, and as I'm sure you can all imagine have been finding it all enormously stressful.

Meeting new colleagues, new pupils etc. getting used to new routines and expectations on me as a professional and as an individual in a position of responsibility. It's exhausting and every day this week I've come home with a massive headache.

My partner has been wonderful, keeping me calm and looking after me. But I am struggling internally and feeling unable to relax. I feel inadequate and unable to really do the job I know I can because of so many enormous changes (which I know we all enjoy!).

Does anyone have any advice or suggestions for me? Even just some words of support. I am feeling highly stressed at the moment and doubting myself as a professional and as a person. I don't know if I am suited to this profession or even work in all forms. I feel like I can't function.

Thank you.

 

[Judge]

I'd think for most of us, any new job is going to be full of stresses whether valid or not. Always has been for me. Hang in there...and cut yourself some slack. If a job is inherently complex, don't expect to master it so quickly.

 

[JohnH]

Here's a thought for you - many NTs also struggle with the same feelings and thoughts at new jobs. Usually we (aspies) are our own worst critics, because we tend to (at least some of us do) hold ourselves to a very high standard, sometimes higher than we ourselves can achieve. The good news is, that others don't usually hold us to those same high standards, and your self assessment of mediocre work may exceed their expectations and they are quite happy with you.

Also, no one is expected to be all that great when they first start a job. It is fairly common to expect that new people are relatively useless for the first few months until they learn how things work and get settled in.

I don't know what it's like being a teacher, but it is a worthwhile profession and it's admirable that you are someone who cares so much about doing a good job of it.

So, no words of advice really, but perhaps a little support.

 

[The Penguin]

Not sure what advice to give. I have a ****** job working 48 to 60 hrs per work doing 12 hrs shifts from 5 PM to 5AM

I glad you have you partner to keep you calm. If there is a option for a better job in the future go for it.

I know from most of the jobs I had people sucks giving training. One job I had 3 minutes of training to use 3 work stations. I find that crazy.

 

[Vanilla]

Give it time, and try not to overthink it. It takes approximately 21 days for most people to adjust to anything new, so be patient, and hopefully it'll become more natural to you, as time progresses

 

[SameStars]

It'll take some time to adjust, and feeling stressed in the beginning isn't strange at all. I hope you at least enjoy your occupation, and will grow confident in your abilities.

 

[NothingToSeeHere]

As the others have said, give it time! Remember that it is expected to take a few weeks to get used to a new job, and I imagine much longer with something as complex and difficult as being a teacher! Your colleagues will not expect perfection from the first moment, they've all been through the same process, so cut yourself some slack until you settle in and don't forget to enjoy yourself!

I really hope that things settle down soon for you and that you enjoy your job, I'm sure it will be very rewarding

 

[Spam]

I have a hard time focusing on instructions when being trained on a new job. Simply because I feel provoked by my surroundings so my head is doing constant 360s. I try my best to really pay attention to what the people are saying and really observe the other workers. I use that to help me figure out what to do and it helps me settle a little bit faster. I just started my new job 2 months ago and I still few weary sometimes. I feel you though.

 

[paloftoon]

I'm a teacher. I'm in cyber now, but used to be in brick and mortar.
Being the newbie is tough. Try your best to perform your job well and if you can network or make connections, take the opportunity. Don't let people walk all over you whether fellow colleagues or students or families. Demand respect, but give the same. If you're in a typical environment, that's really tough. Another good suggestion I have is that it's generally okay to grade hard, but then give points outside of class for students who are respecting you and coming for help outside of class if they are trying. If they are doing well and not respecting you, those are considered two different issues and you must treat them as such. Document as much as possible. Don't document during class, but learn to keep it in your head unless it's something extreme where you must react right away. I had to learn these things the hard way. I hope this piece of advice helps you, and I'm sorry I didn't notice your post earlier. I tend to get busy and have too many interests and so on and so forth, so I don't always come on here unfortunately.

 

[Peace]

Do not confuse your feelings with your abilities. It sounds as though you are perfectly capable of handling the job, but struggle with your feelings. The best way to to defeat your demons is to meet them head on!

 

[Etzelaire]

Do your job from inside your head, that makes me feel more comfortable.

 

[Andrew206]

When I started my current job, I felt a lot of stress. I had never worked a Monday through Friday job until then. I later learned it was fast-paced, something I had never done. I had to get used to that. I'm still at that job, 6 years later.

 

[AsheSkyler]

Indulge! =)
Battle through the day to the best of your ability, and treat yourself when you get home. Quiet time with the partner, a book, even a chocolate fudge sunday (if you also have the exercise routine to pay the appropriate penance for it). New jobs stress everybody because the training doesn't cover everything and they have to teach themselves to bridge the gap, and then there's just the adjusting period for taking in so much information at once. So hang in there, do your best, don't be unnecessarily hard on yourself, and enjoy the ride. You'll do well.

 

[rache86]

Thank you all for the kind words and support. I am starting to settle in more now, although am still feeling extremely stressed. I think it is knowing my job is not 100% permanent and that I will need to be looking elsewhere soon... as I'm sure you all know, that's not ideal!