This is your yearly reminder that it’s just work.
Much of my stress comes from work—or at least, that’s where I choose to experience it. And I’m my own boss, doing whatever I want. I can only begin to imagine how stressful it is when many other people are involved.
Hats off to all of you who show up as functioning employees daily and don’t bash your laptop against the wall, stick a fork in your hand in the break room, or leap from the window in desperation when the Powerpoint warms up. That’s impressive and I’m proud of you.
Employed or self-employed, many of the big problems we battle during our days are work-related. At the time, they feel catastrophic. But chances are, we won’t remember them in a week, month, or year.
Look, things turn to custard, and it’s not ideal. But as a good friend of mine likes to say, “We’re not saving lives here*.” The stuff we do probably isn’t life or death. It’s just work.
There are so many other things to worry about that have a far greater impact on the quality of our lives and the contribution we make to the world: Our families, our friends, our homes, our goals, our dreams, our health, love, politics, food, death, ideas, books, music, and art.
If your work brings serious joy and passion to your life, then sure, if you must, get all up and amongst it. Get tangled and invested and identified. Merge yourself with the worries of your work like a personal cancer. Modify your cells until they’re humming like an inbox.
But if it’s just work… well, it’s just work.
AM
*If you are, in fact, saving lives, please continue to do that. Most of us are just tippity tapping our way through the day. We need you.