The Middle: Dealing with the Weariness of Work & Life

When Judy Benjamin was lost, she joined the army. She was ill-prepared for what it required and was foolish in her initial expectations of what military service would be like. But what she did know was that life as she was living it was not working out. Goldie Hawn brought Private Benjamin to the big screen in 1980 (gulp, yes 1980) and made us laugh despite her disappointment with life.

Are you experiencing the disappointment and the weariness? The tiredness has set in for various groups of people - the displaced workers, the sandwiched caretakers, the first-level management layer and more. You feel it, right? People trying to make sense of the computer science degree that has no real place in the current work environment. People struggling with an AI reality. People wanting to work for themselves but are under-capitalized to do so, especially in a down economy.

This is not about negativity. It’s about a stark reality for many. Whether it is due to the many organizations laying off thousands of people or is due to the pace of white-collar competency changes, the world of work is briskly changing. And pepper in a struggling global economy, and the mental strain and accompanying weariness are front and center.

While we’re not all therapists, thankfully, we do need to approach our mental and physical states with a sense of empathy and protection. Environmentally, feelings of worthlessness can be very real in today’s career and economic realities. Psychologically, low self-esteem can set in due to not being wanted in your last role, as is typically perceived in a RIF, or in not being selected for a job role you swore you’d be perfect for. These rivers combine internally and become a strong current of self-loathing.

We are more than our circumstances, though that can be hard to believe when we are drowning in them. The discipline to not be swallowed up is just that, a discipline.

Step out and away from your computer. Whether it is the beast of your job search or the unending stream of work tickets/tasks, you would be wise to step away for a moment. The longer you sit within the strain, the more your psyche absorbs wrong messaging. Just move around and get the blood flowing. Your brain will be awakened, and your body will positively respond to the movement.

Step back to step ahead. It may be that the career path you’ve been on needs a re-routing. Whether it’s a skill that has sunset or is rapidly heading that way, you may need to pursue something else. And while this is easy to say, the reality of staying where you are won’t be worth the avoidance of struggle. Today is the day to start if that’s the reality you are facing. Time is not waiting.

Step into support. Surround yourself with those who love and believe in you. Lean into your community. And if they don’t know you’re struggling, it is time to tell them. There is no prize for the “bravest front” at life’s end. Share the tension you feel trying to take care of your parents, your kids, your work, your finances, your everything. This is not weakness; it may be the first step into your strength.

So, if you need to sit in the rain and cry for a bit like Judy did, then do it. If you want a friend to sit in the rain with you, ask. If you’re scared to get up and try again, you are not alone.