Many of us are doing fine at work. The boss seems happy, if not thrilled, and we’re making decent money, although it could be better. At home, the story is the same: things are fine. They’re not great, but they’re fine. There are much worse things to be than fine. Sometimes life throws so many things at us all at once that just getting through the day is an achievement. But there are moments when things quiet down and we have the chance to take things to the next level and really get closer to our peak.
In the office
We all have work-related stress, whether we’re accountants in an office building or nurses working in the emergency room at a hospital. But without realizing it, some of us are holding ourselves back or even trapping ourselves in untenable situations. That’s because we may have a degree, but it’s not quite the degree that our bosses want us to have. A registered nurse with an associate’s degree is certainly qualified, but in the year 2018, many hospitals are demanding their nurses have Bachelor’s of Science in Nursing degrees. More education and training allows nurses to better serve their patients. There’s something similar happening at offices. You may find a boss who is OK with you having a bachelor’s degree instead of the master’s degree that is usually required for your field, but what if you lose your job or the company goes under? Then you have years of experience, which is great, but in the eyes of many employers, you’re still going to be underqualified. It may not seem fair, but it’s the way the modern labor market seems to be heading. There are certainly valid objections, but many workplaces will just expect you to figure it out. If you’re a registered nurse who can’t keep your day job, do some research into accredited BSN degrees from a place like Linfield College that allows you to take classes online. It may very well be a hassle and a pain, but it’s better than losing your job and not being able to find another one because you lack what’s now considered to be the proper credentials.
In your home
If your house is relatively clean and the kids and/or pets are all fed, then what is there to complain about? There may not be anything to complain about, per se, but that doesn’t mean things can’t be better. For instance, are you getting enough exercise? It’s the first thing people stop doing when life gets really chaotic, and it’s often the last thing people pick back up once life resumes its normal pace. If you don’t want to go to the gym, then you don’t have to go to the gym. Buy a treadmill or elliptical machine for your new home gym. If machines bore you and you want to actually go outside, then grab a basketball or some softball bats and go nuts. A little physical exertion gets the blood flowing and the heart rate pumping, and it also activates endorphins in your brain. Endorphins make you feel good. So you may not like the idea of doing any exercise, but after it’s done, your brain will thank you for making an effort.