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Going crazy!
20/f
Okay so I started waiting tables about a year ago. At first, I loved it. Not only was I making crazy amounts of money, but I actually enjoyed my job. Now it seems as if I'm burnt out on it. I hate waking up each day to go to work and I can't even enjoy my days off because I know I'll have to go back soon. I've tried taking vacations, but that just makes me hate it even more. I feel stuck because I HAVE to make that kind of money in order to afford rent and other bills. I'm still in school so I'm not really qualified for jobs that make above minimum wage. As far as I can see, serving is as good as it gets for me. But I'm miserable. It's not that I'm lazy.. I just hate doing the same thing a hundred times a day. And I'm even GREAT at my job. I just hate it and I've honestly contemplated running away but then I realize I don't have the money! What other kinds of jobs are available, or what can I do to make myself happier with where I'm at?
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IF it helps any your not alone in how you feel at the moment. There are ways to make yourself feel better about your job and yourself.
We've all been were you are now at least those of us who are older and more settled. Your current situation is a means to an end. Waiting tables is a means to an end. The end is finishing college and getting the type of job you have studied all these years for. Hopefully the type of job that pays they type of money that will allow you to have all the good things in life you would like to have. This is the light at the end of the tunnel.
Some people would call this time in your life paying your dues for a more successful future. Call it what you want we all go through it. What you need to do know is to find a better way of dealing with the present away that doesn't take a whole lot of money.
Dealing with the public is not fun it is hard work so it is possible to burn out. At one time I worked for a major airline back at a time when flying was still fun and most people dressed up for their flight. Even back then dealing with the passengers was not easy and burn out was common.
What we are really talking about here is stress and in your case you get a double dose. Stress from work and of course stress for school. You need to find away to lower your stress or deal with it better.
I would suggest the first thing is to learn to accept the fact that this job is the best and quickest way for you to get what you need to remain in school. It is a means to an end not a life time vocation. If you accept that as fact and look past the day to day aspect you will deal better with it.
Next is finding a way to relieve your mental and physical stress. I don't know you so it is hard for me to make any real suggestions. What are things you like to do. How about reading just for the pleasure of it not because you have to read for school work. Maybe take a book and if the weather is nice go to a bark or beach and just relax and read. Go to a museum or movie if you like or just curl up on the couch with a tub of your favorite ice cream and put a girlie movie in the VCR or download one from Netflix. There are probably 100 other things you can think of to do other than the few I have suggested.
The object is to unwind and relax to get lost in something else. For me I sit down at my computer and write. No I do not intend to ever publish anything I write. What writing does is allow me to get lost in the world of whatever I'm writing about. Reality returns when the phone rings, my wife comes home or if my son stops by. For me this is the most relaxing time of the day.
Take heart in the fact that your good at what you do and make the money you need to finish your education. That puts you in the upper percentage of your class mates. Many students work two or more jobs and may not make the money you do. If you want to talk about being stressed out or burnt out. Talk to one of your fellow students who is trying to juggle classes and two or more part-time jobs.
If you will remember this; that those who have come before you have gone through what you are going through and survived, so will you. This is simply a means to and end and in reality a short term proposition.
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You need something to look froward to. Save up for a great over-seas trip or find another job altogether. Sounds like burn out which is normal. Maybe it's time to just move on. See what else is out there for you that you may enjoy.If you don't have children this is the perfect opportunity to even apply out of state. Travel see what else is out there. Don't become depressed and find yourself miserable 10 years from now doing the same thing. It may be just as simple as changing your job burnt doing the same thing, Like a change in scenario you Know? I think you'll be fine just try out new adventures and avenues in your life while you can.
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I have a daughter in your position although she works as a barista. What she did that helped to get to a positive mind set was to think of things that she was thankful for, the kind of stuff we don't think twice about. Like having her eyesight, two good legs to walk with, etc. it takes just imagining an accident that takes those things from you in an instant to realize, its better to appreciate certain things now while you still have it. I know it seems corny but it works and worked for her. She also took her thoughts off herself and realized lots of customers are in the same boat as her, they hate their job too and life is boring, etc... and they needed some cheering up, a bright spot in their day. At first it was forcing herself and feeling like she was acting but soon customers became repeat customers cus they were there to see her smiling face and hear something encouraging from her. She worked her way into the hearts of her customers so well blessing their day with a shower of positive energy that they began to do things for her. One man about her dads age kept telling her she needed the tires rotated on her car cus they were getting worn. She siad she'd do so as soon as she could afford it. The man was genuinely concerned for her and a couple weeks later mentioned it didnt look like she got it done. She mentioned she didn't have the time or money. So he called a tire place right that moment, they said they had an open spot and wouldn't cost a penny. But she was at work. He volunteered to take her car there for her and bring it right back. >Which he did. That kind man whose life she affected with cheery greetings died a couple months later of an unexpected medical problem, a brain anyeurysm. Those can not be predicted. If she had not been a bright light in his life, he would not have come to care about her like a daughter and want to do this special thing for her. Thats what makes life worth living...the people in it. Thats what can bring us joy no matter what we have to do to live and exist. When we die, thats all we can take with us, is those souls we knew on earth.
I hope everything gets better for you since you really need to stick with school but need the job as well. Chin up girl!
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