Help me get through tomorrow!
August 23, 2013 7:15 AM Subscribe
I have my first shift tomorrow at a job that requires me to be socially switched on (be friendly, enthusiastic, make small talk) while learning a lot of stuff I'll be new to. The shift is super long and I don't know if I'm going to be able to last that long mentally. What's an introvert to do?
I love talking to people, and I can absolutely be that awesome social person -- but only in short bursts. I tend to get tired after a few hours, and I've been more withdrawn the past few days due to personal circumstances. The shift tomorrow is nearly 12 hours (including breaks). I expect I'll need to have lunch with my colleagues and bosses as well. Without time to recharge, I'm anxious that I'll become a zombie by noon -- not the impression I want to give on my first day! This job is a great opportunity for my future career and I don't want to mess it up. Any suggestions for what I can do to make tomorrow easier?
I love talking to people, and I can absolutely be that awesome social person -- but only in short bursts. I tend to get tired after a few hours, and I've been more withdrawn the past few days due to personal circumstances. The shift tomorrow is nearly 12 hours (including breaks). I expect I'll need to have lunch with my colleagues and bosses as well. Without time to recharge, I'm anxious that I'll become a zombie by noon -- not the impression I want to give on my first day! This job is a great opportunity for my future career and I don't want to mess it up. Any suggestions for what I can do to make tomorrow easier?
Make the most of your bathroom breaks! Spend an extra couple of minutes in the stall, and take extra breaks even when you don't need to go. Presumably you won't be with the same people for 12 hours straight so no one's going to notice.
Also: it's not unusual to not be able to be "on" for 12 hours straight. Unless your workplace is peopled entirely with extreme extroverts, no one will be surprised or upset if you're flagging by the end of the day.
On preview: what rocketpup said.
posted by mskyle at 7:27 AM on August 23, 2013 [2 favorites]
Also: it's not unusual to not be able to be "on" for 12 hours straight. Unless your workplace is peopled entirely with extreme extroverts, no one will be surprised or upset if you're flagging by the end of the day.
On preview: what rocketpup said.
posted by mskyle at 7:27 AM on August 23, 2013 [2 favorites]
Give yourself short breaks. Head to the loo's for a few minutes of personal time. I also like to go and make a coffee, or offer to get a small group coffees. 5 minutes refilling the coffee maker and watching it brew can be relaxing, or heading out the office to starbucks depending on your office environment. If you are seen making coffee you are not being seen to be antisocial, and also sweet sweet caffeine can help you stay "on". Also remember there will be ebbs and flows during the day, if things quieten down a little don't feel forced to keep the energy levels up, gather your energy for when things get hopping again.
posted by wwax at 7:41 AM on August 23, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by wwax at 7:41 AM on August 23, 2013 [1 favorite]
A protein-heavier breakfast; or rather, anything but carbohydrates.
Enough water to stay hydrated, but not so much that you need to run off to the loo all the time.
posted by scruss at 8:15 AM on August 23, 2013 [2 favorites]
Enough water to stay hydrated, but not so much that you need to run off to the loo all the time.
posted by scruss at 8:15 AM on August 23, 2013 [2 favorites]
I've found that caffeine makes me chattier. If the same is true for you, load up on coffee throughout the day.
posted by Jacqueline at 8:36 AM on August 23, 2013 [1 favorite]
posted by Jacqueline at 8:36 AM on August 23, 2013 [1 favorite]
I'd also suggest you spend the night before getting fully charged. My go-to for this is an epsom salt/bubble bath while I watch a show or two on HBO Go.
posted by sevensnowflakes at 9:02 AM on August 23, 2013
posted by sevensnowflakes at 9:02 AM on August 23, 2013
These are good ideas to keep you chatty, but don't forget to pay attention to what the others are saying. If coworker/boss mentions they are a little league coach, make a note and ask them about it later when you are tired. Let them talk about themselves. Colleague just got back from Portugal? Ask them later what their favorite part of the trip was. Let them do a lot of the talking later in the day.
posted by Shrek77 at 9:07 AM on August 23, 2013 [3 favorites]
posted by Shrek77 at 9:07 AM on August 23, 2013 [3 favorites]
All wonderful ideas here. I spend a lot of time in the loo, washing my hands!
One thing is to avoid conflict, even if it seems gentle -- nothing runs the meter down faster than conflict and debate. I work with an ex-lawyer who often wants to examine and debate every last aspect of our work instead of taking action. It's exhausting, even though she means well most of the time. Instead, focus on decisions and consensus and action.
Also, plan something nice for yourself immediately after. A movie, a glass of wine. I like mud masques because of the ritual -- you can literally peel off your day.
posted by mochapickle at 9:29 AM on August 23, 2013 [1 favorite]
One thing is to avoid conflict, even if it seems gentle -- nothing runs the meter down faster than conflict and debate. I work with an ex-lawyer who often wants to examine and debate every last aspect of our work instead of taking action. It's exhausting, even though she means well most of the time. Instead, focus on decisions and consensus and action.
Also, plan something nice for yourself immediately after. A movie, a glass of wine. I like mud masques because of the ritual -- you can literally peel off your day.
posted by mochapickle at 9:29 AM on August 23, 2013 [1 favorite]
One thing that has helped me in jobs like this is to adopt a persona that works for me (and my customers), so that I can see myself as just playing a role rather than like putting my heart and soul out there to suffer the bumps and abrasions of continual social/commercial discourse with strangers. I actually ended up with several of these for different situations, but my default was what I thought of as my "butler" persona: smooth, polite, reserved, and deferential. It was easy for me to just slip into that role and kind of cruise through the various interactions that my job involved, without feeling stressed or as though I was getting at all personal. Perhaps you can find a similar persona that works for you.
The rest of the advice here is also very good.
posted by Scientist at 10:17 AM on August 23, 2013 [7 favorites]
The rest of the advice here is also very good.
posted by Scientist at 10:17 AM on August 23, 2013 [7 favorites]
For me taking breaks BEFORE I need them- no muscling through! makes all the difference in the world.
posted by small_ruminant at 9:58 AM on August 24, 2013
posted by small_ruminant at 9:58 AM on August 24, 2013
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YMMV if you do not have access to a single occupant bathroom.
posted by rocketpup at 7:24 AM on August 23, 2013 [1 favorite]