When work feels overwhelming....

I have this lovely e-card on a mug which I had purchased long before the idea of becoming a mortician even floated into my pretty little head. I believe that this was a prelude to the work that I would eventually be doing.

This past week I was informed that I had gotten the apprenticeship at a local Milwaukee Funeral Home. After going back for a quick orientation and tour of the facilities it became abundantly clear that I would have to leave my retail job of the past 6 years.

I felt marginally bad as I donned on the red and khaki and proceeded to the HR office to obtain a two weeks notice form. I had only been at this new store for just a few weeks, and already I was leaving...no quitting! Oh how I had dreamed of this day! I was just unprepared for how quickly it came upon me. They begged me to stay, to consider alternatives like taking an educational leave of absence or reducing my hours, but I explained to them that if I was ever on call and had to respond to a body pick up, I'd have to leave work ...something I doubt they'd let me do. Besides they all knew that I was coming down here for school and that finding and obtaining an apprenticeship was high on my list.

So now that I have my official last day date (September 20th!) I have found it increasingly more difficult to stay pleasant at work. For example, tonight I was originally only scheduled until 6:30 pm, assuming that there was a closing backroom person. Apparently I was wrong, I was to be the "closer". but for a store that doesn't close until 10:00 pm, nothing can truly be accomplished by 6:30. So out of the kindness of my heart I volunteered to stay until 8. Trying to get as much work done as possible, I should not have been surprised by the request of my manager to see if I could possibly stay later. I politely declined saying that I had school in the morning, (which is true). Then as 8 o'clock approached I informed the closing manager that I was leaving, and he told me that I was scheduled until 8:30. -insert face palm here-  I tried to as calmly as I could muster, explain to him that I was originally scheduled until 6:30 and had agreed to stay only until 8 (not to mention hypoglycemia was setting in due to my lack of a proper meal). Thankfully I was released at 8 and beat feet to rid myself of that establishment.

Unfortunately I have to work the next three days in a row (for a total of seven). September 20th can not come fast enough! Although I know that there will be days and nights where I will have to work long hours doing grunt work around the funeral home, at least it will be in my job field and I will be getting paid surprisingly very well. It will be a labor of love, as the saying goes.

So tell me, when work feels overwhelming for you, what are some ways that you cope?

Until we meet again.