The Journey To Shangri La – The Quick-Seat Chair Stress Management Program Part: 18

By Khadi Madama Quick-Seat Chair Wellness Coordinator

Professional Desk Companion: Your Journal

Section 2:

WHAT’S HAPPENING? SELF DIALOGUE
This section of your journal is your haven to talk about, privately, the day-to-day events,
difficulties, unsavory feelings, and brick walls that sometimes occur on the job. The people that you
Interact with people who aren’t going to go away, who may be difficult at times, and who remind you of other people in your life that you wish you could forget about. It is also a place to record accolades for all of your accomplishments, important jobs that you have finished, people you have helped, and those who have helped you. Here are a few questions that may help inspire you to let loose and get some things off your mind, your chest, out of your heart and mind, and last but not least, onto these pages.

• Is there an office worker that you really find difficult?
• Is there anything about this person that you can find to like? Any common ground that you can use to try to gain some sense of camaraderie?
• Do you feel that you are unappreciated on the job?

Most people do, because after all, it’s a job not a high-school reunion. But, if you create a list of
accomplishments in your journal section it can help you feel better; if you have the ability to hang
certificates on the wall, perhaps that will help. There is also that self-care component where you
celebrate yourself by reminding yourself that the best appreciation is the paycheck. And, lastly, perhaps
you could start a “celebration club” where you begin by celebrating someone at work for their
accomplishment on a project by bringing in cookies or coffee/tea. This could catch on and before long
it’s your turn to get “celebrated.”

• Are you worn out from co-workers dumping complaints on you?

Without sounding like you don’t care-is there a way that you can offer to help them sort out their
problem explaining that you read an article that suggests that complaining about the same problem
over and over again without looking for a solution is “self-sabotage”? Can you declare your work area
as a complaint free zone by telling co-workers that you want to hear about their situation, but not there
at that moment. Most of the complaining is more of a bad habit than a serious situation. Suggest a
different time and place away from the job and not during your own much needed breaks.

• Are you trying to find a solution to any number of your office problems?

These are probably the most common complaints about work related problems with office
relationships. Much of this kind of stress can be relieved by writing out the feelings involved, wherein
a solution may surface that you had not thought of before.

ACTION STEP: Write out one regularly occurring situation at the top of the page. Date it. Now, write out your feelings about it. Don’t hold back the anger or any other emotions. However, write with the idea that you are going to find a solution, even if it is only to see things from a different perspective.
If no solution comes, leave some blank space and go back to it at another time. Dialogue your problem
in the form of a question such as: “What can I do to feel more appreciated in my job?”

Some problems such as poor ventilation, no windows, too much commute time, are handled in
Section 4 of the journal.

Quick-Seat Chair. Temporary Seating That Closes Itself