Good jobs for anxious people.

[agj5]

Hello everyone,

This is my first post here. And, I think, it is a "funny" one.

I want to ask if there are any non-buzzword* jobs that still pay well?

*Fast-paced, attention to detail, conflicting priorities, etc, etc, etc

That is my current job. And every other job I see advertised out there. I can't cope. I need a break. But I still need to earn a living.

What type of jobs are suitable for an anxious person who wants to avoid the dreaded feeling that you are falling behind in your work and you are going to get in trouble every day because you are not performing to the expected standards?

Something slow or normal-paced, where you are not going to be putting fires day in and day out and your work becomes a mess because you are drowning in inefficiencies and poor processes.

I know that no company/job/colleague is perfect but I do hope that there is something more suitable for our mental health? Oh, and that we can still make a decent living!

Looking to hear your experiences 🙂

Thanks.

[Here2Talk]

Hi agj5,

This is a curious question.

what do you currently do for work, if I may ask? You may just be in an awful job, there are those out there.

what is it that scares you the most in a job: being watched by people? Having quotas to meet?

there are different undesirable qualities depending on the job..

[agj5]

Hi Here2Talk,

Thanks for commenting on my post.

I work in an office environment, in a very small company. You are right, maybe it is just that my job is awful. But, from personal experience, there are so many jobs out there that just burn you out because companies are just disorganized or because they cut costs by paying one salary to someone who has the workload of two people (sometimes both things!).

A job doesn't scare me. I just want to work at a place/job where I am not going to burn out because they are always moving the goal post on things, changing their mind all the time, where you have 60 bosses trying to get your attention (by that I mean clients and your actual boss) and where people email, text, call and whatsapp multiple times a day because they think they are the only clients you have to deal with. I do understand their case is important but I am sure if they were on the receiving end of their pushiness, they wouldn't take it to well.

And yes, I am jaded...

[tranzcrybe]

Although it may not be any less stressful, finding a job you have a passion for can make it feel more worthwhile at the end of the day.
Work that indirectly contributes to your own betterment can also foster a more positive outlook (and can lead you to going freelance in time - bigger $$$ and increased job satisfaction).

[Oddities]

hi mate,

I have previously worked in transport and had a similar situation where I felt like the world was on my shoulders meeting deadlines and keeping customers unrealistic expectations met.

Fast forward to now and I work in a fairly busy signwritting shop. Yes we have deadlines, yes we have customers who are demanding but I also have an amazing boss who understands what is realistic. We are a shop who would rather do 1 job at 100% than 3 at 70%. We strive for quality which to be honest is refreshing as it gives me the chance to do things to a high standard at a comfortable pace. It also allows me to do many diffrent tasks from graphic design, to wiring, to fabrication which keeps day to day new.

This is only what works for me but I truly feel that a boss that understands your needs is the key to being happy at work.

Do you have any qualifications that may assist in industry suggestions?

[Here2Talk]

I'm looking to get into a job in the next 2-4 years as a psychologist, so that would meet the criteria tranzcrybe suggested of something you have a passion for, but as he/she noted, it wouldn't be less stress.

Maybe if you could work in a place more like the Office with Ricky Gervais or Steve Carrell that would be better haha. No sorry jokes aside - I just pictured that show immediately upon reading your reply.

I totally get where you're coming from - I worked cooking fast food, washing dishes, and currently delivering letters to people... None of them fill your soul with a sense that you're doing something meaningful, as I guess is the same situation working in a small office. It does sound extra demanding in terms of the load it places on your cognition and emotions though. It sounds like a very unique kind of stress it's putting you under. Maybe aus post like where I work, if you could get into it: the downsides are you almost never get to go home when you're scheduled to - you go home when you're 'done'. on the plus it's so devoid of cognition and emotion: you just plug in your letters and the job itself and the expectations (goalposts) are basically static.

This topic interests me as work is a main source of misery for those of us lucky enough to have a job (a paradox, hey). What sort of pay do you require to maintain your lifestyle, and what kind of jobs do you feel you couldn't do?

[Quercus]

Hi everyone,

It might sound really silly but when I started to get medical help at last I started cleaning at a school. I love it. Helps that my boss has personal experience with mental illness so she understands.

People sometimes ask me why the heck did I bother going to uni if I'm just a cleaner, but I've never felt as comfortable at any other workplace.

I do very early morning shifts and usually finish before anyone else is on site apart from one other cleaner. I struggle with crowds and noise so that helps.

Working alone, doing physical work, and managing my own time and tasks are all good things for me. Plus I don't take stress home.

Just wanted to show there are options out there. Do you think writing down what you need in a workplace before looking at jobs might help?

Good luck to you.

Nat

[littlepenguin]

Hi ajg5,

Love your post, I like thinking about what roles are good for us people with anxiety. I am a veterinary nurse, it is my passion , and I do really love my job. I am in a stressful role at the moment in a specialist hospital... I have taken on too much for me to handle, I thought this is where as a veterinary nurse I needed to be to be the best nurse I could be and where I should be.... and I think I will need to step down into a general practice role again as I think this will be better for my anxiety. There are too many aspects in my new role that is really increasing my anxiety.
I do feel if you are passionate about you work or if you are in an industry or role where you are passionate about what you are doing, but I understand this can be rare and hard to find... also my role pays terribly..... I have traded job satisfaction for a high pay.
What I have done when I have been looking for a new clinic to join or a new role is really think about what I don't want in role or a job/ workplace culture and also I think about what I am looking for in a role, what are the most important things to me, i.e working in a team, working alone, short commute, high pay, autonomy in role what are things you would want in an ideal role? What are must haves or non negotiable things?
What are the parts of your job that you hate? It is really good to work out what you do not want to do, or what sort of environment would make you stressed i.e customer facing and then make sure you are avoiding these things.
I think a delivery driver could be a good role like a pathology lab driver ? Or a cleaning role? I did see a role on facebook the other day looking for house cleaners it was a franchise looking for people to join their team, pay actually wasn't too bad and you can do your job , have a podcast on and sometimes physical work that you will not take home with you could be a really good option, It all depends on what your skill set is and what you may be qualified to do. Maybe work in a library could be an idea as well?

Or even gardening or bush regeneration, I saw some jobs through the national trust the other day advertised that were looking for people to help with bush regeneration - there was no experience necessary - this could be low stress physical work, working outside if you enjoy that sort of work Do you have any special interests?

[quirkywords]

I had my own business and it helped me being my own boss as talking to a boss and other workers made me worry.

Thanks for all the suggestions. I suppose it depends I. The person as to what job will suit them.

[Katyonthehamsterwheel]

I need a job with uber flexibility so that i can come and go as I can when I can. If anyone has any ideas there it would be super helpful. I also require minimal interaction with people, as i have difficulty talking to people. I'm currently studying, but unless there is a magic cure out there for anxiety, I can't see myself actually working in the field. I'd be happy cleaning or stacking shelves. I've done those work roles prior to having anxiety, and quite enjoy both. But I can't seem to find anywhere that's flexible enough.

I agree with penguin that working out what you don't want (or can't do) is as important as what you do want (or can do). Good luck all! Not easy