WORKSTATION DIARY SERIES - Almost to a Breaking Point
By: Ulysses C. Ybiernas | July 18, 2013 2:26 PM
Almost to a Breaking Point
Earlier today, I found myself somewhat overwhelmed by the seemingly endless swarm of customers. It was like being caught in the middle of an ant infestation, everywhere I turned, there were more and more people crowding around, each demanding attention, each more insistent than the last. Their questions, their impatience, the constant tug of requests, it all piled up on me, bit by bit, until I could feel my patience were wearing thin and I could hardly breathe. It's really just a one man battle here.
But thank goodness, I managed to keep my composure still. I took a deep breath in between, tried to focus, and reminded myself to stay calm, so it wouldn't affect my end-of-day balancing. I couldn't help but think of the person who had been assigned here last week. She ended up having a full-blown panic episode, visibly shaken and struggling with what I imagine was an intense spike in blood pressure. It wasn’t hard to understand why, this environment, with its ceaseless demands and the constant pressure to perform, can be a lot for anyone.
The thing is, she's around 50 years old, and I’m 44. We’re not exactly at the age where we can bounce back from stress as easily as we once could. Long-term exposure to this kind of environment really does take a toll. It's exhausting, not just physically, but mentally and emotionally too. No one should be expected to endure that level of stress on a regular basis, especially when the risks to health are so real.
As I managed to push through today, I couldn't help but think about the toll it takes on a person over time. It’s one thing to face a hectic day now and then, but constant exposure to that kind of pressure isn't sustainable. If it keeps up, it's only a matter of time before even the most healthy person starts to crack. I really have to give this some thoughts to consider, hmmm.
A diamond is just a piece of charcoal that handled stress exceptionally well.
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