A R C H I V E S
Madinat al-Muslimeen Islamic Message Board
| Work is stressing me out! |
|---|
| Orange_Tree |
| 03/09/05 at 14:45:47 |
| [slm] I've been working as a school secretary at an Islamic girls' school for a month now and it is really stressful! I've never done admin before and I got put in the deep end. Alhamdulillah, I'm glad to have this job because I need the work but boy is it hard! I have to juggle and remember everything single thing going on at school. Now I'm guessing that perhaps some sisters on this board have worked in admin and if they had any tips? or perhaps anyone can join in the moaning about work being so stressful! Honestly, I'm stretched every which way and I have huge responsibilities to shoulder. It's kinda getting me down. The weekends aren't long enough :( |
| Re: Work is stressing me out! |
|---|
| jannah |
| 03/09/05 at 15:39:55 |
| [wlm] I can't think of any job these days that's not stressful!! including being a housewife/mother... Forgive me for sounding like Oprah, but you need to find time for yourself and do things that you like... like read a book you like or see a movie or hang out with friends... Also exercise!!! walk, go somewhere, run.. whatever, but it is the BEST stress reliever and u'll even look better later ;) |
| Re: Work is stressing me out! |
|---|
| pearl |
| 03/09/05 at 17:51:29 |
| [slm] Orange_Tree, you have my sympathy! I'm an admin, too. Here's what works for me: Every night I make a list of what needs to be done the next day. If I have longterm assignments, I add those to my task list, too, along with the due date. If I have a big job, I split it into smaller tasks to make it more manageable. As I complete each task (including phone calls), I make a note of it. If I do anything notable or out of the ordinary, I note that also. I also make sure I record tracking numbers, confirmation numbers, check numbers, etc. (This way, when someone says, "Why didn't you do so-and-so?" or "Why didn't you send that package?", I can prove that I did.) I find it easiest to use an online calendar, like Outlook. But, you can do the same thing with a Franklin Covey planner or a Day Timer. It might sound like a lot of a lot of trouble, but it's made my life much easier. Also, if anyone (your boss) comes after you about how you spend your time, you have documented proof! Good luck! Pearl :-) |
| Re: Work is stressing me out! |
|---|
| Sparrow |
| 03/10/05 at 08:19:39 |
| I'm an artist and writer, which means that I have done a ton of admin work to support myself :D. I know how overwhelming it can be. My advice is this: - before you leave every night, have your desk neat. Make small piles of the things you need to tackle the next morning and put stickies on them with notes such as "email to so and so" or "inter-office." That way in the morning you are not greeted by chaos. - have a ritual in the morning. Put your coat and bag away, get your coffee, open your email,etc. Don't let others bombard you the second you walk in the door. - keep a noteboook handy and when some one comes to ask you to do something, jot it down there quickly with any details. That way, when you finally get to it three hours later, you don't have to go back and say, what was that address or who was this going to? - People are pushy with admins. Don't be afraid to say "I'm happy to do that but I won't be able to get to it til afternoon" or something. I usually say, "I've got a list of things to do. Do you need me to do this before I type that letter, or call those people?" this is especially good to use on bosses as they can pile on the work without thinking about the other work they have already given you. It's a gentle reminder that you have a list of things to get done too. - keep in mind that not every fax, email or phone call is an emergency. Some things can wait. - Take your lunch hour or 1/2 hour!! I usually make sure to get a walk in for even just 15 minutes. It can make all the difference in your afternoon mood and productivity. - LEAVE. There is always more work for admins to do. Make a habit of leaving on time most of the time (Of course there will be days when you just can't). Hope that helps! Sparrow |
| 03/10/05 at 08:21:57 |
| Sparrow |
| Re: Work is stressing me out! |
|---|
| Kathy |
| 03/10/05 at 10:59:51 |
| [slm] Lots of good advice up there. I will keep it simple. Keeping in mind one of my favorite ayats.... “Those who believed (in the Oneness of Allah), and whose hearts find rest in the remembrance of Allah verily, in the remembrance of Allaah do hearts find rest” [13:28] ....Make lots of Dhikr! Also, lately I have been doing my sunnah and nafl prayers more reguarly...seems to be calming me down. |
| Re: Work is stressing me out! |
|---|
| jaihoon |
| 03/10/05 at 16:30:30 |
| "before you leave every night, have your desk neat: and "nafl prayers" I found the above two very useful and WORKING as well. Try or rather struggle to see if you can make dhuha prayers (9-11am)- just two raka'hs but extremely rewarding for hereafter, and refreshing for this world as well Allah knows best bo Jaihoon |
| Re: Work is stressing me out! |
|---|
| Orange_Tree |
| 03/11/05 at 12:19:57 |
| [slm] wow, thanks for the prompt responses! The advice is really super. Yesterday was parent's evening and I worked 12hrs straight! I left at 8pm and everyone laughed about how I shot out the door as soon the hand struck on 8. Kinda like Cinderella, we both have good timekeeping. Sometimes I do feel overwhelmed but Inshallah I'm slowly learning how to manage. and like Jannah said, i do need time for myself. Alhamdullilah, working in an Islamic school means there are good facilities for prayers. I even get to have the entire salah hall to myself! It's a nice bit of peace and quiet and even the act of taking off my shoes to pray makes a world of difference. Pearl and Sparrow, I shall print out your advice. It addresses all the areas that need to be improved. |
| 03/11/05 at 12:28:23 |
| Orange_Tree |
| me too |
|---|
| se7en |
| 06/02/05 at 13:17:31 |
| as salaamu alaykum wa rahmatullah, I do administrative work for an Islamic organization too.. I think the added stress factor for working in an Islamic organization is that they are always understaffed. it really is a test of patience. there is a lot of good advice in this thread.. jazakum Allahu khayran :) wasalaamu alaykum wa rahmatullah |
| 06/02/05 at 13:19:11 |
| se7en |
| Great advices masha-Allah.... |
|---|
| Trustworthy |
| 06/02/05 at 14:34:35 |
| [slm]... I feel your pain Sister. Boy do I feel your pain. Have a cold bebzi []That's why I am in here on and off during work because you guys get to calm me down and put my mode in RELAX. My workplace is extremely stressful as well and I feel so bad for our admin...poor girl....it helps to be good freinds with her ;). I eat lunch, have a meeting, and walk to the next meeting at the same time. Those are the fun tragic days. We had too many of those days that our director sent out an email to our department and made it mandatory for us to take a lunch away from the our office building. Yeah...NOT HAPPENING Ma'am. Anyways, I have stacks of Task pads. Yeap, Task pads. These are medium sized note pads with just lists and lists of tasks that I have to complete big and small. So what I do is take this pad with me everywhere I go, meetings and such (just work) and then add to the pad for that day with due dates. Then I have a separate pad with the Tasks, date started, and dates due. This is the task pad I work off of because it prioritzes them. At each task there is a check box for me to check off when it is complete. I tend to forget easily and so this Task pad is a life saver. Every afternoon, I create the tasks w/check boxes and then every morning after I look at them and start going down my list after I do my routine morning stuff. Keeping organized and consistent is a MUST. Once you get this routine down, you'll find more time to RELAX and play. If it gets too stressful, take a breather and just stare out the window or go for a walk if possible. Don't stare at your work. YUCK!!! Dhikr while walking helps ease your mind during the day. My colleagues catch me whispering while walking from office to office or meetings and such just when I'm walking away from my office and they'll be like "You ok?" "WHat are you doing?" My answer "Praising the Lord." "Oh" :-/ That's why I am non-chalant about things. Dhikr does that to me. So whenever there's a break out or emergency...I'm not running like a chicken with my head cut off. Allah (SWT) bless.... Ma-assalaamah.... |
| 06/02/05 at 14:40:46 |
| Trustworthy |
| update |
|---|
| Orange_Tree |
| 06/04/05 at 08:46:33 |
| [slm] I'm glad that the advice in this thread is helping ppl. Se7en, I understand where your coming from. Being a tiny Islamic school, we are understaffed also, and have to take on a lot of different jobs. I'm like a janitor, dinner lady, admin, cover teacher all rolled into one! I've finally relaxed into my job now. It's still stressful but not as much Alhamdulillah. Pearl's advice on using Microsoft Outlook has been priceless. The head teacher is really impressed by the way I have the diary and all tasks written up on computer! she's thinks I'm some kind of computer whizz now! Being an admin, I'm always at someone's beck and call, whether it's dealing with the pupils, teachers, the Governor so having my own time can be difficult. I would say that's my only downside. I've figured out that hiding away in some quiet part of the building helps tho! |
Madinat al-Muslimeen Islamic Message Board |