Any advice on how to remain calm and not be clearly annoyed at work?

11 Comments

1. AnonymousAugust 2,2025 at 10:35AM UTC

   TRY to mentally prepare yourself for down falls. I'm in the same situation. I know I will never get a promotion as mgmnt brings in their friends instead. Remember you are there to "work" and nothing else. Prepare before getting to work. Its so hard at times. Step away from your desk for a moment too ! GOOD LUCK!

2. AnonymousAugust 2,2025 at 10:33PM UTC

   Great advice! Also remember to take great care of yourself outside of work. To the extent possible, eat well, get some fresh air and exercise, get enough sleep, and always be sure to do something nice for yourself at least every week; preferably every day. Any day that someone says something unkind to you or work demands are unreasonable, treat yourself in some way; it doesn't have to be expensive, but it can be getting an ice cream with a friend or just taking a luxurious bath. Also, if you don't enjoy your job, keep your resume polished, let friends and former co-workers know you're looking, get support from your college's career center if applicable, and hopefully find a better job soon. Your job and people at your job do not get to define you; only you get that privilege.

3. AnonymousAugust 2,2025 at 1:07PM UTC

   Just relax, imagine the money hitting your bank account, and let it go. When your work day is up, they won't go home with you and they will be someone else's problem. Also remember that every person in your workplace brightens the room-- some when they enter, and others when they leave. If you can do something to bring about positive change in the workplace, go for it, but if you can't, just do your best while you're there and try not to focus on it during your time off.

4. AnonymousAugust 2,2025 at 9:33PM UTC

   You need to learn to disassociate. Because actually the only thing you can control is your thoughts. You are what you think. So remember who you are and that no one controls your thoughts. Being annoyed is a choice. It takes practice but can be mastered. So protect your peace.

5. AnonymousAugust 3,2025 at 12:27AM UTC

   Practice meditation for at least 15 mins per day. Over time, you will be able to handle things better with a calm and composed attitude.

6. Kimberley Ferretti HammettAugust 4,2025 at 1:55PM UTC

   Lots of great suggestions here. The answer for you may depend on your own personality and the environment or circumstance that gets you annoyed but one thing that works wonders for me when it's people's behavior that annoys me is curiosity! It's not always my first reaction, but often when someone is getting on my nerves I get curious about why they are behaving that way. My mind makes up all sorts of reasons why.. if I spend enough time with them I can be investigative and have educated guesses.. or sometimes I just have off-the wall guesses that are amusing.. it takes me out of that frustration enough to move through it and reminds me that everyone has their own perspective or ways of doing things. Maybe if I knew theirs I wouldn't be so annoyed. Maybe I'd be more annoyed! Who knows.. but I'm also probably annoying to others too. So I have a fun little guessing game then move on (or if it's really bad, address it with them gently). Sometimes even thinking it through can help me see a potential perspective that gives me more empathy and if I react the right way, can help change the behavior some.

7. AnonymousAugust 4,2025 at 2:56PM UTC

   What are the situations where you find yourself to be clearly annoyed? I mean...I have employees where I work that just the site of them, depending on the day, will annoy me. I have to do a lot of self-talk in advance to prepare to interact with them.

8. AnonymousAugust 4,2025 at 10:25PM UTC

   I get annoyed when people are talking very loudly in a public place, especially if there is also background noise. I think that an adult at a restaurant should be able to use their "inside voice" and have some consideration for other patrons. I understand if a little kid is noisy, but parents should correct the child when this occurs. Other things that annoy me are meetings that EASILY could have been an email and when a person or a policy makes something much more difficult than it should be.

9. AnonymousAugust 5,2025 at 10:07AM UTC

   So normal everyday things. You need to work on yourself. whether that be therapy, self reflection or whatever.

10. AnonymousAugust 5,2025 at 10:33AM UTC

    You're right. I am working on myself and I behave patiently, keeping my annoyance to myself. While I work on that, please work on not being so judgmental.

11. AnonymousAugust 5,2025 at 12:27PM UTC

    Kids these days. Seriously. I’ve gone to lunch with them and at a certain point all of them dropped their heads and got lost in their phones. I no longer go to lunch with them.

    As for your coworker, leave them alone. Based on experience, if they’re not getting the job done others will notice and they could get laid off I’ve seen this happen over the decades.