Eight in 10 Americans claim to feel stressed because of their job according to a new survey presented by The Huffington Post. Unemployment rates have dipped, but stress levels have peaked and jobs seem to be at the top of the list of triggers. There is a variety of jobs that can be considered stressful for distinct reasons, but anyone will tell you that the worst has to be customer service. Most teens and young adults have typical part-time jobs (cashier, clerk, babysitter, etc.) that require them to communicate and deal with all types of people who may not always be the loveliest of chaps. Dealing with this on a daily basis can easily turn into a stress source and I, as a young adult, have definitely experienced such. Let’s not forget that every experience brings a lesson and lessons are worth sharing, so here it is.
1. Keep your job mask on
We all have a dozen thoughts going through our heads at once. You may be serving your customer’s food, but thinking about that nasty feud with your significant other or the exam you just bombed earlier. We aren’t always happy and smiley, but it’s important to remember that whatever dilemma you have in your head isn’t your customer’s fault. Your face says a lot and sometimes our internal worries can be transmitted through the way we carry ourselves or even the way we talk. Once on the clock, put your job mask on and set your worries aside so you can be your full potential working self and avoid any chance of conflict.
2. Don’t take it to heart
Coming from someone extremely sensitive, believe me when I tell you that taking things lightly is the KEY to human interaction! Believe it or not, insults at work can hurt especially coming from middle aged strangers. Before you even clock into work, rub imaginary Vaseline on yourself and remind yourself that everything will simply slide off. Every insult, comment, eye roll, yell, complaint– it all slides right off your shoulder because you are mentally prepared and know not to take it to heart. If you know you’re doing your best work then rest in the fact.
3. Conflict? R U N
Whether you work at Wall Street or serve frappes at Starbucks, there will always be conflict. We are human and will disagree and misunderstand each other 1992878 times a day. The problem is when someone oversteps boundaries and does something to offend you or vise versa. The only true fix to this is to remove yourself from the situation with the best poker face you can pull off. Cliché, yes, but it’s what works best as opposed to ending in a real argument. If you have any experience with customer service, then you know that conflict arises on a daily basis and your manager is not always there to handle it for you. Be smart and pull a Forest Gump– run! This applies to coworkers too, since harmless jokes can easily turn into a slap in the face… If you try to handle it yourself, it goes from a one-sided problem to a two-person conflict that you are now at fault for.
4. Be yourself
Have you noticed that people tend to use exclamation points in every sentence when trying to sound polite and perky? The truth is that we always wanna show our best version when dealing with strangers or authority. While it’s great to put your best face on for work, being an extra perky version of yourself can be tiring. Trust me, your manager sees right through your Barbie smile and fake enthusiasm– be yourself, don’t fake it. Your true self is bound to come out at some point so why put so much effort in at the beginning? Your managers, co-workers, and even customers will definitely appreciate you more as a person when you are genuine.
5. The customer is NOT always right
You’ve probably heard the phrase “the customer is always right”, right? Here’s the thing, though: customers are merely people that come in or call in to purchase your product, food, drink, etc. They can certainly be mistaken in their order or any fact about your workplace that you as a worker are ten times more likely to know about than they are. The idea created by desperate business owners is just a feet-washing tactic that gives customers the ridiculous idea that they are superior and deserve such treatment. While it is critical etiquette to treat customers with a welcoming attitude, it should not mean that employees have to satisfy their instructions to do a backflip. Be ready to politely correct or explain to a customer and defend yourself if needed.
6. Stand your ground
Just because you’re in uniform and a name tag does not mean you have to sit back and take disrespect. Unfortunately, some customers have the audacity to believe that you are less than them just because you are serving them. Always protect your dignity by treating customers and co-workers with kindness. If at any point, you feel attacked in any way, stand your ground with maturity and assertiveness. Too many times have I witnessed employees be mistreated while they just silently take it. This is not respect or humility, this is simply the product of the distorted idea of authority that has been taught to us since before we could even talk. While it is important to keep it professional, no one is allowed to mistreat you and ruin your day when you are simply following the orders of your job. Limit yourself to do your job and if anyone has an issue, address it calmly if possible or direct the problem-person to a higher positioned employee. You deserve the same respect that they do!
7. It’s not ALL about the money
Um, actually it is… Yes, you work to get paid so it is about the money. However, money should not be the only factor that you prioritize. The influence an environment has on your life and you as a person is extremely underestimated. Sadly, most of the people in our country work endless hours in jobs that they dread waking up to every morning. Believe it or not, young adults and teens wake up to jobs they dread as well. It can be easy to be too focused on making money when there is so much more to life, especially if you’re still a young adult or teen. You are the product of your environment; if you spend time in a place where people complain a lot you will complain a lot, if you spend time in a place where people curse a lot, you will be dropping f-bombs without even realizing, if you’re in a place where people wear purple shirts, you will find yourself in the lavender isle at Forever 21! Far-fetched, but you get the idea.
8. Work for yourself
Workers are not always appreciated at their workplace. This generates hate and remorse in an employee’s heart that comes out in their work. Whether you’re treated fairly or treated like scum, it is important to remember to work for yourself and no one else. This means to put on a smile and work to the best of your ability even if it goes unnoticed or unrewarded because it will pay off, maybe years from now but it will. Appreciate yourself and your hard work internally and it will literally transform your job’s place in your life. While you may be getting yelled at, cussed at, or hurled at, your face remains on normal SpongeBob mode because internally you are growing.
9. Take time off
This is the most underrated therapy option that actually works wonders. Everyone tells you that it’s important to rest and take some vacation time but you instantly think a VACATION is so far from your reach that you don’t give this option much thought. Think small and simple. I was required to take a few days off from my job for unnamed reasons, and believe me when I tell you that I came back renewed. I was only out of work for three days, but when I came back I was filled with energy and felt more efficient in my job. Some time to myself to do what I enjoy without having to worry about schedules was refreshing. You may not realize it but you are most likely running around everyday based on your schedule. This is a major stress trigger that everyone needs and deserves a break from in order to be happy and healthy. So remember that you don’t need to book a hotel on the Maldives for you to have a mini vacation.
10. Just breathe
At the end of the day, it’s just a job that is supposed to help you and not hurt you. Making your own money is a great way to catapult yourself into the real world of payments and income, but it should not come with the extra baggage of stress and crazy experiences. Each job you have will be a learning experience that you should receive with an open mind but steady stance so it never overwhelms you to the point of stress. Relax and just breathe every time you clock in because your job should never turn into a stress source.
