Work Annoyances
I was sitting at my computer, typing away until I noticed an annoying sound coming from the ceiling light; it was shaking fast and causing the metal to rub. I tried to ignore it, but the harder I tried the more irritating the sound got. I finally figured out that I could use a broom to bang on the fluorescent light to make it stop. Now every time it starts up again, I just go grab the broom and bang on the light to make it stop for a couple more days. But there are some days that I feel the need to challenge myself; I let it shake for a while and see whether or not I can ignore it. It’s an awareness game that I like to play with myself. It’s good practice for other annoyances like some of my co-workers.
Other people can get annoying to the point that I want to hit them with a broom as well, but I know the “work rules†won’t allow it. Whether it be co-workers or family, when you are placed next to people that aren’t of your choosing there will be problems that arise.
Problems aren’t problems until they are noticed. When you first start a job everything is usually good and even the annoying people don’t bother you because it’s all fresh and interesting. But when the annoyances are noticed what do you do with them? You can ignore them, let them grind away on your last nerve or the best option of all – incorporate the annoyance into your life.
You can fuse the annoyance into joy if you:
1. Join the Annoyance
I have one co-worker who won’t stop singing – all day long he sings bad songs from the 80’s and 90’s. At first I got pissed and yelled at him to stop. Then I tried making fun of him, hoping to humiliate him into submission. Then I tried ignoring him and that didn’t work. The last thing that I tried was joining him. I sang along with him and when I didn’t know the words I made up my own. We’ve actually become friends since this change and it makes the day so much easier.
2. Treat the Annoyance as a Learning Experience
My commute to work has been one of my best teachers. I now am more compassionate to other drivers and I’ve stopped trying to dart in and out of traffic, the few minutes saved isn’t worth the effort. This switch in attitude from attacker to friendly driver has helped improve my mood at work and at home.
3. Become a Scientist
Scientists don’t see a problem as an annoyance, but an opportunity. I had trouble understanding my boss’s way of thinking and I was lost for ideas. I started taking notes on him and how he reacted in certain situations. It’s an interesting experience studying another person’s habits and thought patterns. I’ve since come to understand him much better and it has made my decision making much more cohesive with what I want as well as what my boss would like.
Annoyances are opportunities to understand more about improving your life. You’ve probably noticed how one co-worker finds the copier annoying and hard to use, but you might look at them like they’re crazy. You might be thinking that it’s just a machine; it’s not perfect.
People aren’t perfect either and sometimes I need to remind myself that I should enjoy who they are instead of wishing they were different.
Work annoyances are a part of your life. It’s up to you to use them to your advantage.
