# New job stress, please help me calm down **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [October 4, 2006, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-job-stress-please-help-me-calm-down/375208 "2006-10-04T04:32:08Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![indecisive1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/41988e/32.png) [@indecisive1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/indecisive1)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2006, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-job-stress-please-help-me-calm-down/375208/1 "2006-10-04T04:32:08Z")
After about 20 years of doing the same job, in mostly the same location, for mostly the same people, I’ve taken on a new job. It is completely different from my current job. I am freaking out! I’ve been going to training classes for the last three weeks but today was my first day at my actual job. My brain is going nuts! Please, wise new job people, talk me down. Or at least help me to get some sleep. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2006, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-job-stress-please-help-me-calm-down/375208/2 "2006-10-04T04:43:20Z")
Hey! You stuck it out for 20 years before, so you must be pretty sharp. Trust in your talents and take it slow and easy. Remember, transition takes time, but you have the skills to get the job done. Relax, and trust in yourself. ---
**Author:** ![DanBlather](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f4b2a3/32.png) [@DanBlather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DanBlather)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2006, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-job-stress-please-help-me-calm-down/375208/3 "2006-10-04T04:43:41Z")
If you could do the job perfectly the first few days then you would be bored after a few months. Just relax, take a deep breath, and you’ll be fine. ---
**Author:** ![BrattiAtti](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/c57346/32.png) [@BrattiAtti](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrattiAtti)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2006, 4:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-job-stress-please-help-me-calm-down/375208/4 "2006-10-04T04:45:08Z")
You didn’t get fired on your “first” day. That’s a plus! 😃 And remember what my McD’s manager told us back in the day: Everyone’s a new guy at some point… including those you work with and for. No worries. ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2006, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-job-stress-please-help-me-calm-down/375208/5 "2006-10-04T04:46:56Z")
You have to screw up really bad to go to prison or get executed. Minor shit will just get you fired and/or sued. ---
**Author:** ![indecisive1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/41988e/32.png) [@indecisive1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/indecisive1)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2006, 4:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-job-stress-please-help-me-calm-down/375208/6 "2006-10-04T04:59:01Z")
bWA! jeeze thanks. This is just what I need. I worry, worry, worry! I think I did ok. What’s that little train song? I think I can, I think I can… Arg you youngins’ won’t remember the little train song. ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2006, 5:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-job-stress-please-help-me-calm-down/375208/7 "2006-10-04T05:08:04Z")
In my day, we called it the little chariot song. And we spoke in hieroglyphics. ---
**Author:** ![indecisive1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/41988e/32.png) [@indecisive1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/indecisive1)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2006, 5:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-job-stress-please-help-me-calm-down/375208/8 "2006-10-04T05:15:49Z")
[QUOTE=Oakminster] In my day, we called it the little chariot song. And we spoke in hieroglyphics. [/QUOTE] Hah! You’re earlier post is most appropriate, I actually could get in big trouble for poor job performance from the (shudder) State. Bad performace in my other job would just get a bunch of people all pissed at me. I am scared! I need more jokes! ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2006, 5:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-job-stress-please-help-me-calm-down/375208/9 "2006-10-04T05:27:58Z")
Well, even if you do screw up really bad, and get sent to prison, you’ll still get three hots and a cot for the forseeable future. ---
**Author:** ![indecisive1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/41988e/32.png) [@indecisive1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/indecisive1)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2006, 5:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-job-stress-please-help-me-calm-down/375208/10 "2006-10-04T05:33:54Z")
[QUOTE=Oakminster] Well, even if you do screw up really bad, and get sent to prison, you’ll still get three hots and a cot for the forseeable future. [/QUOTE] I’ve been told that they serve a wicked pepper steak on Wednesdays. ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2006, 5:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-job-stress-please-help-me-calm-down/375208/11 "2006-10-04T05:42:22Z")
Yeah, but you prolly won’t like Thursdays. That’s your day in the barrel… ---
**Author:** ![indecisive1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/41988e/32.png) [@indecisive1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/indecisive1)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2006, 5:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-job-stress-please-help-me-calm-down/375208/12 "2006-10-04T05:48:25Z")
Seriously now, changing jobs is just not something I do. Actually, I still have the other job, I’ve just added the new one. Talk about not having any guts. I think about the new people who have come into the company I’ve worked for for way to long and feel so sorry that they burned two years of their lives trying to make it work. Am I doing that now? Just today (MY FIRST DAY) I have been instructed to do something that I know darn well is not on the up and up. Hey, I know that I can change the not on the up and up part. It’s due to people not knowing what the rules are. I think the rules got changed and nobody told them. Oh Arrrrrg! Now I will be the new person who insists on following the rules! I’m doomed. ---
**Author:** ![Oakminster](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/77aa72/32.png) [@Oakminster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oakminster)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2006, 6:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-job-stress-please-help-me-calm-down/375208/13 "2006-10-04T06:20:24Z")
You’re either fucked, or you’re not. If you are, there’s not much you can do about it. If you aren’t, you don’t have a problem. ---
**Author:** ![Nava](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/da6949/32.png) [@Nava](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nava)\ **Post date:** [October 4, 2006, 6:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-job-stress-please-help-me-calm-down/375208/14 "2006-10-04T06:42:17Z")
Were you born knowing how to speak English? No. Were you born knowing how to walk? No. Heck, you weren’t even born knowing how to breathe and, except for the occasional cold or allergy, you do fine, don’t you? It’ll be fine 😃 ---
**Author:** ![indecisive1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/41988e/32.png) [@indecisive1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/indecisive1)\ **Post date:** [October 5, 2006, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/new-job-stress-please-help-me-calm-down/375208/15 "2006-10-05T00:43:14Z")
Thanks everybody. I had one heck of a bad night. Couldn’t sleep, woke up in the middle of the night with major heartburn. Tossed. Turned. Tossed and turned some more. Man am I tired today. At least I’ll be able to sleep tonight! Self doubt is just such a bummer.