Hi everyone,
I just created my second account since i don't want to be identified with my previously used username, this is my first post. 🙂
I am 22 and have been working 40hrs/week for almost 3 years now. I have had a bad experience with my first work place that really messed me up. I left that place after half a year and I'd say I have recovered from that mentally. Throughout this whole time until now I have always struggled with thinking about work unwillingly. I generally do not enjoy working as a concept, I work so that I can afford living. I'd much rather reduce work hours and have more time to enjoy other things, like having more time to cook or tending a garden. This being said, I do not want to think about work outside of work hours. Unfortunately, I cannot seem to stop this from happening. It feels like my brain needs more time to process the day but it's really draining. Whenever I catch myself thinking of work, I need to distract my thoughts because I want my peace from this “work headspace”. It's even happening on my days off and especially at night. Most nights I need a stream or video playing in the background, so I can focus on listening to that instead of letting my thoughts flow. There doesn't seem to be a trigger for that, it can happen when I'm playing video games or when I'm cooking.
I am starting to suspect that working from home 2 days a week might contribute to my problem, although I have had this issue before I was introduced to home office. I do not have a dedicated office room but I enjoy the quiet work space rather than being in the open plan office. My partner and I both rant about work to blow off steam and it helps getting specific situations or problems around a project out of my mind.
Has anyone been in a similar situation and knows how to handle this? Has meditation helped you?