Welcome to the glorious world of dealing with stress—The call center edition.
Look, let’s cut to the chase—any job can be stressful, but working in a call center? That’s a whole new level of “who signed me up for this?” You see, working in tech support is like living in an eternal ping-pong match where you’re both the ball and the paddles. And, oh, don’t forget the crowd (management and pissy customers) shouting at you between serves.
Throw in the joy of night shifts, desk-hopping, and combine that with all the “fun” life stressors we lug around from home, and you’ve got yourself a recipe for feeling like a human pressure cooker. And of course, if it isn’t the work environment making you reconsider your life choices, it’s that stellar customer who insists that you are personally responsible for their issues.
And just to add icing to this toxic cake, excessive stress can also tank your job performance and suck out any remnants of happiness that you have.
Now, stress isn’t all doom and gloom. In fact, a little jolt of anxiety is like caffeine for your survival instincts; it nudges us to change, grow, and avoid doing things that might lead us to an accidental demise. But once you start hitting ‘stress overload,’ it’s like tipping over a giant bucket of toxic waste onto your mental health, work productivity, and general will to live.
And no, “sucking it up” and “powering through” isn’t always the noble answer your inner monologue makes it out to be.
If you’re a modern-day human (hi, me too), you’re familiar with the fight-or-flight response our ancestors relied on to survive real dangers—think sabertooth tigers, not Karens demanding to speak to the manager. And while we rarely have to fist-fight predators nowadays (though punching some customers in the face would be so cathartic!), our bodies still pump us full of adrenaline whenever we feel stressed or threatened. High blood pressure, clenched muscles, a twitchy eye—it’s like our own self-destruct mode. Cute, right?
So, what are our options for keeping stress under control? Because I don’t know about you, but the whole “let’s stay stressed until retirement” plan isn’t exactly appealing. Luckily, there are ways to trick your body into thinking everything’s fine when you’d rather hurl your phone across the room.
Here’s what I’ve found helpful in defusing the ticking time bomb that is modern-day stress.
Identify the Source of Stress (ie. the Triggers)
Start by figuring out what actually sets you off at work. Is it the entitled customer who demands three months of free service because they missed half a day? (Looking at you, Allan!) Or maybe it’s sitting in a corner where you can practically hear your own soul screaming.
Whatever it is, get specific about what kicks your stress into high gear. You might not be able to avoid these triggers, but knowing what sets you off means you can tackle it head-on.
Flip the Script with Relaxation Responses
Okay, so you’re sitting there, on the verge of going full Hulk Smash on your stress. Instead of cracking, replace your stress response with a relaxation response. Deep breathing, flexing and relaxing your muscles, and telling your brain to chill out by taking a mental timeout. This isn’t just “take a deep breath” stuff—learn how to fully relax, and you’ll thank yourself when you’re not grinding your teeth into powder by noon.
I find this tip to be crucial, because you can’t just snap your fingers and suddenly channel your inner Zen master. You might not feel it as soon as you start, but forcing yourself to take a mental break just to breathe will force your physical body to slow things down. It’s kind of like breathing into a paper bag, without actually doing so. Just be prepared for your coworkers to ask why you’re breathing like Darth Vader.
Own Your Emotions and Feelings (Yes, Even Anger!)
Look, pretending everything’s peachy only works in sitcoms. In a stressful moment, allow yourself a second to really feel what’s happening. Take a moment to feel your anger, frustration, or despair.
I promise, stuffing your emotions down like last week’s leftovers isn’t the way. Acknowledging these feelings is half the battle, and it lets you deal with them instead of letting them lurk around, waiting to pounce next time something goes wrong.
Sleep, Glorious Sleep
For those who think running on three hours of sleep is something to be proud of: please, just don’t. Sacrificing sleep is like paying rent with Monopoly money—unsustainable and a little delusional.
Whether or not you work in a call center, get some proper rest, and prioritize getting as much as you need. You’ll handle stress a thousand times better when you’re not living in a fog of sleep deprivation. And if counting sheep doesn’t work, try counting rude customers—it might knock you out faster than you think.
Avoid Bad Coping Mechanisms
No one’s judging your Friday night glass of wine (or two), but if your occasional drink starts clocking in more hours than you do, it’s time for a chat with yourself. And that goes for other quick fixes too—whether it’s snacking, smoking, or leaning too hard on that “medicinal” late-night ice cream. When things start feeling out of hand, reach out to a doctor or someone who can help get you back on track.
Vent to Someone Who Won’t Judge You
I’m all for journaling, but sometimes a phone call to someone who gets it is the real MVP. Talk things over with a trusted friend or a therapist if you need to. Venting out loud, laughing at the madness, or just having someone listen can work wonders.
Whether it’s your best friend, partner, or the poor sap who shares your shift, find someone to offload to. And if they know the full scope of your stressors? Even better—they won’t be surprised when you tell them about Steven who doesn’t understand why his mobile data doesn’t work on a plane.
Take Care of Your Body
Stress eats at us from the inside, and a little bit of self-care goes a long way in fighting it. Eat decent food, do some stretching, and if you’ve got a hobby (one that doesn’t involve yelling at people online), go all in.
These are simple, unsexy fixes, but they’re the kind that actually last. Avoid the mood-altering junk, skip the heavy stuff, and take care of yourself like a person who actually wants to feel halfway decent.
Know When to Walk Away
This one’s for all those little stressors that get under your skin. Traffic jams, endless emails, customer complaints—sometimes, the best answer is a little space. Take a break, get up from your desk, do a lap, or look at cat memes. Sometimes, “turn it off and on again” isn’t just a tech fix—it’s the trick to staying sane.
The Last Word on Stress
The world may have evolved past saber-tooth tigers, but stressful situations? Life will never stop throwing stressful shit at you like some twisted carnival game, especially in the call center world. The difference now is you’ve got tools to handle them. The trick isn’t eliminating stress altogether, but managing it so you don’t implode.
Find what works for you—whether it’s deep breathing, journaling, or turning your angst into dark humor.
With all of that stuff said, next time you feel the pressure building, take a moment to remember what I said; lean into these little tricks, and remember: your stress doesn’t own you—you can be in control as long as you know how to deal with it.
Stay snarky,
~Rita 🖤