Culture at my new job is exhausting

[Anonymous]

I am new and still in the training phase and not expected to contribute fully at this point. I receive a lot of long lectures from other members of my team pontificating on why I must do this or must know that because it's important down the line because one day I will have to do a project similar to that- instead of just saying, "You'll need to know this, we use it a lot." Today I was reprimanded for gazing off during a full day meeting yesterday in which I was not participating. Sometimes not focusing my eyes on anything helps me to listen and process what I am hearing. I can understand that they might have asked me if I was following a long, but I can't believe that where I look is being scrutinized. I feel like I am constantly being scrutinized and that the quality of my work is less important. I find this stressful and exhausting. How can I cope?

[Anonymous]

*along

[Anonymous]

You know that saying about life being a stage and we are all merely actors? Just act like you're paying attention and doing important work.