because of summer camp pick-up times, I take many hours of leave every week. Most days are shorter than 8.5, which makes things easier. I also just started an intellectually-challenging project of my own making (but is still filling a necessary gap created by loss of coworkers) that allows me to be holed up in my office and mentally engaged for many hours of the day.

also, my attitude is if they want to eff over their constituents/voters, then I'm not worried about it. I watch the politicals making choices that we inform them will hurt their most likely supporters, and they just keep doing it. Baffling, but I guess they will never lose that deep red block and maybe they know it.

Anonymous wrote:Playing a game of musical chairs by going on TDY assignments and mostly coasting during those assignments until I find somewhere suitable in or outside the government.

Working eight hours and leaving every day on time, regardless of fires.

Barely checking my phone in the evenings and on weekends.

Using my sick leave strategically for frequent mental health days in case I resign, so I don't leave any on the table

Would you be open to sharing what you mean by "frequent" if you don't mind? I took two sick days last pay period so don't feel comfortable taking any more this pay period (even though I have a ridiculous number of hours of sick leave banked and my manager has not inquired about previous sick leave requests). I just want to make sure I'm in line with other folks.

Playing a game of musical chairs by going on TDY assignments and mostly coasting during those assignments until I find somewhere suitable in or outside the government.

Working eight hours and leaving every day on time, regardless of fires.

Barely checking my phone in the evenings and on weekends.

Using my sick leave strategically for frequent mental health days in case I resign, so I don't leave any on the table

Anonymous wrote:Lots of leave. Getting all my medical stuff done, taking leave to tackle home projects, etc.
Planned a vacation to look forward to.
Chat with co-workers often - the water cooler connections are what RTO is for, right?
Completely offline when my day ends.
Reaching out to friends so I have connections and joy outside of work: I have had a lot of lunches / girls nights / book clubs etc in the last 6 months.

Also, a family we know is dealing with serious illness and I'm grateful they set up meal brigade / chore calendar: it's really nice to have the chance to accomplish something simple and tangible for someone. There are so many big unsolvables I can't do anything about; being able to complete a task that helps someone is comforting.

I'm sorry the family you know is going through this, but I can see how helping would be a good coping mechanism.

Lots of leave. Getting all my medical stuff done, taking leave to tackle home projects, etc.
Planned a vacation to look forward to.
Chat with co-workers often - the water cooler connections are what RTO is for, right?
Completely offline when my day ends.
Reaching out to friends so I have connections and joy outside of work: I have had a lot of lunches / girls nights / book clubs etc in the last 6 months.

Also, a family we know is dealing with serious illness and I'm grateful they set up meal brigade / chore calendar: it's really nice to have the chance to accomplish something simple and tangible for someone. There are so many big unsolvables I can't do anything about; being able to complete a task that helps someone is comforting.

Exercise on the weekends, taking mental health days when I need them, trying to eat a healthy diet, and Xanax.

Exercise and taking my PTO when needed.

Lexapro. May have to go back on.

Beyond that, really learning to set boundaries and support coworkers.

My office is starting to really devolve into chaos and it isn’t great.

Watching my stock portfolio rocket up

Anonymous wrote:Sigh. Really struggling here.

Counseling sessions every other week, but I was so tired last scheduled session, I slept through it.

Focusing on just maintaining in terms of therapy and exercise.

Doing my best to plan meals on weekends.

Being open to just picking up dinners on evenings when I haven't planned dinner.

Saying no to social events that I know will drain me mentally or physically.

And avoiding people that drain me generally. . .

And yes, vacation planning. Strategic use of annual and sick leave.

For work, doing my best but making sure I don't further burn myself out.

Sigh. Really struggling here.

Counseling sessions every other week, but I was so tired last scheduled session, I slept through it.

Focusing on just maintaining in terms of therapy and exercise.

Doing my best to plan meals on weekends.

Being open to just picking up dinners on evenings when I haven't planned dinner.

Saying no to social events that I know will drain me mentally or physically.

Vacation planning. Don't know how I'm going to get through the August - November or January - May stretches with only federal holidays off.

Since I wasn’t sleeping well anyway I started exercising before work

Curious what other Feds are doing to manage stress these days.