With the new schedule, I’m spending a lot of down time with my boss, who is a talker, who I’ve always known to be a talker, but omg. I like them, they are decent people, but idk. They have a huge tight-knit family, which is great, good for them—maybe I’m just jealous? I wouldn’t want to switch places with them though. Just hearing about it exhausts me & makes me feel inadequate because I’m in the 99th percentile for introversion.

In my life, I have struggled with cleaning, but sometimes I will invent cleaning tasks to do to during the downtime to try and get a break from the talking. I’ve got a running mental checklist of possible cleaning tasks to do at all times. Technically, I’m not supposed to clean except during designated hours, but I try to stick to tasks I can pick up & put down easily in between helping customers.

I really like this job though & I’m trying to not be judgmental of my boss because I know what it’s like to be on the receiving end of other people’s judgment. Live & let live, right? I just need to take the appropriate self care measures to ensure my own ok-ness. Part of which is to recognize when I’m nearing my limit for listening to bs.

Thank you for giving me a supportive place to unpack this; it helps!