[NG77]

Hello Everyone. I'm 27 years old, and am currently working in my second entry-level job since graduating. I've recently come to realize that I keep making a lot of stupid little mistakes at work that no one else seems to make, and I don't even know why.

When people point them out to me and ask me about them, I can't even explain where my head was at, or why I did it. It's like I was in a fog or something. These are usually small things, like today I was adding something to a spreadsheet that we all access on our server, and somehow when I was editing it, I shifted a row so it messed up the alignment of the entire document and messed it up. Yet I didn't notice this before saving it. Stuff like that (and sometimes more serious too). I used to think that everyone made little mistakes like that, and maybe I was nervous or just having an unfocused day, but it seems to happen to me way more than anyone else, and I feel like everyone thinks I'm stupid, and they aren't happy with me at my job.

I've often thought that I likely have social anxiety, so perhaps that could be part of it? Or I've pondered if I have ADHD or some sort of learning disability. I know I am also in the completely wrong work environment for myself right now (I'm an introvert in an office full of extroverts and work in marketing which I now realize is a horrible fit for me), but I have to stay here temporarily and don't think that's the only issue, as I've been making these dumb mistakes in every job I've had it seems like.

I'm starting to feel like I am just a slow or stupid person, yet in some ways I am very smart. I did very well in university, for instance, and was thought of as intelligent by my classmates. And sometimes when I discuss theories and concepts with others, they remark that I have very interesting ideas. I don't know what's wrong with me at work, but I just seem to mess up everything. It is causing me anxiety, and I am constantly stressed, waiting for someone to point out another mistake I made.

Does anyone know what could be causing this, and what I should do? Help would be appreciated. Thanks!

[Frankbtl]

Hi NG77, welcome to PC!!!
And you know, I'd say that you pretty much answered it here at the end:
"............but I just seem to mess up everything. It is causing me anxiety, and I am constantly stressed, waiting for someone to point out another mistake I made"
Although I think everything is feeding on everything else........you're stressed not only about the mistakes but because of the environment too, and that stress is causing you to make more mistakes leading to more stress.
Naturally when you're feeling stressed you can make more mistakes if you're not focused but stress can be so draining too effecting your focus even more, can't it??!!
So if it's any consolation I don't believe you're a slow or stupid person either, not in the least.
And nowback to the possible social anxiety and the stress........is there anything you could think of that might lessen it a bit?? I don't know............maybe try a little less to be "sociable", maybe try to tune out things around you a bit maybe with the use of headphones, maybe use some quick relaxation techniques, maybe use some breathing or grounding techniques, maybe have a mantra to use if things are feeling stressful or even bits of a song to sing in your head, maybe use a stress ball or something like that occasionally, maybe a personal/meaningful photo in your wallet/bag to look at to bring those stress levels down a bit.........??
And for the mistakes.........if there are any common/more usual mistakes you're making perhaps have a checklist on your desk to check off that you're attending to the bits you might miss, maybe build into your routine time to double check things, maybe shift the order or the way in which you're doing things if possible e.g. do some things you're likely to miss first so you have time to look back and change them if needed..........??
Just some thoughts...........
But if some of your stress/mistakes are about/because of the way you think others might see you........then do you think you could make them/that a little less important in your mind??? Maybe???
The main focus could perhaps be more on what you're doing than on other people, that ultimately matters more than them/their opinions, right?? And you know you're intelligent, right??!!
And again.......welcome to PC, good to have you with us!!
Alison

[ManOfConstantSorrow]

There are lots of potential causes here:

You have excessive expectations of yourself - has your manager said anything?
You are rather anxious and this affects your concentration
Fiddly intricate work such as spreadsheets is not really your thing? You do say you are a bit of an ideas person.
You might need some more training - perhaps making a working copy of a spreadsheet to work on before updating the real thing?
Perhaps others need spreadsheet training - should not crucial rows and columns be locked?

Just a few thoughts - I doubt there is anything much wrong with you, but you might wish to explore why you feel uncomfortable.

[NG77]

Hi Guys,

Thanks for the replies and the warm welcome I think you guys made a lot of good points.

you're stressed not only about the mistakes but because of the environment too, and that stress is causing you to make more mistakes leading to more stress.

This is definitely true. This is the first job where I've had to work so closely with others. Usually, in my other jobs, people would come ask me for things or I've have to interact with people, but then i could go back to my own space, even if it was just a cubicle. But this office is completely open concept, and I am constantly forced to interact with my department. Plus we all have to look over each other's work all the time, so I am constantly getting criticism about my work, that can be heard by everyone else in that space. It stresses me out, as I'm introverted and would much prefer to work independently. This probably does cause me to make more mistakes.

is there anything you could think of that might lessen it a bit?? I don't know............maybe try a little less to be "sociable", maybe try to tune out things around you a bit maybe with the use of headphones..

I already try to do this, but it just makes me feel awkward. People already comment about how I'm so quiet compared to everyone else, and they probably think I'm kind of a jerk because I don't try to interact with them that much more than I have to. I don't really care what people think about me, but I also don't want to come off as a "difficult person in the workplace" either. Again, this makes me think I am in the wrong career and company altogether because I don't fit in with these people at all. but I will try to think of more ways I can relax.

You have excessive expectations of yourself - has your manager said anything?

When I had my performance review from my manager, it was surprisingly positive - more so than I was expecting. But this also could be because we are short-staffed at the moment and he doesn't want to fire me or have me quit.

Fiddly intricate work such as spreadsheets is not really your thing? You do say you are a bit of an ideas person.

you are correct. I am really bad with small details. And this job has quite a bit of that, but it seems like most jobs do? This does cause me anxiety, and I've been trying to consider different career paths like HR/Training & Development or Career counseling that focus more on helping people learn ideas etc., than entering information into a spreadsheet or trying to sell something.

Thanks for your ideas! i appreciate the advice