Don’t Let Your Job Dominate Your Conversations

It’s Friday, which means the weekend is here. The holidays are over, and the winter doldrums are in full swing. So what is there left to talk about? Why your job of course. We spend so much of our lives at work that one would think the last thing anyone would want to talk about over a few beers on a Friday evening is their job, but it is. And it’s annoying, especially for those who have to listen.

This article explains, “Basically with people that talk too much about work, there is just no off switch. It isn’t considerate as some people leave the office every night or every weekend and really want to get their mind off work. Yes, leaving work behind is a considerable feat in this day and age but some people find that not talking about work and being reminded of it is the first big step.”

In reality, however, it does make sense that someone who just spent ten hours a day, for the past five days, in a particular place working with the same people would want to talk about their job. We need to vent. It’s healthy. If you don’t take time to have a cold beer and talk honestly with your friends and family about your professional life, then all of that stress will eventually come out in some other way—like screaming at your boss, eating paint chips or wearing the same clothes to work for two weeks.

Be mindful of others when talking about your job and your annoying colleagues. Say what you need to say about work, and then be done with it. You may think your problems at the office are interesting because this is your life, but they aren’t interesting to other people. Give yourself 15 minutes of job-related conversation time, and then reciprocate by listening to others characterize their workplace challenges. Then move on to something more interesting: family, art, politics or travel. It’ll be Monday before you know it.

Photo courtesy of Jellaluna.