When You Start Dreading Your Shift

Some shifts sit in the back of your mind the night before.

Or you notice yourself hoping it might get cancelled.

Sometimes that feeling passes, but sometimes it doesn’t.

If you find yourself regularly dreading a shift, it may be worth paying attention to.

That feeling can show up in different ways.

For example:

It doesn’t necessarily mean something is badly wrong. But it can be a sign that something might need adjusting or looking more deeply at.

Try to understand what might be behind it

One place you can choose to start is asking yourself:

What am I actually worried about?

Sometimes it can be a lack of structure.

Sometimes it can be not being sure what you’re supposed to be doing.

Sometimes it can be a feeling of constant pressure.

Sometimes the concern is about safety.

Sometimes it’s about tension or conflict.

Working out what’s sitting underneath the feeling may not solve the situation straight away, but it can make it easier to address

Consider the setup you’re in

If you work within a provider structure, it can sometimes help to raise concerns early.

That might involve:

There’s no guarantee things will change quickly, but conversations can sometimes shift how a situation is handled.

If you work independently, it can feel more complicated. You may need to have a direct conversation about what isn’t working and that can feel uncomfortable.

It’s not easy or simple when working through these things. It can take time and a few conversations to work out.

Think about what might help

Sometimes small changes can make a difference.

For example:

Changes don’t always solve everything, but they can help some workers to feel like the work is a bit more manageable.

Notice what happens over time

After raising concerns or attempting changes, it can help to notice what changes.

For example:

Sometimes things gradually settle once the situation shifts.

A difficult possibility

Occasionally, even after trying to improve things, it can become clear the role just isn’t the right fit.

That does happen in support work.

When an arrangement isn’t working well for anyone involved, it can be useful to think about your own wellbeing.

What this often comes down to

Dreading a shift can happen from time to time.

Sometimes it settles once things change. Sometimes it doesn’t.

The next step might be adjusting how the support works, having a conversation, or in some cases deciding to move on.

These choices can be tough. But paying attention to the feeling is usually a good place to start.