Going through old boxes of stuff at my parents’ house, I found this progress report from a religion class I attended in first grade, when I was about 6 years old. Classic!!!
All the Battles I Fought When I Worked in a Cubicle
February 23, 2014 by 12 Comments
Bright lights. Constant chatter. Disruptions. Deadlines. Pressure. An uncomfortable chair. A desk that is too high. Awkward social situations. Odors. Lack of privacy, quiet, and control.
That’s office life.
As an HSP, I’m highly tuned in to my environment and lots of little things become big things since I can’t stop obsessing over them. Here’s a list of some of the issues that made me swear off working in an office.
My Battle With Uncomfortable Chairs
Enjoy Parties for the First Time Ever: Take Two Cars!
January 14, 2014 by 4 Comments
I like parties, but I like them under my terms! I am an introvert, and after a certain amount of time around people, I run out of energy and get cranky and want to go home and be alone. Yadda yadda yadda. You know all this stuff already.
But, my husband is an extrovert and loves being around people. Rut-roh. [Read more…]
Us HSPs, we appreciate the small things.
December 24, 2013 by 4 Comments
It’s Christmas Eve, and I’m working in a cafe in Chiang Mai, Thailand.
I order a hot cocoa, and after a few minutes, the barista-who is working alone-brings it to my table, very carefully sets it down, and rotates it so the heart shape is facing just the right direction. There it is to the right. [Read more…]
My Goal is to Take Down Bright Lights in the Workplace
October 31, 2013 by 7 Comments
In all three of my previous office jobs, I had to be moved to a different spot in the office because I was bothered by the bright, fluorescent office lights.
(In all three instances, this put me in a location in the building far away from the rest of my department. Sometimes this was a good thing.)
Prior to being moved, there were times I wore a hat while sitting in my cubicle. Or sunglasses. And good lord, one time I even taped a piece of paper to the top of my head so it would stick out in front of me (like the bill of a hat) and block the light. (That only lasted about 5 minutes. Too embarrassing, even for me.) [Read more…]
Highly Sensitive Person Travel Tips
October 22, 2013 by 2 Comments
People who know me well are sometimes surprised that I travel as much as I do. My husband and I traveled/lived around the world for all of 2013, going to places like Mexico, Cuba, France, Hungary, Poland, Bosnia, Bali, Australia, Thailand, Cambodia, Hong Kong, and Japan on a budget. Prior to this trip, we’ve spent time in the Middle East and South America.
Since little things tend to bother me more than the average person, you’d think independent travel would be more difficult than it is for non-sensitives….and it probably is.
The Worst Places on Earth for HSPs
October 13, 2013 by 25 Comments
Overstimulation. Noise, chaos, bright lights, smells, crowds. These are the highly sensitive person’s kryptonite. There are some places that have overstimulation in spades, and it’s best you avoid them if you don’t want to ruin your day. Here’s my list of the WORST possible places I can imagine as an HSP.
Casinos
Sensitive to Caffeine: It’s my Kryptonite
September 17, 2013 by 8 Comments
As I type this, I am sitting in a cafe, sipping a decaf mocha, as the hipster baristas roll their eyes at my lameness.
I am ridiculously sensitive to caffeine. Having one cup of coffee can make me feel terrible for hours and hours.
But, like sunburns, I seem to forget this, repeatedly. And I keep doing it over and over. [Read more…]
