Cybersecurity job fatigue: How do you handle the stress?

[Daniel-Nash1]

After working for many years in the security arena with long hours, high stresses and frustration I have found the need to use techniques to keep the inner calm.  This resonated with myself as I read the article: Cybersecurity job fatigue affects many security professionals   In the past, this topic would have been taboo and hidden as a personal topic.  Today, I am finding it a much more open and necessary topic.  This also comes up from my lodge where a member committed suicide a little over a year ago.  I brought in a group from Minneapolis to discuss issues with Depression in Men and was surprised at how well received it was.  More surprising to me was how many lodge brothers were dealing with this themselves or with family members.

The field of security has many stressors that, because we generally work long hours, go unaddressed. Unaddressed stressors can lead to burn-out, depression, feelings of being overwhelmed or worse.

For myself, when stress encroaches on my I like to walk, do some mediation and drink some nice loose leaf teas. This helps calm my mind and release the tension. Each day I start out with a positive meditation and use my Emwave2 Heartmath device to sync myself for the day.  I have other techniques and work directly with Paul Scheele and his inner circle.

What do you do to recognize and work with the stress? 

What forums or supports can we share or offer in support of our membership?  

Other suggestions?

[rslade]

> Daniel-Nash1 (Newcomer II) posted a new topic in Member Support on 10-09-2018

>    What do
> you do to recognize and work with the stress?

I tend to take refuge in absurdity.

[jjx]

Hi Daniel,

I'm speaking on behalf of myself, not the board or (ISC)2 with these comments.

This is a very valid and concerning trend in the industry. I made a plug for improving our behavior earlier this week at (ISC)2 Town Hall session during Security Congress. There are two concerning outcomes of the stress and depressive nature of our industry:

1) Personal Welfare: We put ourselves at risk with high stress, unreasonable expectations, burnout, and depression.

2) Industry Welfare: We put the industry pipeline at risk by creating a negative, unattractive persona of the industry as a whole; in a world of a workforce gap estimated around $2M worldwide, and in an industry with historical failures in attracting diverse professionals, I think this is a huge concern.

I'm happy to see our industry starting to tackle this head-on. It's becoming less taboo and we've had great sessions and panels at everything from bSides to RSAC (the largest security conference in the world).

Like you, I like exercising, meditation, and any quiet time. I do teach some other specific tactics during the Mindfulness-based Leaderships workshops I've done.

It's great to keep the conversation going - and I look forward to everyone sharing what works for them!

-jj

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[jjx]

Hey @Daniel-Nash1,

This just popped up in my feed. (Hint, when I viewed on my mobile I saw the whole story but on laptop it's gated.)

WSJ: "How to Disconnect From ‘Always On’ Work Culture"

In our ‘Always On’ world, colleagues text and email us at all hours, expecting a quick response. But with these strategies, you can be happily out of reach—and not out of a job
By Matthew Kitchen, Oct. 5, 2018

https://www.wsj.com/articles/how-to-disconnect-from-always-on-work-culture-1538740171?mod=e2fb

I'm a big fan of disconnecting but there is a weird sense of anxiety because in my day-job, we run a small company but our customers are large and some of them are in 'always-on' industries - healthcare, financial, government including E-911, and federal.

Question: Who feels like they can actually disconnect after standard 'office hours'?

-jj

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[rslade]

> jjx (Newcomer I) posted a new reply in Member Support on 10-10-2018 07:24 PM in

>   Question: Who
> feels like they can actually disconnect after standard 'office hours'?

Generally a) I am unreachable (electronically) on Sunday, and b) my cell phone's
primary uses are as a clock and to call Gloria if I'm going to be late.

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