Little space and work...how do you juggle the two?

[HugsR4bears]

Hello👋, first topic post, a little nervous but here goes!

Does anyone have advice on getting out of little space during work hours or just not using it to cope for the wrong reasons?

What spurred this question was that I noticed I fell into it when I had meetings with a particularly rude client who thought he could treat me and my coworkers like trash because he was paying us to do a service. I find myself retreating into little space during those times which would be fine if it weren't for the fact that it's hard to focus on work in that headspace for me. 

Maybe there's a better way to approach this instead of asking how to get out of little space... I'm open to hearing anything because I'm about to start working with the same client again for the next few months and would like to hang on to my sanity in a healthy way 😂

[OuO Alexibaaa]

I don't have any suggestions myself, but I'm super curious to see what others have to say!

I was never good at adulting, lol.

[Capri]

Currently writing this at my work desk as we speak. 🫣 

I keep a stuffie keychain on my bag for comfort when my little self wants to come out. I imagine the stuffie as a tiny guardian angel in a way to remind me to stay strong when I'm in big girl mode. That everything is gonna be ok! 

Small mementos like that go a long way. It doesn't even have to be a stuffie, it could be a pretty crystal you can hold, a bracelet like @wigglybabee mentioned, or maybe a lucky pen. Just a little reminder of something important to you that helps keep you going and get you through the day. 

You got this! 🍀

[HugsR4bears]

Thank you both those are good ideas! I’ll have to look into something small that connects with me in the way your bracelet and keychain do! 
 

@wigglybabee  I love your recommendations too about validation and being aware.. I’m terrible - TERRIBLE at this but am trying! I’m guilty of pushing down my emotions and telling myself I shouldn’t feel a certain way instead of trying to sit in it and process the emotions. Any other tips on anything else you did when you first started trying to practice this more? Or is it more practice makes perfect 😅

@Capri love it! Is your keychain a favorite animal or character? 

[HugsR4bears]

Thank you! ❤️🙂 I’ll keep this in mind, maybe write it down on a sticky note and put it on my monitor 😂

[Capri]

15 hours ago, HugsR4bears said:

 

@Capri love it! Is your keychain a favorite animal or character? 

It's Hello Kitty! 🥰

[DaddyUpNorth]

Even though im a CG due to events in my life i have severe paranoia when out in public. I found when i wear a costume (I love cosplay) i felt different like i wasn't me kinda and was easier to deal with things.

So i relegated something to wear that once on was like a shield for myself. I went the superman direction, i got my inside the house glasses but i have the I'm going out glasses so when they're on thats different then me staying inside. 

But once i come home i swap them out and relax safe in my own home. You can use basically anything and see it as playing pretend, you're still a little but you're playing the part of a hard working business woman and once you get home take the item off and release the restraints on your little side. 

[HugsR4bears]

@Capri pocket hello kitty?! That sounds awesome 

@DaddyUpNorth I love this idea too! Maybe I can get a necklace or something - too bad I can’t wear wonder woman’s tiara, that’s probably a bit too noticeable during client calls 😂

[DaddyUpNorth]

@HugsR4bears sorry just had visions of wonderwoman with her arms out spinning in circles and wondering if you'd mimic that before and after work 😅 

I have a bracelet i wear, its made with heavy quartz stone and weighs around 2lbs. The weight helps me as well but have found i use it alot. Plus it comes in a large variety of colours even pink. 

Even if you make it yourself you can put a meaning behind them and when nervous you can touch them one by one and kinda recite a mantra.

[HugsR4bears]

@DaddyUpNorthHahah totally, it’d be like the transformation to really get into character 😂

and I’ve never tried a weighted bracelet, it makes sense that might help though similar to a weighted blanket? I actually don’t like pink lol!! (I know, gasp! 😱) but your idea ties in nicely with wigglybabee’s reminder to validate and be aware ❤️

[Liamo]

Public speaking is the number one fear in the world. Here is an advice we give to newbies who have to do a public speech and is afraid to. Imagine all the people you are talking to naked. Apparently it does the job. So imagine that bully naked. I bet you will start smiling and he will nto understand why. it will probably cause him to pounder, and maybe be less of a bully.

[Capri]

7 minutes ago, Liamo said:

Public speaking is the number one fear in the world. Here is an advice we give to newbies who have to do a public speech and is afraid to. Imagine all the people you are talking to naked. Apparently it does the job. So imagine that bully naked. I bet you will start smiling and he will nto understand why. it will probably cause him to pounder, and maybe be less of a bully.

Imagining people naked just makes me more intimidated 😂 "oh no he's hot!"

 

[HugsR4bears]

@Liamo this made me bust out laughing as I imagined it, I will most definitely be doing this from here on out 🤣🤣

[Sweetcam]

Oh thats good advice I see here! I work as a cashier, and people so often yell at me to vent their frustration, and I can just feel myself shrinking on my chair. Most of the time I can barely talk then, It kinda feels like that if I open my mouth my little will get out lol. So I just sulk on my chair for hours. 

I like the plushie keychain tip, But they are so strict at work, I wonder if I could bring that. 

 

7 hours ago, Liamo said:

Public speaking is the number one fear in the world. Here is an advice we give to newbies who have to do a public speech and is afraid to. Imagine all the people you are talking to naked. Apparently it does the job. So imagine that bully naked. I bet you will start smiling and he will nto understand why. it will probably cause him to pounder, and maybe be less of a bully.

I would spend my day with closed eyes >.<

[DaddyUpNorth]

@Sweetcam by anychance a ultra plush scrunchy work? Have it around your wrist so like a stuffy is holding your arm with you, plus you can tough and fidget with it when needed.

Then its more of a fashion thing then a separate object.

[Sweetcam]

Damn there is some smart people in the world. I will try to find one! And now that I think about it, the other day I saw that my shop was selling paw patrol watches... That would work too. And its a digital one !

[HugsR4bears]

8 hours ago, Sweetcam said:

Oh thats good advice I see here! I work as a cashier, and people so often yell at me to vent their frustration, and I can just feel myself shrinking on my chair. Most of the time I can barely talk then, It kinda feels like that if I open my mouth my little will get out lol.

This has happened a few times to me too with this particular client, I feel my heart rate pick up so fast it gets hard to breathe. I'm sorry to hear people are rude to you, maybe when you experience that again, try to remind yourself that it's not personal, they're likely going through their own troubles/issues that are coming out in unhealthy ways...like yelling at you 😕 

if the paw patrol watch doesn't work out, there are also lots of fluffy scrunchie options I found per DaddyUpNorth's suggestion on Etsy! 

[Aikko]

For me, I definitely can FEEL little at work, but I don’t have to BE little. It can be extremely hard at times especially because I often find i slip into Littlespace when happy but only really regress (to like nonverbal status little) if I’m extremely stressed or overwhelmed. Thankfully the few times I have felt like that at work, I was able to remind myself that my little and regressed head spaces are my safe spaces. Work, while yes it is technically safe, is not MY  safe space, so I try to remind myself of that. That if I can hold out a few more hours, I can be little all night when I am done. One thing that I do, however, is keep gel pens and a few coloring sheets in my backpack. I have adorable food and kawaii themed office supplies like sticky notes, pens, thumb tacks, tape. Etc. that still bring me happiness and remind me it’s okay, I’m not hiding my little side at work, but protecting that side of me until it’s safe to be totally in that headspace because not everyone would treat that side of me with kindness at work like my Daddy does.  I also bring one of my stuffies with me in my backpack with his head sticking out. People think it’s just a cute decoration, but it’s not. It’s my safety blanket of sorts. It has helped me, so hopefully you find some comfort from the other suggestions above! 😻

[HugsR4bears]

@Aikko thank you for sharing! I've started to do this somewhat as well, I got fun magnets and a monthly habit tracker with cute stickers stuck onto the side of my filing cabinet 🤩

[baby belle]

having something soft, or a fidget toy around helps to re-center my mind if unable to stay in littlespace at work but needing to be gentle leading myself out of it.  do you have the freedom to decorate your work space with cute things?  i have a couple small plushies on my desk, and a soft fuzzy blanket on my chair that keeps it so cozy, some cute pens,  11/10 recommended!  also something to fidget with my hands to keep me grounded when dealing with difficult clients.

 

forcing yourself out of littlespace too fast can also cause a negative headspace to brew, so be careful, keep your chin up!  the ideas above are great so far, can't wait to see what others add ^.^

[HugsR4bears]

thanks @baby belle!  I have room to decorate however I want so I've been on the lookout for small touches to make the space more inviting 😊

[Kali]

Hi! 👋🙂

I work remotely, so my coping things may not work in your job situation. Though they could be helpful depending on how casual your workplace is. My last on sight job didn't bat an eye at the collection of stuffies on my desk. 🤭

I tend to gravitate towards an article of clothing when I know there will be challenges in my day. My favorites right now are my Hello Kitty t-shirt and My Lil Pony sweatshirt.

I'd go crazy and be sad if my work area was strictly business! Desk space is limited atm, so I have a Hello Kitty cut out taped to my laptop. When I start getting stressed, I can look at her and smile. That moment gives me the chance to settle and refocus. 

When things are really crazy and all I wanna do is cry or throw a tantrum, I reach out to a friend who knows about my middle side... and let it all out. Like yesterday! Frustration level 1000000! I texted asking for hugz and help to make the bad ladies stop! He was awesome about it. I gots my hugs and he helped turn the frustration into giggles. 😊

I do need to be careful with my middle peaking out when talking with my boss. He's super cool, patient and isn't afraid to give praise which is a trigger for me. Luckily, the whole team is pretty casual and I can let a lil emoji silliness out in Teams. 🤭

Edited October 10, 2024 by Kali

[HugsR4bears]

Thanks for the advice @Kali! I also didn’t know praise was a trigger for me till maybe a few weeks ago...which now seems super obvious but for some reason I just never put two and two together 😅

[AdorableNancyDrew]

On 10/3/2024 at 8:28 PM, HugsR4bears said:

Hello👋, first topic post, a little nervous but here goes!

Does anyone have advice on getting out of little space during work hours or just not using it to cope for the wrong reasons?

What spurred this question was that I noticed I fell into it when I had meetings with a particularly rude client who thought he could treat me and my coworkers like trash because he was paying us to do a service. I find myself retreating into little space during those times which would be fine if it weren't for the fact that it's hard to focus on work in that headspace for me. 

Maybe there's a better way to approach this instead of asking how to get out of little space... I'm open to hearing anything because I'm about to start working with the same client again for the next few months and would like to hang on to my sanity in a healthy way 😂

I just wanted to say that I really appreciated this topic. 🫣 I have small toys in my office…but I don’t talk to people face to face a lot.