7x annoying things colleagues do
Everyone has had a colleague (or several) with incredibly annoying traits that can make you dread going to the office on bad days. It's perfectly normal; everyone has their quirks. The only downside is that your colleagues aren't your BFFs, so you can't always say something about it, and besides, you spend about eight hours a day and five days a week with them. Those irritations can really build up. To let you know you're not alone: here are seven annoying things colleagues do.
1. Sniffling
This was already the number 1 irritation in high school. And somehow, it suddenly became an epidemic during exam weeks: the runny nose. That constant sniffling, trying to clear the nose a bit without making too much noise, just created a constant irritating cycle of sound. And unfortunately, people in the office also suffer from runny noses. Maybe offer a tissue and subtly ask if they could blow their nose.
2. Eating strongly scented foods
How wonderful that you enjoy that salami sandwich you brought from home so much. The 40-minute drive here in that car without air conditioning has made the smell extra aromatic; all your colleagues are incredibly grateful that you honor us with the opening of the packaging of your homemade snack. Especially the pregnant colleague who just mentioned how much trouble she has with the accompanying nausea.
3. Drumming on the table
I don't think I need to explain much about this. The constant, almost rhythmic tune that is transmitted from your colleague's head through the table to your eardrums. It creates a constant noise, feels restless and stressful. You might want to ask if that person wants to take drum lessons to express the extreme urge to drum.
4. Complaining. A lot.
Maybe I'm overly positive. I don't know, but it makes my life a lot easier to balance out a few minutes of whining by mentioning the positive sides of an issue. Complaining is just part of it; it's a kind of outlet for built-up tension or disappointment, but a little awareness of other problems in the world that are definitely bigger than the fact that you can't find nice dishes for your new home is quite nice. Putting things into perspective is apparently an art.
5. Constantly approaching you for a friendly chat on days when you're actually too busy
Difficult situation: you have a very nice colleague with whom you always enjoy chatting by the coffee machine. Just catching up; always nice as a distraction in between. But on days when you're so busy that you don't even have time to get coffee for yourself, it's super annoying that there's a constant stream of unnecessary information being chattered in your ear.
6. Looking over your shoulder or getting too close for ‘consultation’
I don't know how it is for you, but for me, my computer feels private. After all, there are emails in there directed specifically at me, I often have WhatsApp open, or I'm typing an email that I want to puzzle over. Either way: it just doesn't feel nice when someone looks over your shoulder at what you're doing on your computer. If you want to ask something: fine, stand in front of me. I can't look at you anyway if you're behind me, and it feels extra like I'm being monitored by some kind of teacher. Not nice; we're not in school anymore.
7. Borrowing pens and then chewing on them
For anyone with even a bit of germophobia, this is a very recognizable situation. But in general, it's just super weird to lend someone a pen, only to see it disappear into their mouth. Even if you're the one borrowing the pen: you don't know if I've already been chewing on that pen today! Lucky you, I haven't. But I find it extra gross to see others doing this happily with things that don't belong to them. Or could it be a form of marking territory?
