Stress
Jim's Big Ego Lyrics

I'm addicted to stress, that's the way that I get things done,
For me, stress is a motivator. Without it, I tend to be lazy and unproductive.

If I'm not under pressure then I sleep too long,
Without a deadline or something that needs to be done, I tend to oversleep and waste my day.

And I hang around like a bum,
Without anything to do, I feel aimless and useless.

I think I'm goin' nowhere, and that makes me nervous.
Feeling like I'm not making progress in life creates anxiety for me.

Everybody's out to get me but I feel alright,
Paranoia is a common side-effect of stress, but I'm able to handle it.

Everybody's thinkin' 'bout me!
When I'm under a lot of stress, I tend to feel like everyone is watching and judging me.

It's the little things that get you,
Small, insignificant things can have a big impact when you're addicted to working under stress.

It's the little things that get you when you work in addiction.
Tiny details can become obsessive focuses when you're constantly in a high-pressure work environment.

I'm tryin' to cut down on my caffeine consumption,
I realize that my reliance on caffeine as a stimulant is not healthy and am trying to reduce my intake.

So when I get up, I just have one cup of coffee,
I'm trying to limit my caffeine intake by only having one cup in the morning.

And I like to have another cup of coffee with my breakfast,
Having a cup of coffee with breakfast gives me a little extra energy boost.

And on my way to work, I like to get a cup of coffee.
Having another cup of coffee on the way to work helps me prepare for the day ahead.

Like the kind of cup of coffee that you get with the doughnuts,
I enjoy the taste of coffee from a particular place that typically sells coffee along with baked goods.

But I never get the doughnut, I just have the cup of coffee.
I'm trying to avoid eating sweets and am only interested in the coffee.

And when I get to work, I like to have a cup of coffee,
I find it comforting to have another cup of coffee once I get to work to help me prepare for the day ahead.

'cause I like to have coffee when I'm talkin' on the phone,
Having a cup of coffee while I'm on the phone is a habit that I find comforting.

But it usually goes cold, and you need to get another cup of coffee,
I tend to get distracted and forget about my coffee, causing it to become cold, which prompts me to get another cup.

And it's lunch, and I have an espresso.
Having an espresso after lunch gives me a boost of energy to power through the rest of the day.

And when I get back, it's not morning anymore,
By the time I get back from lunch, the day is already half over.

So I have a diet cola, and another diet cola,
Switching to diet cola is a way for me to get a caffeine boost without consuming as much sugar and calories.

By then I'm feelin' fine, and I'm feelin' pretty sharp,
All the caffeine and sugar is giving me the boost I need to feel alert and focused.

And I'm feelin' pretty wired and I'm getting things done.
Despite the negative health effects, all the coffee and soda is helping me be productive.

But right about two I get this little tiny migraine.
After a few hours of caffeine and sugar, I start to get headaches.

It starts with my eyes, and moves to the back of my neck,
The headache starts with eye strain and moves to tension in my neck.

And moves to the bottom of my spine,
The headache starts to cause tension in my back muscles as well.

But it doesn't get there until five or six o'clock,
The headache doesn't fully set in until the end of the workday.

Which is the end of the day,
By the end of the day, I'm feeling the full effects of the caffeine and sugar crash.

So I'm fine,
Despite the headache, I'm still able to function and be productive.

Except when I have to work late,
Working past normal hours is a time when the negative effects of caffeine and sugar become more noticeable.

When I have to work late, which I usually do,
Working late is a common occurrence for me, making it hard to avoid the negative effects of caffeine and sugar.

Hey, how you doin'? Lookin' good!
This is just a casual greeting phrase that could be used in many different contexts.

You been workin' out?, Yeah, I can tell.
This is a playful and flirtatious exchange between two people who know each other.

Alright, see you later!
This is a casual goodbye between two people who know each other.

I love to work, I love to run, I love to play real hard.
I'm someone who enjoys staying active and busy, working hard and playing hard.

I love to steal little things from the grocery store,
Shoplifting is a compulsion that I struggle with when I'm feeling stressed or anxious.

Like a piece of bubble gum, or sometimes I just stick my thumb in a peach, And leave it there.
Some of the things I steal are small and insignificant, like a piece of gum. Other times, I damage produce just to get a small sense of satisfaction.

I love to work, I love to run, I love to waterski, snowboard, jetski, skydive, parasail, hang-glide, roller-blade, mountain-bike, bungee-jump...
I'm someone who is constantly seeking out new and exciting experiences that push my limits.

Well, I mean, I'd love to do these things, If I ever had the time.
Despite my love for adventure, the demands of work and everyday life make it difficult to find time for these activities.

I love to work, I love to work, I love to work out after work,
I'm someone who finds fulfillment in being productive, whether that means working or working out.

I'd love to spend a little time with this woman I'm seeing, Except, uh, we never really get any time to spend together,
I'm in a relationship, but the demands of my work and my addiction to stress make it hard to find quality time together.

So, we call eachother up, and we talk about work.
When we do have time to communicate, we end up talking about work because it's such a big part of both of our lives.

But what I think I'd really love is to get up by myself, On a little tiny island, in the middle of the ocean, With just me, and a book, and a cellular phone, And a personal computer in case something came up.
Despite my love for productivity and staying connected, sometimes I fantasize about escaping to a deserted island with minimal technology and just being by myself.

And I could eat, and I'd drink, and I'd run and I'd sleep,
If I were able to escape, I would focus on taking care of my basic needs - eating, drinking, running, and sleeping.

And I wouldn't do nothin' except swim all day, Except, ya know, my beeper doesn't work under water,
My fantasy involves spending a lot of time swimming, but the worry of being disconnected from work is still present even in this fantasy.

Where there are sharks!, Where there are sharks!!, Where there are sharks!!!
The danger of swimming in shark-infested waters is a legitimate concern, but also adds to the thrill of the fantasy.

And there's this kind of anemone that sticks in your foot, And the poisen goes up to your brain, And you die!
The fear of being injured or dying in this fantasy highlights my tendency to be anxious even in moments of relaxation.

And sand fleas!, Sand fleas!! yuck!!
Even the smallest things, like sand fleas, can be a source of discomfort and anxiety for me.

But, actually I think it'd be really relaxing, Just to be by myself, in the middle of the ocean, And that's what I'd really love to do, more than anything else, Except, I'd probably hate it.
Despite the potential dangers and anxieties of being alone on an island, part of me thinks it would be truly relaxing to totally disconnect from the stresses of everyday life. However, another part of me realizes that I would likely grow tired of it quickly.

But I feel alright.
Despite all of this, I'm still able to maintain a sense of balance and wellbeing.

Everybody, Yeah!
This is just a casual exclamation that could be used in many different contexts.