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Your boss has a nasty habit of always asking you to do “one more teensy little thing” that seems beyond the call of duty. Is this because you’re the only one she can trust? Or is it simply because you’re a sucker? In general, “Your job is to make the boss look good, so you should try to do what she asks,” says Robin Ryan, author of 24 Hours to Your Next Job, Raise or Promotion (John Wiley and Sons, 1997). But not at the expense of your own dignity. Here’s when a request is reasonable and when you have a right to complain:

Suck it up when: You’re occasionally asked to stay late covering for a co-worker who needs to leave early.
Speak up when: You do the lion’s share of overtime while your married-with-children co-workers bolt at 6:00 pm. Overtime should be distributed evenly, not according to marital or parental status.

Suck it up when: You’re occasionally asked to stay late covering for a co-worker who needs to leave early.
Speak up when: You do the lion’s share of overtime while your married-with-children co-workers bolt at 6:00 pm. Overtime should be distributed evenly, not according to marital or parental status.

Suck it up when: You receive a promotion but a raise is delayed a few months.
Speak up when: You’re still waiting after six months. If the boss won’t show you the money, find one who will.

Suck it up when: The boss asks you to do her personal errands.
Speak up when: You’re expected to do it after work. If your title is “personal assistant,” running errands is okay on the company clock. Being made to do it after hours is unfair.

Suck it up when: The boss occasionally calls you at your home.
Speak up when: She calls every night and on weekends. Except for emergencies, most work should be handled in the office. Your job isn’t your life.

Suck it up when: The boss cashes in on your talents or a great idea.
Speak up when: She always steals your ideas. If it happens once or twice, consider it an honest oversight. But you deserve credit to your contributions.

Sweating It Out
Overworked, overwrought and overwhelmed? Don’t fret. Simply try these stress-managing tips:

Be happy. When you’re happy, you’re more creative, more relaxed and more motivated to achieve success. So start smiling your way to the top.

Let go of battles that can’t be won. Stop trying to prove that you’re right in irrelevant arguments. Spare yourself the frustration by simply moving on. Use your time and energy for something more constructive.

Don’t anticipate tiredness. Whining about up and coming late nights, lack of sleep, or early morning meetings won’t make the work go away. So instead of concentrating on how tired you’ll be tomorrow, start working today. It may just save you some overtime.

Stop fantasizing. Longing to be somewhere else or sporting an “If only, then…” attitude (ex. “If only I had a higher salary, then I’d work harder) does not only pile on unnecessary stress, it’s also self-destructive. Hoping for better things is okay, but work toward them. Don’t use them as an excuse for underachieving.