Posted by Hating your job. Probably one of the most discouraging, incapacitating feelings to endure on a daily basis. It weighs heavy on our morale, makes it difficult to fall asleep at night, get out of bed in the morning, and even more challenging not to pick up the home phone and call in sick. Forget even trying to stay motivated during your workday.
I, like many people, can attest to having once hated my job. Ask almost anyone who has worked in the service industry and they’ll give you the exact details as to why. Working long, strenuous hours, enduring tough working conditions, constant abuse from employers and customers; though I was good at what I did, it brought me very little satisfaction. It may have paid my way through school, but financial stability nearly cost me my sanity.
Even after I completed my degree, I found myself facing another troubling dilemma. I wasn’t interested in the field I had invested four years studying causing me a great deal of panic and stress. I feared I would never find a profession I was passionate about. So I did what many people in my position do. I continued to work the job I hated. (Misery becomes comfortable once you’re used to it.)
I continued to do this until one day, I cracked. And, once I cracked, I quit. Yes, I am a bit impulsive but no I’m not suggesting that everyone who claims to hate their job quit (yet). But, in my case I knew that unless I scared myself into finding something else, something I was good at and proud to be good at, I was going to continue compromising my potential for happiness. I wanted a job that was meaningful to me and I was going to do all the endless soul searching necessary to find it.
Now that you have patiently endured the first half of my story, I will try and get straight to the point with some insights and tips I learned along the way about how to go from hating your job to loving it, whether you decide to quit and find new opportunities or put a positive spin on the one you have.
Change Your Lifestyle
Being aware and improving things like nutrition, frequency of exercise and sleep regularity can help your overall well-being. It may seem obvious, but taking care of yourself physically will transcend into other realms of your life helping you to take on even the biggest obstacles and make them manageable.
Assess What You Like and Dislike About Your Job
If you are in a situation similar to what mine was, it is very possible that you hate your job because the work does not suit you. In some cases, you may actually like the work, but it is the people you work with that are the problem. If you’ve been unhappy for as long as you’ve been working in that field, despite management or company changes, than it is more than possible that you are not well matched to your job and you need to determine what it is you would be happier doing.
Determine What Your Dream Job Would Be
It’s never too late to follow your dreams and I promise this is more than just some fluffy Disney adage. When I was trying to uncover my hidden passion, I began by looking back at my childhood. What did I do as a child in my spare time? I played sports. I played music. I read. I also used to write mystery stories and make my own comic books. Eureka! Finally, I was on to something… I could see what options were available in the field of writing. After a little thought and consideration I decided I would take a certificate program and see what the world of journalism had to offer. In less than a year, I found myself writing for a web agency, finally feeling my work becoming synonymous with my passion.
Consider Side Projects
You don’t necessarily need to love your job and it is very possible and reasonable that security is more important for you because of factors such as providing for a family. The beauty with starting your own side project is that you can make it about something you love. Is there a hobby you have always been passionate about? The Internet offers a tremendous amount of possibilities, so something as simple as blogging about your hobby or passion could actually become an extra source of income and bring you a true sense of fulfillment.
Communicate with your Employer
If you are feeling unhappy with your job, talk to someone in HR or even try talking to your employer directly. The more honest you are, the more it reflects your willingness and maturity to try and make things better. Is it your job you hate or what you are doing with it? There should always be some room for change, a middle ground, and if there isn’t that’s your sign to move on.
Try a New Department or Position
Sometimes moving to a different department, striving for a promotion or even working with a different team of people might make all the difference. Sometimes a new environment, can have a positive effect on our outlook. Also, try staying on top of new trends so that you’re the person with the good ideas around the workplace. Knowledge is power and having it could boost your leadership role in the company and lead to a promotion later on.
Feel Grateful For Having a Job But Secure Enough To Leave it
It’s important for us to appreciate what we have, especially when we consider how many people out there would give almost anything for a job and financial stability. Feeling grateful for something doesn’t mean settling for it though. If you do decide to leave, feeling grateful for the opportunity you had allows you to resign with dignity and a genuine appreciation that will be reflected if ever you need a referral later on.
Working life certainly has its ups and downs, but if you’ve noticed there are significantly more lows than highs it’s time to make some changes. No life is perfect, and by the same token, no job is either. The best thing is to be clear about what path you’re choosing, why and what you may have to give up to get there.
