When you hate your job and want out, here are four things you can try before you say, sayonara!
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If you are reading this, chances are you either do, or have fallen into this category. Don’t feel bad. Unless you’re successful very early on in life, the chances of this happening to you are very high. Forbes talks about employee care and points out that a huge percentage of the working population hates their jobs. I say huge and you are thinking 40-50% right? That might even be too high for you; but the truth is, 71% of Americans hate their jobs!
Seventy-one percent. Can you honestly believe that? Over 2/3rds of our workforce doesn’t want to be where they are.
Now, I’m not an analyst, but numbers like that point to a larger problem— something awash in the system that needs to be reassessed. However, as this article is titled “What do You do When you Hate Your Job…” and not “What’s Wrong with Corporate America…” I’ll be talking to you about the things you can do about your job.
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Seventy-one percent. Can you honestly believe that? Over 2/3rds of our workforce doesn’t want to be where they are.
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Millions of people hate their jobs. To be more accurate, somewhere between 150million and 200million people in the USA hate their jobs. Some wake up in the morning and go to work and have a coffee, a chat, a short read on lunch, and perhaps afternoon tea to get through the day. Others roll over and hit the snooze button until work is about to start, and then call out because today… it’s just not happening (except that this is the feeling most days). Some people have so much anxiety about going to work, that they can’t live life outside of it without have panic attacks constantly.
So what can you do when you hate your job, but you have to keep it to pay the bills?
Here are four things you can try throughout the normal work day/ work week that have helped me, and one surefire solution that could help anyone:
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Work Hard
You may hate your job. You may want to quit now and never come back. But remember that ever minute you spend working, you are making money to help you pay for your life. I agree with you, we shouldn’t have to work to make money, and in several centuries, when everything is automated and our society becomes one of cultural fostering and the pursuit of knowledge, we won’t be working and their won’t be “money” so to speak. For now, though, work your hardest. It will make you feel good, to know that at the end of the day you did your best to make money for yourself and the ones you love.
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If you don’t love what you do, do what you love
If you spend your day thinking “I’m so much better than this… this is sooooo boring… I wish someone would shoot me.” Then you are spending your day the wrong way. You may hate your job, but doing what you love outside of work will give you a sense of fulfillment. It will help you stay positive as you traverse your day. And doing what you love can only result in a positive outcome. You’ll either get an opportunity to continue doing what you love, perhaps for pay; or, you’ll get better at it and get recognition. We love to do what we love, but we also love to be loved for it. (Feel the loooove)
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Give yourself ample time before work to relax and have me time
Often throughout the day we can be frustrated or anxious because we have a list of things outside of work that are keeping us distracted. Before work, after work, give yourself some winding down time. It helps to relieve the pressure we build up throughout the day.
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Vices
A word that has adapted unfortunately negative connotations. A vice is something that you do to help you cope with something else. I.e. Smokers usually smoke because life sucks, and because they are addicted, (and because most smokers end up thinking smoking is fun). Alcoholics drink to avoid problems. I drink coffee because I love it and it focuses me. We all have vices— but they aren’t all positive. Try to make a list of things that you enjoy, and then see how many of them you can do at work. Can you listen to music? Can you drink coffee? Can you much on snacks? Can you read? Can you put up posters or motivational phrases for yourself? Can you wear something you enjoy, or carry around something you enjoy? Maybe you can use your breaks to play a silly phone game that calms your nerves. Find some healthy vices and utilize the benefits of consistency! We are human! We may love change, but we also love when things stay the same.
Now, with all of this (not so) groundbreaking information aside — there is another alternative, and that’s to find a new job. No. Not the easiest thing, when, as the article is titled, “… You HAVE to Keep it to Pay the Bills”, but I assure you; it is possible.
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Several years ago I absolutely hated my job. I worked outside in New England, from early March to late August— second shift at a lumber yard. I was responsible for shipping and receiving, which meant loading and unloading tons of wood from trucks and from the rail-cars that backed through our yard. Sound fun? It could have been.
I drove around in my 17ton Forklift (which had no door because my boss broke it off backing up), exposed to the elements.
Now, I am used to working hard, but I’m not used to beating the hell out of my body quite so horribly. In the dry seasons, it was a dust bowl filled with all named insects and lizards and rodents that would get into your lift and find you and bite you when you weren’t looking. I was stung by countless bees and nearly bitten by a copperhead, among other things, while I was there.
Sometimes, we all have to do what is hard, not because we want to, but because it is necessary.
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Bees and snakes love lumberyards. Homeless people live there at night.
I never left work with less than 50% of me covered in mud.
It might as well have been managed by a Giraffe and Zebra ensemble for all the good management did. My boss was useless, violent, did coke, and kept his job, while a pot smoking millennial who I worked with was fired. The plant manager reminded me of a convicted mafia boss from the 60s— greased back hair and a voice that clearly was forged in a cloud of cigarette smoke.
The employees were straight out of prison, most with ankle bracelets on, many of whom threatened to beat my ass on numerous occasions, most for just looking in their direction.
When it rained I used to get stuck in the mud. Most days, with 4tons of wood dangling 15 feet over my head— definitely gave me a new perspective on life, that’s for sure.
I had two vices at this job: A coca cola that I would buy from the vending machine every shift on lunch, and that sweet last 20 minutes of my shift when I cleaned up and waiting for the clock to strike 3AM (it was second shift, but we always ran late). Just those things kept me there, at least until I couldn’t take it anymore and I found another job.
Which just goes to show you: anything you set your mind to, you can accomplish— if that means keeping a fake smile on your face and forcing yourself to find the best parts of your job to keep you sane, then so be it.
Sometimes, we all have to do what is hard, not because we want to, but because it is necessary.
Photo:Flickr/JD Hancock
I love this one! I remember when you had that job! Looking back, it hopefully helps you feel some gratitude for where you are today.
I’m one of the lucky ones who loves my work. Your piece shines a new light on how fortunate I’ve been to have two careers that were fulfilling and challenging.
Thanks, Dyllon
xo
Gram