So you hate your job!
There’s really no nicer way to put it.
You dread going to bed early on Sundays so you can “prolong” your weekend, you question your purpose and your existence in life every single day, you complain about the work, the organization, the people, the environment all the time… Even your spouse or friends are sick of hearing about it!
For some of us it’s very straightforward. If you hate something, you should just quit. Everything in your life is a choice.
But in truth, not everyone has the luxury or capability to do that.
You have to consider things such as supporting your family, monthly bills, daily expenses, mortgages etc.
We can’t quit without first securing another job.
Now if quitting is really not an option for you, here are some things that’s probably worth a try… while you’re looking out for that next job.
1. Figure out the root of the problem.
Reflect and ask yourself, what is making you hate your job? Look at it from all angles:
- The organization: Is it the environment? Is it the company culture?
- The people: Is it the boss? Is it the colleagues?
- The job itself: Do you lack the skills or knowledge to do that job? Do you not have the right resources to do your job? Is this job playing to my strengths?
- Me: Am I productive? Am I doing or being my best at work? Have I given it my all?
Once you have identified the problem, ask yourself, is there anything you can change or do differently to make yourself happier at work? What are the things that is within your control and what can you do to fix it? Perhaps you can talk it out with your boss/managers, or you can request for a transfer to another department where the role might be better suited for you.
Sometimes, changing jobs or moving to another organization might not be the solution to your problems. If you don’t figure out the root of the problem, chances are you might feel the same way for every company that you work in.
Long-Term plans and Career Goals
Another way you can hate your job less, is to reframe your perspective about what your job means to you. If you have a long-term plan or a career goals that you would like to achieve, ask yourself, how does your current job/role contribute to your career aspirations. What are you learning that can help you in achieving your long-term goals?
You spend about 1/3 of your life at work. Don’t waste all that time. Shift your perspective. You are basically getting paid to learn, experiment, and network with people. Start thinking about your purpose in life if you don’t already have one. That can motivate you to approach your work with a more positive mindset.
Be grateful for all the opportunities that are given to you or have been give to you. Use those opportunities to your advantage!
Work on your Passion (outside of work)
I’m sure you have heard of this popular quote by Confucius “Find a job you enjoy doing, and you will never have to work a day in your life.” Now not everyone has the luxury or the opportunity to be able to do that. According to a Deloitte study, only 13% of the [..] workforce is passionate about their jobs [..].
If you hate your job because it is not your passion, but you need the job to pay the bills, one way is to work on your passion outside of work. Working on something that you are passionate about outside of work might give you that motivation you need to continue in your current job and can definitely improve your mood at work.
The passion outside of work can give you a sense of hope, that if you are ready or when you do decide to quit, that your passion can eventually lead to that source of income for you. It also gives you an escape from your current work. When you’re all stressed out at work or the people at work are giving you hell, work on your passion to help you block out all the negative energy that you’re feeling from work.
Now finding your passion or starting your passion can be intimidating but take it one step at a time. You don’t have to immediately start a business. It can be something as simple as taking a course, picking up a new skill, or setting up meet-up group etc.
If you don’t know what your passion is yet, there are many different websites and quizzes to help you find your passion. There are also courses such as our REFRAME MasterClass that helps people to discover their passion and get clarity of their purpose in life.
Quitting a job is sometimes easier said than done. But it is not the realistic approach for everyone. So, if you have no other choice but to tough it out, hopefully the above tips can help you to tolerate your job a little better.
Dina is a Gallup Certified Strengths Coach at StrengthsAsia. She is one of the principal architect and designer of StrengthsAsia’s wildly successful Strengths Engagement Programs. She is passionate about bringing strengths to the education sector, in helping educators and student leaders discover their natural talents, passions, interests, and building ‘strong’ foundations to do what they do best every day.