Recently I’ve been feeling a lot of resistance around going into work and it’s really been weighing me down. I currently work in a job that I don’t really enjoy any more, and I write articles for this blog in my free time. Feeling this way has made me think a lot of peaple have probaly experienced a similar feeling.
If you’re reading this, you too are probably wondering how not to hate your job. If this is something you’re experiening too, I hope this article helps you. It’s horrible to feel like a slave to your 9-5, and I want you to know that you’re not alone and there are plenty of things you can do to make this situation better! Here I’m going to talk about my experience of this and the things that have really helped me to escape that morning dread!
How Not To Hate Your Job In 10 Steps
1. Introspect
The first step I recomend taking to working out how not to hate yout job, is to first work out why you hate your job. Grab a journal or a piece of paper and write down how your job makes you feel and what it is about your work that causes these negative emotions. Are the people you work with being unkind? Do you feel like you never really know what you’re doing? Do you have too many tasks and not enough time in the day? Make a list of as many points as you need. Try to exhaust every single aspect of work that you’re feeling negatively about.
Thinking about the specific things that are getting you down is a great place to start and some of the things you write down might even surprise you! Once you’ve identified the specific issues that are causing you to feel unhappy, you can start to look for solutions to these problems, or speak to you manager about them so that you can tackle them together. It sounds like a very simiple and maybe even obvious thing to do, but surprisingly it took me a long time to even consider what it was that was making me feel anxious to go into work in the morning.
2. Practice Gratitude
I mention gratitude in most of my blog articles, and that’s because I often find that it’s my own mindset that’s holdning me back from feeling happy. The fact is, there are probably a load of really great things about your job! It might not feel like it at the moment, but try to remember what drew you to applying for the job in the first place. Bring out your piece of paper again and make a list, as long as you can, of all the things you like about your job. Some examples could include; the people you work with, the rewarding feeling you get after getting everything done, or even something as simple as how nice your office or working enviromnent is!
These things can be as big or small as you like. I personally really like the morning walk to my place of work. It’s one of the best parts of my day! So, have a go at writing this big list of gratitude and keep it with you to have a read of whenever you’re having a bad work day. Try to focus on these good things rather than being consumed by the things you want to change.
3. Make Friends
This step may be more easily said than done, depending on the people you work with (if any)! However, if you do have any colleagues that you like, focus on building those realtionships and using them as a reason to enjoy spending time at work. Even if you don’t really like your colleages or just don’t know them very well, try to spend more time and effort getting to know them and you might discover that creating positive relationships in work is easier than you thought! I’ve always found that working in a team of people you know and like compared to a team that you don’t can make or break your job satisfaction. Once you’ve established these positive connections with your colleagues, your experience of your work day can completely change for the better!
4. Open Up
Sometimes all you need is a good rant. Spend time talking to someone close to you about how your work is making you feel at the moment and try to really get everything off your chest. You could do this over coffee with a friend or dinner with your partner, or if you’re anything like me, you’ll just want to call your Mum! Of course this is no substitue for proffessional help. If you feel that this is something that you need, definately don’t hesitate to speak to your GP or a licenced Counsellor. Although being unhappy with your job may seem like only a small thing, there’s no need to feel like you need to keep it all inside yourself and just try to carry on.
5. Set Some Goals
Once you’ve addressed the problems at work as well as the positive aspects of the job, it may be time to boost your motivation by finding something to work towards. Try setting meaningful goals for yourself with 3 different timeframes. What do you want to achieve in 1 month, 6 months, and 1 year from now? Try to think of the parts of your work that are meaningful to you and that you enjoy. Think about how you can spent your time and skills working on these to improve the company or even to improve your own abilities. For example, see if there are any additional courses you could take that your’re interested in, or maybe there’s a promotion that you want to work towards. Having these things in mind can renew your sense of purpose at work which is sure to make your day more engaging and satisfying overall!
6. Take Care Of Yourself
One of the thing’s I notice when looking at what’s make me stop liking my job, is that I have been letting people treat me in ways that I don’t want to be treated. Since noticing that I’m being pushed around and matipulated by colleagues, I’ve started to firmly but politely say ‘no’ to the things I’m not comfortable with. Re-gaining this control over myself has felt like a huge weight has lifted from my shoulders. Make sure you’re not making the same mistake and that you’re protecting your own boudnaries in your workplace.
Try not to let other people’s negative moods rub off on you and stand up for yourself when you need to. In addition to taking care of yourself emotionally, make sure you’re also eating when you need to and brining plenty of healthy snacks, drinking enough water, and even stepping out for a quick walk or breath of fresh air when you get the opportunity. Ive noticed that doing things like this had a huge effect on my mood and the quality of my day!
7. Make The Most Of Your Free Time
When you’re not at work, for example in the evenings and on weekends, make sure you make the most of your time. Try to get everything done that you know you need to do yo avoid having it weighing on your mind all day at work. Also try to spent time everyday doing something that you really enjoy or that you find relaxing, even if that’s just having a cup of tea and watching a cartain tv show before bed. Take the time to appreciate and make the most of your freedom!
Try making a to-do list that includes necessary tasks like doing the laundy or shopping for groceries, and then make sure you add at leat one enjoyable activity to lat list every day. If your stick to this list, you can go into work the next day feling rejuvenated and avoiding any residual anxiety about things you still need to get done.
8. Put On Your Rose Tinted Glasses
Sometime, I find that the best thing to do when you’re doing something you find boring or tedious is to go about your day as if you’re in a movie. Try to romanticise everything you do. Wear something that makes you feel good, get a coffee from your favourite cafe on your way to work and listen to music whilst you make your way to the office.
This might sound a bit silly, but once you’ve tried it you’ll see that it can really improve your mood and the way you feel about your ‘boring’, evryday life. You don’t really need to do anything differently or become a certain character, but just try to watch everything you do through the lens of one of those beautifully filmed movies about very ordinary people and events. The French movie ‘Amilie’ comes to mind when I think of these kinds of films. I’d highly recommend watching it if you need any inspiration!
9. Utilise Your Emotional Toolbox
We’ve already mentioned gratidue earlier on in this list, however, there are many other techniques you can use to shift your mindset towards a more positive and productive one. For example, practicing mindfulness to take control of your negative thoughts and feelings about work could be hugely beneficial. Mindfulness if what I often turn to when I cantch myself going into a negative thought spiral. Find out more about practicing mindfulness in this recent blog post.
You could also consider using CBT to look further into those negative thoughts and where they’re coming from. Try starting with this simple exercise:
10. Start working On Your Escape Plan
Finally, if you still don’t feel happy, it’s time to start creating your escape plan! This can include things like looking for new and different jobs and maybe even applying to some, as well as considering your financial situation and speaking to your family about your decision to leave your job and fin a new one. Another exciting thing I’d recomment it to start making a plan around what kind of work you want to go into in the future.
What do you enjoy doing? What are you good at? What do you think will have a positive impact on the world? These questions are a good place to start when looking for meaning and purpose in your career. Read more about finding your life purpose in this recent blog post.
If you’re feeling stuck in a job you have and you’ve been wondering how not to hate your job, I hope some of these tips will help you. It’s never too late to start fresh, and in the meantime, try using some of the tools I’ve talked about above to reduce your anxiety and low mood arounf your work life. With a good plan, determination, and a loving support system, you’ll soon find yourself in a much happier position in your current job, or even in a brand new job that you love! Make sure you take the time to look after yourself and reach out for professional help if you need it!