Work it out
There are ways to make a bad job bearable
Millions of U.S. workers despise their jobs or are simply disengaged at work. That’s problematic for our culture as a whole, and even more so for the workers and their family members.
And it’s not just the U.S. According to a report released in 2013 by the Gallup organization, there are about twice as many “actively disengaged” workers in the world as there are “engaged” workers who love their jobs, Forbes reported. Since the late 1990s, Gallup has been measuring international employee satisfaction through a survey. In total it has polled 25 million employees in 189 countries.
The engaged survey gathered information from 230,000 full-time and part-time workers in 142 countries. Overall, Gallup found that only 13 percent of workers feel engaged by their jobs, according to Forbes. About 24 percent are what Gallup calls “actively disengaged,” meaning they hate their jobs. They act out and undermine what their co-workers accomplish.
But even if you feel stuck and think you can’t afford to quit, there are things you can do to make your job and your life more bearable as you sort out what to do.
Enrich your life outside of work
First and foremost, make sure that your life outside of work is the best it can be. If your work drains the life out of you, then you need to find balance by engaging in activities that make you feel vital.
While it’s nearly impossible for a frustrating work situation to have no impact on your life outside the office, it’s important to do your best to practice gratitude for all of the gifts that are present in your life. That sense of appreciation can be the fuel that motivates you to drive through the twists and turns of your career path.
Do you have a great partner? Focus on him or her and your time together. Do you love dogs? Volunteer at a shelter or adopt a pet to enrich your life.
Take advantage of free time
It’s important to maximize any breaks because those are the times to get grounded. Instead of sitting at your desk during breaks, go out and take a walk. Try to manipulate your environment to change your internal world.
If that’s not enough to shake up your routine, then add in some quick yoga or meditation. Taking time to get centered and process emotions that come up during a frustrating day will cut down on the amount of frustration you take home.
Assess your contributions
Stop spinning your wheels. If you’re giving your job everything you have and management isn’t appreciating your value, it’s time to re-assess.
Taking pride in going the extra mile won’t be helpful to your long-term wellbeing if there’s no mobility and/or you’re doing something that’s not enjoyable. Try talking to your manager about expectations and the possibility of tweaking your job. Nothing may come of it, but it’s worth asking.
Evaluate the effect of your job on yourself and others
The reason it’s so important to find a job that creates enough satisfaction, whether monetarily or because of the work itself, is because many cultures in this globalized economy revolve around work.
When your occupation plays a central role in your life and your identity, it affects your physical, mental and emotional wellbeing and that of your family. If you can’t leave your current job, can you leave the negativity at the office?
Contemplate the barriers preventing you from leaving work
What are the risks of looking for other work? Sometimes the possible rewards of looking elsewhere outweigh the risks. The more information you have, the more power you have in making an intelligent decision.
Even taking a look around and polishing your resume can be a powerful boost. You may decide not to make a move, but the act of casting about for something else might make you appreciate your current position or give you solid ideas and some hope until you do decide to make a move.
Look for allies
Make friends with those you admire and genuinely like at work. They might have suggestions for making things more bearable or they may simply provide a needed lift at times. And no, these people shouldn’t be the ones you go to when you want to gripe. Constant complaining will only make you more miserable.
Decide if you’re doing all you can
Sometimes an honest assessment of your work and your attitude are in order. Are you working as hard as you can? Do you care about putting forth a solid effort? A positive attitude can improve your situation tremendously, and working smarter could change the way your boss perceives you and might improve your conditions.
Ask yourself if you’re part of the problem.