Making the Most of a Job You Don’t Like

According to the U.S government and the media, we are currently experiencing one of the best job markets in decades. It’s no secret that people are switching jobs for better opportunities and better pay these days. You may have already made the decision to jump ship, however, if you need to stay in your current job, because of a certain reward you are receiving in return, then read on.  

Recently a client shared that while she doesn’t like her job, she doesn’t want to look for another one since her commute is only 10 minutes by bike.  The short commute means that she can sleep in longer, exercise, prepare her lunch and even have a leisurely breakfast before heading to the office where the dress code is casual. Moreover, she is saving a lot of money on gas, car maintenance and parking.

Good or bad, we all have reasons for staying in our jobs. For some people it’s fear of leaving, for others, it’s comfort—it’s easier to stay than to start all over again at a new company, with a new manager, new colleagues and new challenges.  What is your reward for not leaving a job you are dissatisfied with? Whatever reason you may have for staying at a job you don’t love, here are some tips for making the best of your situation.

1.      Instead of focusing on what you don’t like about your job, think about all the things you do like and all the things you can be grateful for.  Perhaps you don’t like what you do but you have amazing colleagues who make the work environment pleasant, who are supportive of you and make you feel a part of the team. Maybe you get paid well and have amazing benefits. Here’s another —you get to learn new skills and acquire new knowledge all the time. It’s easy to focus on what’s not working versus what is working well. Analyze what is really going on, you may realize your situation isn’t so awful.

2.      Carefully evaluate your position and see if there are aspects about your job that you can change. You probably have some options to consider. If you are bored with the mundane tasks of your job and want to learn other skills valued by your company, then talk to your manager about taking on more responsibilities. Too often, when I talk to my clients they claim that there’s no room for movement in their company. Yet, they haven’t even bothered to talk to their manager about future opportunities for growth. 

3.      Maybe you don’t hate your job so much, but the fact that you don’t make a lot of money. If you have done your research and know you should be making more money, but are afraid to ask your boss, read this article on how to ask for a raise. If, on the other hand you want to escalate to the next pay grade, try cross-training in other departments of the company or taking on more responsibilities. Ask your manager if you can shadow other employees.  How about learning a new technology and becoming a power user? It’s easy to become passive in the workplace. Focus on actively seeking out new opportunities without waiting for them to be presented to you. Challenge yourself to learn more and grow not only at work, but also outside of work. Make good use of your time when away from work by continuing to learn. Refer to this article for some great ideas on continuing education.

4.      Make your work area comfortable and pleasant. Sometimes simply cleaning and organizing your environment will make you feel better. Add a photo of a loved one, a pet or your next vacation destination. Surround yourself with objects that make you feel comfortable and bring you joy.

5.      If you can, listen to music that puts you in a good mood especially if you work in a noisy area where others can distract you easily.  If music with lyrics distract you, then try some classical music. You can’t go wrong with Mozart.

6.      Sometimes venting to a trusted friend or family member (outside of work) can make you feel better. But be careful that you don’t end up becoming a chronic whiner. The worst thing you can do is constantly complain about your situation yet take no action to change it. Over time, you will alienate people.

7.      Eat well (healthy) and exercise. If you are already feeling awful at work, then eating poorly will only add to your dreadful temperament. Keep yourself energized by eating foods that are nutritious and provide energy. Refrain from loading up on carbs, sugar, alcohol and caffeine.  Start or end your day with exercise. In fact, if you can step outside for 10-15 minutes during the middle of the day to get some fresh air, feel the sun on your skin and take a quick walk, it will help recharge your batteries.

8.      Be grateful for what you have. Focus on all the things that are going well in your life. While a supreme cliché, an “attitude of gratitude” is simply the best antidote when you become negative or depressed.  The minute you find yourself getting negative or down, counter that thought with another grateful thought or two to counteract the bad ones.

9.      Nothing stays the same. Yes, you are in a rut now but it’s not your future state. Instead of focusing on what’s not right, visualize what your future will look like instead. Tell yourself that you will end up in job you will love soon, and work toward that goal.  Plan on how you will get from your current state of dissatisfaction to a future state of job fulfillment. If that entails going back to school, do you have a plan in action? If that means moving to another city, are you planning the steps that will get you there? It may seem so daunting just thinking about it, but focus on taking small, reasonable steps to get there. Once you get the momentum going, you will feel better emotionally.

10.  Finally, be careful with your spending and save money. So often people are stuck because they don’t have the money or means to move forward. Instead of focusing on saving, they end up spending money on what I call “temporary highs”.  Think and plan for the long term by saving money today.

Take charge of your life, believe that amazing things happen will happen for you and they will.