Redesign the Job you Hate
By Natalie Gahrmann
Being unhappy at work can be very de-motivating and depressing, but with our current economy, where good jobs can be hard to find, quitting is often not an option. Rather than throwing in the towel, you can change the way you think about your work to make it more meaningful. Even subtle change can lead to significant workplace transformations. Use these remedies for job dissatisfaction to make the situation more pleasant.
1. Take on a positive outlook. Dwelling on how much you hate your job will only make things seem worse! Instead, make the decision that for the remainder of the time you are in the job you will make the effort to be positive and put your best effort into each of your tasks. Try looking at problems as challenges or opportunities to learn and avoid wasting energy griping and moaning. Keep your negative thoughts private and stop participating in gossip and rumors.
2. Rethink your current job. If you find you’re stuck in a rut, begin to alter how you do your job. Analyze how much time, energy and attention you devote to various tasks at work. Is there anything you could be doing different that would make your job easier, streamline your efforts, or otherwise make you happier at work?
3. Plan your day differently. Mix up your normal routine as much as possible. For example, get up a little earlier and do something for you before heading off to work. When you get to work, focus on three main tasks for the day – one by one. Do your most dreaded task at the beginning of the day so that you can relax a little and enjoy the rest of the day rather than having something you’re not looking forward to doing at the back of your mind all day. Have a pre-determined time for leaving work and stick to it. Give yourself enough time in the evening to unwind, relax, release tension and to pursue your dreams.
4. Alter your work environment. Brighten up your work space by adding inspirational pictures and messages to make you more comfortable
5. Build relationships. Spend some time getting to know your colleagues – have that human interaction that is so often missing in the workplace today.Address any conflicts you have with difficult people and focus on resolving them.
6. Reward yourself. Recognize the contributions you are making and reward yourself throughout the day for doing a good job. Don’t look for outside accolades and recognition because you can’t control these. Provide yourself with various small rewards throughout the day as you tackle tasks.
7. Take a lunch break. Allow yourself to take an actual break at lunchtime rather than pushing through it every day. Do something enjoyable such as reading your favorite book, thumbing through the local newspaper, going for a walk, sitting in the park, going shopping, contacting a friend, listening to uplifting music, or doing anything that will provide a welcome break.
8. Know your motivation for staying. If you're planning to stay in a job you hate, it's important to understand why so that you can make a more conscious choice. Is your current job the only one in your area that fits your skills? Or do you need it to keep your children fed and clothed? Whatever the reason, remember what it is and keep that motivation at the forefront of your consciousness. Deliberately choosing to stay will help you own the job.
9. Have goals, dreams and aspirations. It’s easy to get into the daily grind of getting up, going to work, coming home from work, going to bed and doing the same thing tomorrow. Work will take on a whole new meaning when you view it as a means to an end (e.g. this will pay the bills while I work on getting my dream business up and running). Make time each week to work toward whatever it is that you are aiming for.
10. Tap into company resources. Use all available resources to help you gain new skills, experience, knowledge and support. Take advantage of training opportunities. Join groups to broaden your network and gain exposure to other people across the company. Use the company’s job posting system to search for other job opportunities.
11. Seek professional help. Make an appointment with an EAP (employee assistance program) counselor, Career Development expert, or HR representative to get additional support.If you can’t cope with your job, it’s important to get professional help before a more serious problem develops. If none is offered internally, seek outside professional sources in your community.
12. Look into transferring departments or locations. Getting reassigned to another department, location or team can eliminate problems caused by a horrible boss or uncooperative co-workers or it may open up new challenges, experiences and opportunities. Taking responsibility for your life and your situation will help you move out of the status quo and give you more motivation to make other positive changes in your life.
Consider the alternatives before you make a decision to leave. Finding a new job isn't always easy. If you can find ways to improve your current situations, it's usually worth pursuing it. When all else fails, prepare for other employment by setting goals, gaining clarity around what you want and don’t want in your next position, updating your resume, reviving and building your network, and polishing your skills. By setting goals you identify a finish line, and by meeting the goals on a daily, weekly and monthly basis you give yourself something to feel good about.