Do you know about 80% of people hate their job and fear going to work? Many employees surveyed worldwide said they felt stressed the other day at work, while some of them expressed their anger being at work!
So, if you are too feeling – I hate my job but for some reason can’t change it, know that you are not alone in this. It’s correct that most of us spend more than a third of our lives doing a job, and most of the time, we never like it.
However, you can cope with this feeling and survive until you are prepared to change your job.
So, here are some ways you can try when you hate your job but can’t quit.
Tips on What to Do When You Hate Your Job But Can’t Quit
1. Figure Out What Is Making You Sad at Work
Before you jump to find the solution, try to figure out the REAL problem. There might be ample or any one reason for you to feel disappointed or unhappy at work, so try to find it out first. Give yourself time and think about what makes you feel that way at work.
But first, feel your emotions completely. Yes, the way to understand what you want and how you are feeling right now is to feel what you are feeling. Respect your emotions. Vent it out (completely) through journaling, crying out loud, punching your pillows, screaming, writing angry letters and tearing them apart.
Once you feel your emotions inside and out, you will want to learn more about what caused you to hate your job. Is it actually your job responsibilities, or something like your boss, work culture, lack of growth opportunities, or burnout?
Once you spot your reason for unhappiness, you will find a way to address it.
2. Shift Your Perspective – Focus On The Positives
It’s our thoughts that can make us feel better or worse about any situation. There is a famous saying – mindset is everything. So, looking for the bright side in your current job or practising gratitude even a little bit can help boost your mood.
Your job might not be that satisfactory, but is there anything good you can find about it?
Whether it could be the monthly paycheck that helps you attain financial uplift, a coworker that never fails to amuse you, or the skill set you are building that will help you excel in your career.
It doesn’t mean you have to stick with a job that drains you apart, but acknowledging the positives will make it bearable for you until you are set to change jobs.
You will be surprised to find out how this tiny shift in perspective can help you make a world of difference.
3. Give Your Job a Job & You Will Love It
After the above two steps, here comes the third and one of the most important ones – to love your job!
It does not mean you have to love a job you hate the most. You don’t have to do that. But you must love what your job does for you! For example, take some time out and find answers to these questions:
- Why am I still showing up at work daily?
- What does this job offer me for which I can show my gratitude?
- What can I do to make this place or role worthwhile or a little bit tolerable until I am here?
Whether your job equips you with the opportunities to learn new skills, build personality and leadership, practice negotiations or provides stability, security, benefits, and paycheck.
Acknowledge the job for whatever you are thankful for. As they say, whatever you focus your attention on persists. Take this to your advantage and keep going.
4. Focus on Self-Care – Zoom Out and Step Away to Recharge
Work-related unhappiness can take a toll on your mental, emotional, and physical health if not addressed at the right time. So, if you have started feeling dejected at work, and this feeling is now too much to handle, making you irked on the simplest things, you generally duck!
There are many ways you can zoom out if you are feeling overwhelmed during your work day. Make some time away from your desk during your breaks and free time, and take a short walk, hang out with coworkers, or simply play the Lego games!
Furthermore, you can make a list of things you don’t feel like doing, such as laundry, cleaning, organising or anything at the start, but once you do it, you feel better and productive.
Also, make a list of after or before-office things you absolutely love doing and feel fulfilled when you do them. It could be your hobbies like reading a novel, dining out with friends and family, running a bath, journaling, and anything that lifts your mood.
The goal is to pick any three of them and do them daily to stay motivated, joyful, and productive.
5. Enhance Your Skills To Become Future Perfect
If you are stuck with this job for quite some time, you might consider upskilling or reskilling to expand your future job options.
For example, you can attend seminars, workshops, or online courses to add to your existing skill set or develop new ones. This can open the doors for more fruitful opportunities in the future. To know more about upskilling and reskilling, read our blog Why Continuous Learning and Upskilling is Important?
6. Seek Support – It Will Help!
Whether you are an introvert or just don’t like sharing work-related things with anybody, one thing is sure – you should ask for help when it’s needed! You can voice out your concerns at work with caution. If you have managers or coworkers you can trust, you can share your feelings with them.
However, be careful while venting it out in front of office people. Make sure you are not complaining. Instead, be proactive and productive in what you can to solve the issue.
Furthermore, you can discuss your feelings with your trusted friends, family members, or a mental health professional. If needed, try reaching out to a career coach for future job search support.
Sometimes, venting out gives you relief, and the perspective of others can help you find a better and more fulfilling workplace.
7. Set Boundaries – Make a Shield For Yourself!
If your job is pervading your personal time and causing you stress, it is high time you set clear boundaries between work and personal life. This might include setting strict working hours, especially if you are working remotely, ensuring you are taking your breaks completely, or limiting your work-related communications during your off-work hours.
Healthy boundaries can help make your job more tolerable and prevent job dissatisfaction caused by overwhelming other aspects of your life.
8. Keep the End Goal in Mind
Finally, stick to your end goal and remind yourself what you are going through is temporary.
Your goal can be to leave the job after earning X amount or gaining Y years of experience and expertise in a particular role.
It may feel endless, but remember, you have come across many obstacles and come victorious many times. This will also pass. Just focus on the goods and do what you need to achieve your goal(s).
One day, you will accomplish your goal, and then you can move forward to a new and more fulfilling opportunity. This is when you will realise it was worth enduring it. Though, we don’t encourage you to be in a taxing job. Also, you will not know the taste of victory if you have never tasted defeat.
Conclusion: Focus on the Positives and Work on Yourself
Let your objective be clear. Keep working until you claim it! There is no other way to deal with emotions except to deal with them. So, take your time to figure out the causes and ways to address them, acknowledge the positives your job is offering you, seek help and continue working on yourself. It is the mantra for dealing with the job you hate!
If you still feel stuck in a job you don’t feel like doing and have the right skills to search for a new one, try Remark – the best job portal in India. Here, you will find jobs matching your job expectations in your favourite companies!