How to Cope When You Hate Your Job - The Muse

How to Cope When You Hate Your Job - The MuseHow to Cope When You Hate Your Job Theres no way to sugarcoat it- you hate your job. Your stomach is in knots every single Sunday night. Your walk into the schreibstube often feels like youre trudging through cement. And, a sledgehammer seems like the only suitable way to silence your alarm clock each weekday morning- at least youd be able to get some of that pent-up aggression and hostility out.First of all, Im sorry. Your career is a huge part of your life, and when it doesnt leave you feeling fulfilled and satisfied, it can have a pretty big negative impact on your overall outlook and attitude. Its hard to leave that frustration at your desk when the clock strikes five every evening.If youre trying to be proactive about your situation, Im willing to bet that youve read your fair share of advice about what to do when your career makes you miserable. And, Im also willing to bet that much of that advice told you the same thing over and ove r again Get out.Its a well-meaning instruction, and I actually wont even try to refute it. After all, if your position truly has you clenching your fists and grinding your teeth, its probably smart to start looking for something else. But, lets face it- we dont all have the luxury to pack up our desks and wave goodbye to our teamberaterins whenever the going gets a little tough.So, if youre anything like me, you typically get to the end of that well-intentioned advice and think, OK, but what else? Yes, perhaps you really are working on looking for a new gig. But, when you do eventually move on, you want to do your best to make sure its something youre truly excited about. You dont want to jump from the frying pan straight into the fire, so to speak. Youre being selective and taking your time.That means you need to stick it out in this miserable position for at least a little while longer, and youre desperate for any advice that helps make that process a bit easier. Well, look no fur ther Here are five things you should do when you hate your job- that dont involve storming out of the office and collecting an unemployment check. 1. Assess Your SituationIt seems obvious, doesnt it? But, its a step thats often overlooked. We all have the tendency to get so wrapped up in how miserable we are, that we neglect to determine what exactly is causing that unhappiness.So, its time to ask yourself some hard questions about your current situation. Is it your position that you hate, or is it your employer? Is there one key piece of your position that puts a sour taste in your mouth? Have you always disliked your job?I know, this self-analysis likely isnt the super actionable first step you were hoping for. But, these important questions will lay the groundwork for you to attack the next steps with a clear head and a narrow focus. 2. Have the Tough ConversationsOnce youve identified what exactly is inspiring your distaste for your position, its time to have those difficult con versations with the powers that be. Is your workload too overwhelming? Do you feel youre not fairly compensated for the amount of work you do? Is a member on your team not pulling his weight- contributing to your frustration? Talk these out with your supervisor to see if there are any adjustments that can be made. All too often, the employee life-cycle looks a little something like this Mary is hired and settles into a new position. Marys manager assumes things are going along swimmingly. Eventually, Mary resigns and explains how miserable shes been the entire time.Yes, its your boss job to support, supervise, and encourage you- but, its definitely not his duty to read your mind. So, if something is making you unhappy, its up to you to take initiative and speak up. Employers are typically willing to go the extra mile to keep top talent around. So, who knows, you and your manager could come up with some great solutions to address your problems and increase your happiness (If youre no t sure how to approach that conversation, read this.)3. Switch Your PerspectiveStay positive is another clich piece of career advice you hear time and time again when you hate your current position. And, Im trying my best to stay away from that same tired sentiment. However, I really do believe that a quick shift in your perspective could make a world of difference for you.When you loathe what you do, its all too easy to just feel like youre biding time- youre just putting in your hours until you can finally escape from that hellhole. However, that sour, negative attitude isnt going to make your life any easier. On the contrary, actually. Itll make things much worse.So, instead of looking at each workday as another time slot when you need to pay your dues and slop your way through, approach it as a chance to continue refining your skills and conquer new challenges. After all, whats more challenging than making it through eight hours at a job you hate? Not much. 4. Vent About ItYou k now not to rant and rave about how much you hate your job on Facebook- thats definitely not advisable. But, that doesnt mean youre not allowed to ever air any grievances about your career. In fact, a little bit of venting can be a good thing for you- as long as youre careful about how you do it. So, grab a trusted friend and talk through all of your complaints and annoyances. I know, complaining doesnt necessarily fix anything. But, youll likely be surprised at how much better you feel after unloading all of those feelings and frustrations. 5. Do Your Best WorkWhen youre unhappy, its easy to fall into the trap of coasting and putting in minimal effort. Ill admit that it can seem counterintuitive to put your all into something when you dont even like what youre doing. But, falling victim to mediocrity will only add fuel to your discontented fire.So, push through and continue to turn in high-quality work. Even if you dont necessarily enjoy what youre doing, doing a good job with it wi ll definitely help to lift your spirits and boost your confidence a little bit. Plus, if nothing else, at least you can go home each night feeling good about the work you put in that day. Thats something. Toughing it out in a job you hate is enough to push anybody to his or her breaking point. And, as much as youd love to box up your workspace and bid adieu to your supervisor, quitting isnt always a realistic option.Fortunately, there are a few other things you can do to make your detested 9-to-5 at least a little more tolerable. Give these tips a try, and let me know how it goes on TwitterAND WHEN YOURE READY TO QUIT......weve got some jobs for you that you wont hate. Promise.JUST CLICK HERE