What to do when you hate your job

Do you hate your job? Are you doing the same stuff day in and day out? Do you feel unappreciated and undervalued? Would rather be doing something else, even if you’re not sure what that is yet. You know it would be better than what you’re doing right now. I know the feeling, I’ve been there too.

When you hate your job, most people’s answer would be to get a new job, one which excites you, one which makes you feel a sense of purpose. But what if you’re not currently in a position to get a new job. Maybe you’re working on a side hustle which could take another year or two until you can take it on full-time. For whatever reason, looking for a new job isn’t always the solution.

In this post, I’m going to be sharing tips with you, on how you can make the most out of a job you hate. Because your job doesn’t have to suck and you can change the way you think about it. It’s not about loving a job which you currently hate, it’s about finding the positives and making the most of the job.

Don’t complain so much

Take yourself away from the negative gossip and instead talk about things which make you feel good. You will start to notice a shift in your mindset as you stop focusing on the things which are “bad” and realise that things are actually a lot better than you and your co-workers made them out to be.

Your job is someone else’s ideal job

As much as you dislike your job, remember that your job is someone else’s ideal job.  When I worked locally all I wanted was a job in Central London, I used to love the idea of working in a tall office building in the busy City. Then 5 years after finding my ideal job in London, I wanted nothing more than to work closer to home and skip the long commute into the City. My point is, it’s not necessarily the job that’s the problem, it’s the way you’re thinking about it. So remember your job is probably someone else’s ideal job.

Create your ideal lifestyle around your job

I used to think that my job was preventing me from living my ideal life and that I wouldn’t be able to create my dream lifestyle until I worked for myself (as a full-time blogger). With the help of a 1-1 mindset and personal growth coach, I came to realise that it wasn’t my job that was preventing me from creating my ideal lifestyle, it was my thoughts about my current job and the routine which I had attached to it.

As silly as it sounds, I used to think that when I worked for myself I could enjoy a healthy and nutritious breakfast every morning when in fact I could easily have woken up earlier to make this happen. This is because our thoughts create our actions, and if we think that we can’t live a certain lifestyle because of our current job and routine, then we don’t find ways to make it happen. Try to think outside the box on how you can incorporate part of your ideal lifestyle around your job.

Use your job as motivation to do something else

When you’re in an unfulfilling job it’s very easy to feel sorry for yourself, to feel stuck and to lose motivation. But it’s also easy to use your job dissatisfaction to chase your dreams.

Decide that you’re not going to settle for a job or a career you don’t love and use this as motivation to go after your dream job. And if you don’t know what your dream job is, which is perfectly normal by the way, then you can still decide that you’re worth more. Tell yourself that you will leave your unfulfilling job, whether it’s this year or in five years, it will happen because you know you deserve better.

Realise that you choose to work

Now hear me out here, it’s your choice to go to your job every day, this is the decision you are making. I know what you might be thinking, you have to go to work to pay your bills. And as true as this may seem, you don’t actually have to work, thousands of people choose not to work. But you don’t because you want to work to avoid being financially stressed, to pay for nice things and experiences for yourself and your family. You want to go on holiday, you want to wear new clothes, you want to meet your friends for dinner and you want to buy gifts for loved ones. You work because you want the luxury of having money.

Therefore, even if you hate your unfulfilling job, this is a decision that you make every day because you want the money it provides you. Realising this can help you shift your mindset from negative to positive.

Have a break

Make sure you’re using your lunch breaks to get some fresh air and step away from your work. Don’t make a habit of having a working lunch at your desk everyday, as over time this habit will affect your mental well-being and productivity. Use your lunch break to be active even if that means a short walk in the fresh air.

Make sure you are taking breaks throughout the day to give your eyes a short rest from staring at a screen (if you work at a computer all day) even just 10 minutes to make a cup of tea or talk to a co-worker can help break up the day. Lastly, if you feel like you need a break from work, then request a Monday or a Friday as a holiday and enjoy a long weekend.

Dress to impress

The way you dress and present yourself can make a huge difference in how you feel, you don’t need to splash out on a new outfit, but small changes can make you feel a million dollars and make you feel happier. Dressing to impress is one of the best ways to build your self-confidence, if you show up looking tired and careless then you may just end up feeling tired and careless.

Do something on the side

If you’re in an unfulfilling job and struggling to find purpose in your day then try doing something you’re passionate about on the side, such as starting a blog. The good news about having a job is you have an income to support a side hustle, which means you don’t need to stress about paying your bills and you can focus on being creative and not financially stressed.

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