Trust me, if you hate your job, it's not worth the headache or the heartache. It's bad for your health, too. I've never hated my work, even before I left the corporate world, but there was one contract that felt like a drag. I remember the first time I walked through the revolving doors and vowed I didn't want to stay for long.
I remember trying to muster up motivation to get through each day. Why was it a drag? I was used to working with the movers and the shakers in investment banking, and this particular contract with a financial consulting firm was much slower in every sense.
Thankfully, it was a short-term contract, and after nine months, I walked out of the door for the final time. I never looked back and vowed I would never accept another contract like that without asking myself many questions.
Why A Job You Hate Is Bad For Your Health
There are many reasons why doing a job you hate is bad for your health. Here are a few of them:
❎Boredom
❎Not engaged
❎Not using your full potential
❎Feeling frustrated
❎Wasting time by going through the motions
❎Engaging in meaningless work
❎Wasting your life
Let me expand a bit more
Physical Impact
A job you hate can create severe physical and psychological strain on the body beyond boredom and frustration. The stress of dreading work each day can spike cortisol levels, potentially causing headaches, digestion issues, and weakened immune function.
Plus, doing a job you hate is bad for your sleep. How? It impacts your sleep patterns, which has a knock-on effect on your mood and potentially leads to sleep difficulties or experiencing anxiety dreams about work.
Increase In Mental Health Issues
Over time, it could potentially lead to depression, anxiety, and decreased self-worth. Many people experience "Sunday scaries" — intense anxiety that builds up the day before returning to work. This can create a cycle of negative thinking that spills into personal life.
Physical health often suffers as people in unfulfilling jobs can develop poor coping methods. They might include stress eating, increased alcohol drinking or, worse still, adopting a 'can't be bothered' lifestyle. Consequently, less effort is put into everyday activities such as exercise and making healthy meals.
Negatively Impact Relationships
Professional relationships may deteriorate as negativity seeps into interactions with colleagues. This can lead to social isolation at work and reduced collaboration opportunities. The strain might also affect personal relationships as people bring their work frustrations home.
Career Stagnation
If you don't like what you do, guess what? You're not going anywhere far anytime soon, either. Why? If you're not motivated or can't be bothered, then you won't take the opportunity in front of you. In the beginning, it might ok, but over time, missed opportunities can lead to career stagnation.
Financial Bomb
I don't want to be a scaremonger, but if you're not keeping your skills and knowledge current, you might not be maxing out your financial potential. If you're not thinking about your monetary future tomorrow, you might feel the pinch somewhere down the line.
So, how do you handle 'I'm stuck in a job I hate?" Rewrite your script. How? Change to "I have the power to create positive change". It might be that you don't need to leave. Instead, you might want to reshape it.
Other Tips include:
1 Keep a work journal and record your daily experiences, both positive and negative. This can help you identify patterns and areas for improvement.
2 Practice positive self-talk. Make it a habit to replace negative thoughts with constructive ones. Instead of "I can't handle this", try "This is challenging, but I'm learning and growing".
3 Set small goals. Break down larger career aspirations into small, achievable daily or weekly targets. This creates a sense of progress and momentum.
4 Seek feedback. Regularly ask for constructive feedback from colleagues and superiors. Use this information to guide your personal development.
Parting Comments
I know what it's like with the Sunday scaries, Monday blues and the TGIF feeling because one never knows what they will be dealing with when they get to work. It might feel like nothing, but the stress can build up and manifest itself unexpectedly over time.
Back then, I learned to set boundaries so I wouldn't get sucked into the daily trivia or the mood swings. Instead, I paced myself like a marathon sprinter, trying to get the work out whilst growing and learning. Thankfully, I don't have a Corporate Theatre to deal with anymore. As an Executive Coach, it's as real as it gets.
Thank you for your attention.
Follow me for more valuable tips.
Pervin
linktr.ee/AimHighLtd