I Have A Job. Why Am I Still So Unhappy?

Some might say if you have a job in this economy, even if you hate it, you should be happy about it and count your blessings.

That’s easy for us to say – we’re not the ones who hate going to work, right?

Especially in this job market, when somebody already has a job we don’t really think too often about them. We tend to focus more on the unemployed. When we do think about the employed, we see them as fortunate, and expect them to be happy.

But it’s just inevitable; sometimes people hate their jobs, even if they do feel fortunate to be employed right now. It’s a difficult time for those people. They’re feeling stuck in positions they loathe – and they often feel like there are no options. And frankly, when faced with the alternative of unemployment, often these miserable workers find themselves with no other choice than to learn how to make the best of it.

We did some research, and discovered that breaking down the reasons why you feel the way you do towards your work can really help you identify changes you can begin to implement – it all has to do with your outlook.

Why exactly don’t you like your job?

• Is it boring?
• Is it tedious?
• Does it not meet your expectations?
• Do you feel unappreciated?
• Are you expected to perform work outside of your job description?
• Are you overworked?
• Are you underpaid?
• Do you hate your boss?
• Do your associates fail to do their part in mutual work?
• Do you respect your superiors?
• Do you respect yourself in your position?

All of these, and then some, are common feelings that people form over time about their work. Some of them are more important than others. Some are grounds for leaving a position, and others are simply inconvenient. Regardless of your reasons, your unhappiness will eventually lead to resentment, and your negative attitude will poison your personal life.

The average American worker spends 8-10 hours a day at the office, or other place of work. When you find yourself being miserable for more than half of your waking hours, it is only natural for that unhappiness to creep into other areas of your life. What you have to do now is isolate your misery, and learn to control it.

If you have determined that you NEED your job, and cannot afford to leave, there are ways to take control of the situation – to change your attitude, and forge ahead towards a more positive way of thinking. Mind over matter IS possible, and the best way to cope with this situation. If you make a real decision to be happier at work, then you will be. Here are some ideas to help you start.

Have you always felt this way?

Do some soul searching, and decide if you are in a career you really enjoy. If you do not enjoy what you do, you are bound to be unhappy.

If you DO actually like your career, but dislike your particular position or workplace, allow your love for the industry to carry you through the small frustrations. Keep your eye on the bigger picture, your eventual success, and your advancement to a position that you will love. When all else fails, you can always take the lessons learned from a bad situation into a future position. Remember, everyone has to pay their dues to achieve success.

If you determine you do NOT enjoy your chosen field and your job is simply a paycheck to you, but you must stay in the position, then you need to make the decision to be happier at work. First you need to determine whether you are paid by the hour or by the task. These are two very different types of jobs, that call for different approaches in different situations.

By the TASK

Recognize that you are working to get paid, and you will only get paid for results. You should keep in mind the old saying “Work smarter, not harder.” If you have taken time staring at a problem and still found no solution, get up, and go for a walk around the office or get a cup of coffee. You won’t get paid any more for starring at a blank screen and allowing frustration to take hold. Perhaps move on to something else, and then come back to your problems with a fresh mind.

Break down your workload into short lists of tasks. Organization and efficiency are the keys to accomplishment in any workplace. If your frustrations include other people not doing their job, when their job connects directly to your own, relax. When you find that your task can not be completed until someone else does their part, make a note, and simply move on to something else until you have what you need to follow through with your responsibilities.

Reward yourself when you have been especially productive. If you are paid for results, give yourself some personal time. Maybe you could leave early when you finish a big project ahead of schedule, or perhaps reward yourself in another way. Treat yourself to a nice dinner to celebrate, or go out with coworkers for a drink. These things may motivate you to work more swiftly, and spend less time focusing on how miserable you are and more time on being productive.

By the HOUR

If you are an hourly employee, don’t make your company’s problems your own. (Assuming you don’t work on a commission basis, and don’t own stock in the company, this shouldn’t be very hard.) There are problems in every industry – try to separate yourself from them, and don’t spend your time -ESPECIALLY your free time – thinking about them. If you don’t let it get to you on a personal level, then negativity can’t make its way into your personal life.

Remember that your paycheck is the same when everything is working perfectly, and also the same when the computer crashes again and causes you to have to redo hours of work. Rather than getting upset when something doesn’t go as planned, take a moment for you and leave the situation. There is no need to let it ruin your day.

And the best tip for any unhappy worker? Laugh! Laugh whenever possible. It might sound silly, but studies show that laughing will lower your stress, will lessen your frustration, and will actually make you more able to cope with whatever gets thrown at you – in work or in life. Keeping positive about your situation, instead of giving in to feelings of frustration and negativity can help make you a happier and more satisfied employee.

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