"I hate my job, but I can't leave it" is a common phrase. We give some tips to better overcome this unpleasant situation.
Last update: February 11, 2022
Virtually everyone has said at least once that they hate their job. When life's opportunities and situations allow, it's easy to leave. But what happens when it doesn't?
Many people are trapped in unsatisfactory occupations or, even worse, in toxic environments, poor working conditions or harassment. When it is impossible to escape from it, anguish and despair present themselves on the horizon. Work becomes a center of gravity from which thought cannot escape.
If this is your case, we invite you to discover in this article some strategies that will help you to better deal with the situation until you find something better.
Hate your job, why?
The level of satisfaction with the work done is one of the least considered variables for business productivity.
An employee who suffers from psychological distress due to their occupation not only performs worse during working hours, they are also more prone to get sick, create a tense atmosphere and do not share the company's values.
The main reasons that lead you to hate your job and living it as a penance rather than a source of satisfaction are:
- Low wages.
- Incorrect superiors.
- Toxic environment.
- Poor communication between colleagues.
- Bad organization.
- Long or stressful commutes to and from work.
- Times incompatible with everyday life.
- Jobs with a high level of emotional stress: veterinarians, health personnel, firefighters, etc.
- Moral conflicts with the occupation.
- Failure to recognize the value of the worker.
- Situations of abuse or harassment.
Today it is easy to find any of these conditions in a job. It is necessary to be educated in certain positive dynamics of thinking, because it is easy to get trapped in a job that you do not like. Here are some resources that will be useful.
Hating your job, but not being able to leave it
The first thing you should know is that changing jobs is not bad, much less a failure. Many people strive to improve at a task while choking on all the bad conditions they endure, and this is unhealthy and shouldn't become a habit. So, before you read the rest of the tips, quit the job you hate as soon as possible.
Never stop looking for work
The job search is an odyssey for many people and can take years. However, even when working, you should never stop looking for a better job. It is the only way to seize opportunities when they come.
Join the company union or found one
If you are a victim of harassment or exploitation, you have the right to ask for a change. Unions offer resources and advice in case legal action needs to be taken. It's hard to talk about abuse, but our experiences may encourage other people to get justice.
Carve out quality time for yourself
It's easy to take home the frustration, anxiety, and anger that come with a job you hate. Such an attitude will affect one's life even if it is only a part of it.
It is advisable to carry out pleasant activities, even better if in company; in this way it will be more difficult for certain ideas to become obsessive thoughts.
The quality time we spend outside of work will also help shift the focus to more pleasant things, which will offer mental clarity to solve problems.
Try to keep busy at work
When an activity is unpleasant and cannot be avoided for a while, we tend to let the hours go by wishing the day was already over. This, however, makes every minute heavier than the last.
In these cases it is worth considering the activities to be carried out as a way to get to the end of the day faster. In addition to this, keeping productivity at an acceptable level will avoid other tensions with colleagues.
Try to resolve the situation internally
It is possible to change the unpleasant dynamics in the workplace, but we are often not aware of it. Learned helplessness is common in many work environments, whereby people believe they do not have the power to improve what prevents them from working at ease.
Before succumbing to frustration and anxiety, use the resources and possibilities at your disposal to improve these conditions.
You can talk to superiors, make improvements yourself, report illegal situations and much more. This is also not incompatible with looking for another job.
Hating your job is bad for your health
Toxic workplaces are a reality. Many people try to cope with unbearable situations as best they can, but eventually still develop ailments such as depression and anxiety, among others. In this case, the best strategy will be to turn to a professional.
Finally, it should always be remembered that we are not responsible for harassment or exploitation. We should always make sure that our performance is excellent, but others should make sure too.
