If you dream of running your own business, yet out of necessity are having to remain in a job to keep on top of the bills and make ends meet, it can be a very frustrating situation to be in. Similarly, if you’re just stuck in a bit of a career rut it can grind on you to the point that you end up feeling quite unmotivated and depressed.
See, many of us find ourselves settling for something less than we deserve, on the career front, yet we hang in there keeping on keeping on… but over time, this wears us down and we end up feeling very frustrated.
Here are some tips on what to do if your job is getting you down.
TELL SOMEONE HOW YOU’RE FEELING
All too often, we keep our feelings bottled up; preferring to not let on about how we’re really feeling; unfortunately, this pressure cooker like approach is a temporary fix that often leads to an overwhelming emotional reaction as a result of holding things for so long, and then, finally the straw that breaks the camel’s back ensures you completely lose it with either a colleague, a customer, or even your boss.
The other mistake people make is they talk to everyone except for the one person, or group of people, that can actually help alleviate their stress and resolve the problem – such as your line manager If your employer knows the reason for your unhappiness and is in the position to do something to resolve or ease the situation, they normally will. It can take courage, but it’s worth the risk – as what’s the worst that can happen?
CHANGE YOUR CAREER
If you’re unhappy to the point you would like to change jobs, or perhaps even career paths, this is something you should take action on. Today, you can learn advanced skills in your spare time that will enable you to change career paths without having to uproots and leave your job.
Making such a change can be scary, which is why easing yourself into a new career path by doing something like an online master of social work whilst you are still working in your current job is a good option.
Another good option is to mark a date on the calendar that you will leave work. See, so many times we start something as a temporary solution which we then get stuck in; if you’re unhappy you need to make a change – marking a date on the calendar is a great way to get your reticular activating system looking for new opportunities and preparing your subconscious mind to take remedial action.
In summary, when you’re at your wits end with work – don’t just stick it out. Do something about it. This doesn’t need to be as drastic as leaving your job, it could be as simple as changing your working hours or as significant as learning a whole new set of skills, but it’s important to share your feelings with someone that is in the position to help.
