Hate Your Job? 3 Steps for Convincing Yourself to Get Out of Bed and Face the Workday

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• November 14, 2013
• By Christie Mims
• 8 Comments

You open your eyes, remember it’s a weekday and feel a crushing weight come down on your chest as you think, “I really don’t want to go to work again. What am I going to do?!”

We’ve all been there, dreading the moment when we have to get out of bed and go to work — and nothing seems to make it any better. It’s enough to make you go crazy and want to pull your hair out.

Who are all of those people talking about how much they love their jobs? Are they lying through their teeth, or is there something they know that can make you hate your job a little less? Here are some steps to make it easier:

1. Take stock: what do you hate the most?

It’s easy to lump all of the “Blerrgghhhhh, I hate my job” feelings into one big category of “Please don’t make me go!”

Take stock and pinpoint the problem so you can do something about it. (Click here to Tweet this thought.) What do you hate? Your boss? The work itself? Your work environment or coworkers?

What’s driving you the most crazy? Though it’s easy to say “All of it!”, that thinking won’t get your posterior out of bed. Think about each reason for a moment and see what makes your gut clench the most. That’s your first clue.

2. Zero in on the problem

OK. You’ve identified the problem, which means you’ve taken the hardest step. Identifying the enemy is half the battle, right?

Next, focus on the issue at hand and see what solutions come to mind:

If your boss is the problem…

If you’re dealing with a difficult boss, get clear on the biggest issue first. What do you need from your boss to eliminate some of your stress? Is it less management? More management? Or a complete personality overhaul?

If it’s something that can be fixed (like more or better communication), start by scheduling a meeting and asking for what you need.

If you answered “a complete personality overhaul,” consider your options. Can you make a lateral move within your company? Is there a way to shift who manages you? Can you work with a mentor to help you talk with your boss? Or is this a big enough issue it’s time to move on to the next job?

Think about your best, most realistic option, and then move toward it.

If your work is the problem…

Step one of dealing with your work is to get clear on what part of your work is causing you the most pain. Do you feel like you’re bad at your job? Are you bored by your job? Has your job changed into something you don’t love anymore, and you aren’t sure how to find your way back?

If you know your job isn’t a good fit for you, get feedback on what you could do instead. Can you delegate certain tasks and pick up others? Can you get training or mentoring? Is there a way to change to a new job or opportunity?

If you’re bored, what would make you feel more engaged? How do you need to be challenged to be happy? By learning new skills? Tackling a new project? Figure it out and find it at your company, or start looking elsewhere.

If your job has changed and you don’t like the direction it’s going in, it may be time to talk to your boss and see what your options are. Can you change roles or responsibilities to get back to what you love? Is the change irrevocable? What do you need to do to love some of your tasks again?

If your environment or coworkers are the problem…

In some ways, this is the easiest of the problems to solve. Can you switch desks or offices? Work from home or in another office? If none of these is a good fit, it may be time to look elsewhere.

3. Take action

A lot of the advice in this article ends with, “And if you don’t like it, look for something else.” Because the truth is, taking action — even if it involves looking for another job — is the best answer to ending your unhappiness.

Getting out there, seeing your options, learning your market worth and thinking about what makes you happy can open the door for opportunity and give you much-needed perspective on what you have. That might be enough to make you wake up and feel better about what you do.

You can do this!

Christie Mims is an expert career coach for smart women who aren’t willing to settle for anything less than career happiness. Want to know the six simple ways to find your passion? Find the answer by clicking here, and follow Christie on Facebook and Twitter for more career advice.

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