Man, F*** This Job -- 3 Ways to Revive a Job that You’re Over
Having feelings of discontent and annoyance with your job is something that most people experience at one point or another, even when you are doing something you are passionate about. But when the moments where we don't want to attend another meeting or read another email arise, we recognize that we depend on this job to pay the upcoming electricity bill (whew, those winter storm electricity bills have been ASTRONOMICAL!) So, what do you do when these moments of annoyance turn into a slump that lasts weeks or even months? Read below to learn how to recognize if you are in a work slump, and more importantly, how to get out of it!
Signs of the Work Slump
Have you ever heard of the Sunday Scaries? The Sunday Scaries might be butterflies, added exhaustion, or an actual pit in your stomach when you realize that your weekend has come to an end and that you have to either physically or metaphorically clock-in on Monday morning. This is often the first sign, coupled with difficulty getting out of bed in the morning, which can signal you might be in a work slump! Other signs you might notice are disinterest in your current job projects, strained relationships with your co-workers and/or supervisor, a greater incidence of errors or mistakes that you or making, or just plain discontentment with your title or salary. It would help if you pinpointed the reason(s) why your attitude at and towards your work has changed so that you can develop an action plan to counteract it.
That’s the Reason … Right There!
Once you've uncovered "why" you're unhappy with your job, you must consider your next steps. Changing your mindset can address some reasons, such as how your approach your work; other reasons might help you realize that it is time for a new job. Regardless, you want to make sure that you are intentional in your next steps to gain peace of mind regarding work.
1. Use Your Vacation and Other Benefits Available
There is a popular meme that circulates every few months, reminding the masses that we are replaceable to our employers, and as a result, we should use our paid-time-off (PTO). It took me a long time to be swayed to this side, but YES, there is no need to work every day, especially if you have PTO days, and work is affecting your mental health and wellness. Sometimes even one day off can make a world of difference to how you approach your work through the remainder of the month. Therefore, if you have the days and can afford to, I highly encourage you to take your days. Taking a random Wednesday off might be the reboot and refresh needed to get you back on track.
2. Find Meaning in Your Work
When you first get hired, the thrill of starting a new job with a new salary often makes you eager and excited to be onboarded. The first few months in your position, you are networking, finding your lane amongst your peers, looking for innovative ideas to suggest, and overall, just at the top of your game. However, as time goes on, sometimes this spark can start to fade. Therefore, as a step to revitalize your job, you must remember why you accepted the position in the beginning. Yes, you needed a job, yes, the salary was nice. But what about your interest in working within the company and expanding your network with like-minded individuals? What about the opportunity to take advantage of training and professional development to advance your career or work on upcoming projects? Remind yourself of the good and go from there.
3. Set Goals for Yourself
If you have read enough of my blogs, you know that I'm always going to suggest a list. But seriously, writing a list of goals that you want to accomplish within the week or month can give you a feeling of productivity and success. When you are compiling your list of goals, they can include pushing yourself to spearhead new projects, completing your to-do list daily, or even reinventing your workspace. Many of us are coming upon our first anniversary of working from home. Therefore, looking at the same walls might have become stale. Even if you are working in the office, re-decorating your workspace can be a two-fold goal that makes you feel good and gets you excited to be in the workspace. Setting goals for yourself can motivate you both personally and professionally; I dare you to give it a try!
Realizing When It Is Time to Move On
If you have made several attempts to revitalize your job and work to no avail, it might be time to consider moving on. Outgrowing positions or companies is natural, more so today than in previous decades. Typically, an employee stays with one company for an average of four years before deciding to move on. Moving on, however, can look different for each person. You might seek the same position in a different company, yearn for a managerial or supervisory level position, or decide to change sectors completely. Regardless of your aspirations, though, I encourage you to think critically about your next steps before leaving the job that you are at now.
Diana Williams, Resume Tailor
