These days, with relatively high unemployment, those who have a job at all should consider themselves fortunate. Even so, it seems job dissatisfaction is rampant.
People who wax lyrical about how they can’t believe they get paid to do what they love make me ill. I don’t care how much you love your job — and by the way, congratulations on that and I hope it lasts — there will come a time when your job will get you down. Guaranteed.
When this happens, it’s really important to a.) not be surprised and b.) figure out ways to cope. Below are some common sense tips based on my own experience for making it through those times when you just wish you could quit your job, but can’t. These are things I’m still learning myself.
1.) Accept this as something normal and cyclical. I don’t mean to come across as inherently cynical and negative, but I do think we should just accept that there are peaks and valleys in our work lives, just as in our personal lives. When disappointment at work comes, too often we think we’re the only ones who’ve ever experienced this. We think we’re alone. That’s not true. Everyone experiences dissatisfaction at work at some point or another. It’s important to understand this.
2.) Find something to do that will give you satisfaction. One literary work that I often refer back to from my undergraduate liberal arts education is Voltaire’s Candide. I don’t remember the whole story but I do remember the overall theme of cultivating our own gardens, and this has stuck with me. There is very little in our lives over which we have control, but if we narrow our focus for a time on something specific, and cultivate that work area with success, it’s surprising how much that can help us to eventually re-emerge with a more positive attitude.
3.) Focus outside of yourself. If you’re like me, frustration at work can consume you and make you inwardly focused. This isn’t healthy at all. There is always someone else who is in a worse situation. I don’t care what you’re going through, someone else is going through something worse than that, and although sometimes hard to accept, you need to remember this. Better still, reach out to other people in general and help them. Get your mind off of yourself. I believe we aren’t truly happy or satisfied with whatever we do unless we learn to freely give of ourselves to others.
4.) Keep your eyes open for other opportunities. Early on in my library career, I made a habit out of trolling standard job ad sites, not because I was continually searching for a better job, but because I found job postings interesting and informative to watch over time. I’ve stuck with that habit all these years and I think it’s a good one because it helps me to see where my chosen profession is heading; what the trends are; what opportunities might be available. If you have your eyes set on the long term and you pay attention to trends, you can work out ways to ensure that you gain requisite experience or how you can eventually move on to a better job opportunity.
5.) Lean on your network for support. My chosen profession, library and information science, is really a small world. Everyone tends to know everyone else. Spend time getting to know other people in your career by actively participating in professional societies or organizations, and look for ways to network with others in your work area. This doesn’t have to be as self-serving and shallow as it sounds. When you go through a rough patch in your career, it’s amazing how much it helps to have colleagues and friends to turn to who can provide you with a sounding board, or even help you find that next great job. This ties into #3 above as well, because you may be asked to be that support to someone else some day.
6.) Realize there is a reason for this season. Something I’ve greatly struggled with when I get frustrated and dissatisfied with my job is understanding the Why? Why is this happening (again)? What good does this do? I believe God has His hand over every detail of our lives and I am slowly learning to accept that there is a reason for this trial, for that difficult situation. I need to truly cast all my cares on Him and remember that He is in charge, He is the one who guides my footsteps. Maybe that’s the main reason why He allows me (or you) to encounter difficulties. It’s a reminder that all things are in His hands.
7.) Be thankful for what you have. It’s incredibly hard to be thankful when you face trials in work or any other part of your life. But as mentioned in #3, there are always other people who face worse things. Practice being thankful for what you have. Consciously take the time to count your blessings, even if you don’t feel like it. Do this as often as possible. Remember all the good things you have and how you’ve made it through previous problems. It’s amazing how this can help adjust your attitude and expectations.
Face it, work can be very dissatisfying. There is no “silver bullet” or simple solution to make things better. The seven points I’ve listed above help me to get through; maybe they’ll help you, too.