When Work is Unbearable

Troubling clients, ungrateful teammates, constant pressure, or an insecure boss drag you to the pits.

The thought of going to work is nearly unbearable.

12 reasons you hate work:

1. Pervasive dissatisfaction. When everything bothers you, it’s about you.
2. Under-appreciation. The people around you don’t appreciate your splendor. Who does?
3. You irritate others. Funny how they don’t appreciate your inner control freak.
4. Over-persistence. You keep saying, “I just need to press through and things will turn around.” But, things don’t turn around. Persistence has a dark side.
5. Cyclical downturns. You’ve been “on” too long.
6. Environmental factors. I’ve heard that lack of sunlight is depressing. Blame it on the sun.
7. Under-utilization. You aren’t using your creativity.
8. Isolation. You aren’t connected to team mates.
9. Pressure. You’re doing your best, but your best isn’t good enough.
10. Floating dissatisfaction. You want something better, but can’t figure out what.
11. Constant distraction. Sadly, important work gets done in coffee shops and kitchen tables.
12. No hope. You can’t figure out how to make things better.

12 things to do when you hate work:

1. Get angry enough to take action. Don’t throw a tantrum, but use the energy of frustration for useful ends.
2. Determine what you want in the short-term. Long-term thinking is a downer when you’re down.
3. Interview for other jobs.
4. Don’t quit. You need to eat.
5. Reward yourself when you finish a task.
6. Talk it over with a trusted mentor. (Outside your organization.)
7. Make a to-do list and check off stuff.
8. Make a to-don’t list.
9. Take short walks.
10. Take a couple days off so you can tune out.
11. Enroll in a course.
12. Begin journaling. Take three minutes every day to jot down your thoughts and feelings.

Bonus: Make a list of complaints, just for the fun of it.

How would you answer one of the “12 reasons you hate work?”