Before 2020 (2019 to be exact) a global poll conducted by Gallup found that only 15% of people were engaged at work. That meant that an astronomical 85% of people were unhappy in their jobs.
Now we’re on the other side of 2020 and (as a write this) we’re seeing The Great Resignation (aka The Big Quit). People are leaving their jobs by the millions.
Why are so many people unhappy with their jobs? Why would so many go so far as to say they hate their jobs? Why are people so fed up that they’re willing to walk away?
In one way or another, the year 2020 certainly made people stop and think about what’s truly important in life. It appears many people realized that their jobs are taking more from them than they’re providing.
Can you relate? Does your job pay the bills but leave you feeling empty? Are you thankful to have a job but struggling to make ends meet? Are you dedicated to your work but feel like it’s taking more out of you than you’re able to give?
Let’s look at the top 5 reasons why you might feel like you “hate” your job…
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You’re unfulfilled.
Feeling fulfilled in your work – doing work that fills your heart with joy – gives you a feeling of great purpose and also helps you tolerate many other things that might otherwise make you hate your job. When you’re fulfilled you’re energized, have a deep sense of happiness and know your value.
Fulfilled: feeling happiness and satisfaction feeling that one’s abilities and talents are being fully used
When you’re unfulfilled, no amount of appreciation, support or even money can make you feel satisfied.
Unfulfillment is caused by many different things. It may simply be that you don’t feel like you’re making a difference. You might have a nagging feeling that you were meant to do more with your life. Or you might simply feel like your current work is meaningless and your talents aren’t being fully used.
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Your boss doesn’t value you.
Do you feel undervalued by your boss? Do you feel like no matter how hard you work, how many hours you work, and how dedicated you are, your boss doesn’t notice?
Maybe your boss even criticizes you, despite how hard you try to please them.
Does this lack of appreciation make you feel undervalued? Does it make you feel unappreciated? Do you even find that you’re critical of yourself (you tell yourself it’s your fault)?
Not all leaders are good leaders. When dedicated, hardworking, detail-oriented employees feel undervalued it’s because of a lack of quality leadership. If you’re a hard worker and you deliver quality work on time, every time, it’s not your fault that your boss doesn’t value you.
As someone who works very hard, is dedicated to quality and has been in a position where I was undervalued, this one really hits home for me. Does it hit home for you too?
Just like the feeling of being unfulfilled, feeling undervalued can be crushing – even to the extent that it steals all the happiness you have for your work.
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You’re overworked.
Do you work 40 hours a week, and then some? You answer calls and emails after hours – maybe even while you’re at important family events or on vacation. You’re available 24/7.
Been there, done that!
Maybe you love your work and have a hard time walking away from it at the end of the day, so you tack on a few extra work hours each night. Or maybe the boss and company you work for take advantage of you by working you after hours – whether that be in the form of late-night calls or piling work on your desk with unrealistic expectations for when it should be completed.
At this point you’ve likely realized that the long hours and lack of boundaries are permanent. You may have first thought it was temporary because of a busy time of year or big project. Unfortunately, people who are overworked rarely return to a normal workload.
At least, not until they set boundaries and stick with them. And that can be difficult if you’re new to setting healthy boundaries! I have something to help you with boundaries, at the end of this blog.
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You’re underpaid.
Money isn’t everything. But money SUPPORTS nearly everything. Money is an energy source. It’s the direct result of the value you offer the world and your ability to capitalize on that value.
There are plenty of reasons why you may feel like you’re underpaid – you’re barely making ends meet, you’ve been with the company for an extended period of time, you’re overwhelmed (in life and at work), you’re overworked, undervalued, etc.
Of course these things would make you feel underpaid. Because money is an energy source (as I said above) you likely feel as though you’re giving too much energy – in one way or another – and getting too little (money) in return.
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Your coworkers.
Ah, coworkers. Some you love and some you’d love to never have to see again. Your coworkers are your teammates. If they aren’t pulling their weight it puts a lot of stress on you.
Do you have a coworker that does any of the following?
- Doesn’t do their fair share of the work (or pick up slack)
- Simply doesn’t do their work
- Gives their work to other people
- Points fingers at others (blames others)
- Complains
- Doesn’t show up
- Leaves when work gets hard
- Is dishonest
- Micromanages
These are just a few examples of the issues people commonly have with their coworkers and are enough to leave you feeling completely drained. And rightfully so!
These five things aren’t easy fixes – I won’t pretend that they are. Not if you intend to keep your current job and push through as best you can (without the tools you need to set better boundaries). Because of a lack of boundaries (often attached to your sense of self-worth) you probably feel stuck between a rock and a hard place. You see no way out.
The good news is that these issues can be fixed – whether you decide to stay or leave. But it’ll take some work. Hard work at that.
Are you reading this and thinking “I need to quit my job.” I completely understand. A bad work environment can wreak havoc on your life and life is too precious to give half of it to a job you hate. Sometimes, starting fresh is the best way forward.
If you’re ready to find something new – a job that you love – have you considered working from home?
Working from home is a simple as doing the work you do from your office but in the comfort of your own home.
I’ve been working from home since 2008 and it’s one of the greatest blessings in my life. Being able to make my own hours, choose my wage and spend all the time I want to with family, friends and on vacation is as wonderful as it sounds. Plus, there’s far less work drama! How amazing does that sound?
To help you know if working from home would be ideal for you, I’ve created the below guide.
This guide helps you make three important decisions.
Decision 1: What will you offer? What skills do you have that can be of service to others?
Decision 2: What will you stop doing? As someone who works from home, what are your new non-negotiables? What are you no longer willing to do?
Decision 3: What is your vision? What do want out of your home-based career? What are your big dreams? (This one is the most fun to determine, so we’ll save it for the end!)
Click here to grab your copy – it’s a gift from me to you!