6 Ways to Love Your Job … Even If You Hate It
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CREDIT: Photo Credit: Karl Tate
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Hate your job? You're not alone. But with the job market the way it is, finding a new one might be a lot easier said than done. In the meantime, there are things you can do to learn to love your job. Even while you're on the hunt for a better gig, finding ways to love, or at least like, the job you have will help make the day go by faster.
Here are a few things you can do to love your job even if you really do hate it.
Make friends— You have to spend a lot of time at work. In fact, it's probably more time than you spend with your family. Nothing makes the day go faster than having a good laugh or sharing a cute story about your kids with your work friends. While you may not have a lot in common with all of your co-workers, odds are you can find something to talk about with at least some of them.
Make it homey— Even the most generic cubicle could benefit from a little makeover. Whether it's photos of your kids or a little memento from your last vacation, personalizing your work space can really make being there a lot more tolerable.
Ignore your boss — A big part of the reason a lot of people don't like their job is that their bosses are downright intolerable. Unfortunately, there's no quick cure for that particular problem. However, how you deal with your boss can help. If you know there's no pleasing him, then stop trying. Instead, focus on doing what you know will cause you the least stress and require the least interaction with said sadistic supervisor.
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Have a plan— The secret to any success is twofold: Have a long-term vision and a short-term plan to achieve it. Use your time at the job you hate to figure out exactly what kind of job you want next. When you've done that, formulate a plan on how to get there. No one's saying it will be easy, but you're a whole lot more likely to find your way to a better job than if you've got no plan at all.
Bide your time— If you truly can't stand your job, you should be using part of your day to look for a new one. It's much better to look for a job when you still have one than to wait until you're desperate. This way, you can afford to be picky and not get saddled with another job you hate.
Get some perspective— When all else fails, sometimes it helps to take a step back and get some perspective on your situation. There are lots of folks who'd be happy to have a job at all, and while yours may not be perfect, it's better than not being able to make the mortgage payments. While changing your point of view won't make your problems go away, it will help you muddle through until they do.
Jeanette Mulvey has been writing about business for more than 20 years."Mind Your Business" appears on BusinessNewsDaily every Monday. Follow Jeanette Mulvey on Twitter @jeanettebnd or BusinessNewsDaily @BNDarticles. We're also on Facebook & Google+.