By Bimbola Segun-Amao
‘Find a job you love’ is a popular statement but the reality is not everyone would get a job they love, some would find a job they love, some would create a job they love but a larger majority will have to devise ways to love what they have got or at least like it. A quick response to ‘I hate my job’ outburst is most likely ‘Quit, find the one you love..’ but that isn’t applicable if you live where I live. Jobs don’t come easy; whether they are menial (awry) jobs or the ones with jaw-dropping income. Quitting your job here without any other alternative is like shooting yourself in the leg; you’ll leap for long before you heal, trust me.
You may dislike some things about work; intimidating boss, management bureaucracy, the long commute…being consistently unhappy about them means you are going to be a miserable sad person considering that you spend more hours at work than you spend elsewhere. You may feel awful about the job itself; see it as what it is- a duty. Then, get it done. If you don’t enjoy work, it’s no big deal. Not everyone does, we just do it all the same.
Like a love-relationship, a new job initially intoxicates, then the emotion fizzles out gradually and if not given extra attention, the flame goes off. Changing your attitude and setting your affection on your job could make a huge difference and ignite a flame again.
These tips may help in resetting your attitude.
- Be grateful for the job. Having an income source is better than being broke. Focus on the actuality that you are making income from this job and you are not on anyone’s welfare package. Being grateful and taking pride in your labour can lift your spirit and make you look forward to a great day at work.
- Look for the challenge in your career. When there is nothing to look forward to, life becomes bland and monotonous. Become a student again, read a new book about your career and create an opportunity to implement what you read. Attend a conference, seminar or meet up and let enthusiasm sweep over you again.
- Build a social system around work. Don’t be a lone ranger, find friends at work. They may not necessarily have to come over for dinner at your place or hang out with you on weekends, but they have to be cool enough to laugh with at work and have a little chat, it eases stress.
- Analyse your day thoroughly. Identify the tasks you enjoy and the ones that seem herculean. The trick is to execute the boring dragging tasks first while you still have the enjoyable ones to look forward to later in the day.
- Shut down completely after work. Do not shut down only your electrical appliances before setting out after work, shut down your work mode too. The frustration, faces of your bellowing boss, the huge challenge, everything…let every shadow at work stay at work. It could be seemingly impossible but it’s achievable and you’ll be better off for it. Leave work and leave behind its issues too and have your evenings to yourself.
Have you had to make yourself love work? How did you go about it? Please share your experience.