I was recently asked by Rasmussen College what employees can you do when they hate their jobs? I hadn’t thought about my response being grounded in mindfulness, but I like that the writers picked up on that. It’s a great reminder for me, too.
One of the quickest ways to shift an experience at work or anywhere is to spend seven days listing ten things each day that you love about your job. It’s okay if you repeat some of the same benefits. This will help you identify what’s most important to you. Even if it’s simple things like the gourmet coffee or the easy commute, there are likely a few things you feel good about. Otherwise, you’d already be gone. Discover what those things are and you will get some insight into what you value most in your work and beyond.
Why Is It Important to Know Your Values?
We think that if we follow the same plan that someone else did, we will find success and happiness. That can only work if we value the same things as the people will follow.
What If Your Job Conflicts with Your Values?
If you value personal relationships, athletic prowess, or intellectual challenge more than money or fame, for example, you might not be happy taking a job solely based on pay. If that employer requires long hours and assigns you menial tasks, you will hate it even more.
Especially now, when the entire world is more connected than ever and jobs or freelancing opportunities can be created from your unique specifications, you might be less limited than you think.
What If You Have a Difficult Boss?
I get this question a lot. My answer often isn’t the one employees want to hear: the employment relationship goes both ways. This doesn’t mean I condone bad management, but in the same ways you don’t want to be viewed only as the worst things you’ve done at work, neither does your boss. Based on my comments in an online discussion with an unhappy employee, my colleague and fellow 48 Days Eagle, Daniel Crandall, created this worksheet to help you work through the thoughts, beliefs, wants, and needs related to your supervisor. This is especially helpful if you don’t think you’re in a position to make a major change yet.
Want more tips?
Read the full Rasmussen College article
Master Your Employment Relationships from Job Post to Termination