After days, months, and maybe even years of searching for your dream job, or a stepping-stone to your dream job, you finally landed the position you were looking for. The only problem is, you end up hating what you thought would be the perfect job, and it is sucking the fun out of the rest of your life. Sound familiar? Well, you’re not alone.
Job related depression can come from many things, and sometimes you may not even know why. You could be having trouble connecting with your co-workers. You could be having trouble doing the work required; or could be having trouble establishing a positive relationship with your boss. Whatever the reason is, it is important to evaluate what is bothering you so much and find ways to correct these issues.
Below are some ways that can help you investigate why your job is making you unhappy, so that you can start making some improvements in your work life before it starts impacting your personal life.
Talk to a Co-Worker You Trust
Sometimes, your outlook can improve if you confide in a co-worker. Sharing what makes you angry or upset at work with someone who can relate will help you feel like you aren’t alone in your feelings. You don’t want any of your feelings to be shared with the whole office, though, so make sure that whoever you are talking to is trustworthy and can keep your thoughts to themselves.
See Where You Can Improve
No one ever wants to hear this, but sometimes when you are feeling disgruntled at work, you stop working as hard as you can. The best way to assess what is really bothering you is to focus on the things you can control. Get to work on time, work as hard as you can, and make sure that you are giving it your all. If working your hardest still makes you unhappy, at least you know that whatever is bothering you has nothing to do with your work ethic or motivation.
Build Up Your Life Outside of Work
When you are unhappy at work, you seem to live for nights and weekends. Make sure that you are making the most of your life outside of work to help prevent taking your work negativity home with you. Throw yourself into your hobbies, find new ways to get out and have fun, and spend time with the people in your life that make you the happiest. Changing your attitude outside of work could help you feel better when you get to your desk on Monday.
Take Care of Yourself
When you’re feeling down or stressed, it can be easy to eat junk food, not work out, sleep too little or hit too many happy hours. You may also be inclined to stay in bad relationships or keep negative people around. Sometimes our stress and depression can come from other factors not related to work, so be sure to check in with yourself and see if there are other factors that are making you feel down that are perhaps not related to work. Hit the gym, eat healthy whole foods, and take a break from a stressful friendship or relationship. Sometimes it’s just a matter of taking care of ourselves a little more.
Talk to Your Boss
If you know what or who is making you unhappy at work, bring it up with your boss during a one-on-one meeting. Any good boss will want to know if something is going on in the office, and they’ll help you come up with solutions. If your boss is unhelpful or not receptive to your sharing your feelings, it could be time to find another place to work.
See A Therapist
If you find you are feeling continually down for more than 2 weeks, it may be time to see a professional. Depression and anxiety is extremely common and there is no shame in seeing a therapist. Many of us prolong our suffering because we don’t reach out and get the help we need. Just about every single one of us goes through challenging times, so reach out to a professional if you find yourself unable to get out of a rut.
If All Else Fails, Start Looking For a New Job
This is the absolute last resort, but sometimes even when you give it your all and talk to your higher ups about your dissatisfaction, you and the job just don’t mesh well together. This could create feelings of failure, but don’t let that get to you. Sometimes things don’t work out, no matter how hard you work or try to fix things, and that is 100% okay. A new opportunity could be exactly what you need to get some pep in your step and fall in love with your career all over again. Remember, taking care of yourself is your number one priority. Your job should not be making you miserable. We spend a large portion of our lives working, so it’s vital to our happiness and well-being to be at jobs we enjoy.
Sure, all jobs can be stressful and frustrating at times, but your occupation should not cause depression or undue stress. If it does, it’s time to move on to something better and healthier.
