6 Ways To Make Your Job Suck Less

Can’t quit your job just yet for the sake of the benefits, paycheck, or just plain fear? Or maybe you’ve been at the same company for years and know that moving on would mean a big drop in salary. Yet, you slog in each day to a job that just plain sucks.

People get trapped in jobs for all kinds of reasons. If you want to quit but can’t (or at least not yet), here are six ways to stay motivated and make the best of things.

1. Know Your Future

If you have a clear understanding of where you want to be in 1, 3, or even 5 years, then your job will become much more tolerable. Having something to look forward to can mean the difference between hopelessness and determination. Choose determination.

If you don’t know where you are heading, consider hiring a coach or getting a mentor. Take advantage of complimentary sessions and test out your partnership with various coaches.

2. Modify Your Role

You might not be able to change your job or circumstances, but you can change your mindset. Rather than focusing on the negative, identify aspects of the role that you do enjoy. Maybe you could offer to train new recruits, write some content for the social media sites, or organize a social event. Alternatively, you might put forward a business case for spending time with another department or a customer or supplier, to strengthen relationships or improve processes. At the very least, it will give you a more positive change of scenery. You never know until you ask.

3. Be Better Than Your Job

If your job sucks and you allow yourself to think that you suck too, then you’re sunk. Do not allow yourself to be a byproduct of a miserable job. Know in your mind that this job is simply a means to an end and that someday you will be doing something better. Also, know that you are not your job. You just work there. Don’t confuse the two.

4. Develop New Skills

When you feel stuck or like you are stagnating, turbo-charge your skills development. Look for training courses, find a mentor or coach (hello!), or take an evening class. Learning new things will improve your employability and boost your morale. Browse options like Coursera, Lynda, SkillShare, Udemy, or even a few webinars can infuse new energy into your day-to-day.

5. Enjoy Your Passions

If you’re lucky enough to know what really makes you happy, you need to go do it! Even if it’s for an hour each week, you have to. Why is this so important? Because it just might keep you from snapping and doing something stupid like yelling at your boss and quitting.

If you don’t know what you love to so, hire a coach, become Sherlock and take assessments to figure out your strengths and interests. My “go-to’s” are Myers Briggs and Values In Action (VIA) and StrengthsFinder 2.0. Or, conversely, think about what really breaks your heart — that is a huge clue on what you’re passionate about.

6. Plan Your Exit

Even if you can’t leave just yet, planning your exit can improve your mood. Draft your letter of resignation. Reconnect with former co-workers (network!). Brush up your resume and Linkedin profile. You never know what may happen.

If you’ve dreamed of expressing your entrepreneurial spirit, why not start a business in your spare time? ‘This might be an online retail site, a part-time franchise opportunity, or providing services like tutoring or translation. Perhaps you can run this alongside your main job until it’s bringing you in enough revenue to quit your day job?

It’s easy to feel stuck in a rut when you hate your job. But the more opportunities you see for yourself — and take steps to create — the more positive and motivated you will feel.

If you don’t like where you are, move! You are not a tree.

~ Jim Rohn