Unhappy at Work

Did you know that 33% of the working population is unhappy at work and wants to resign from their current roles?

On average, a working person spends 90,000 hours at work until retirement. That’s a significant portion of our lives dedicated to our jobs! By the age of 30, many people may have shifted between seven to eight jobs.

How many individuals choose their major based on their parents’ influence, the last available option, or simply lack of direction? Many do, and this can lead us to end up in jobs we dislike, contributing to a population that feels unhappy at work.

People can dislike their jobs for various reasons, just as there are reasons to love them:

1. This isn’t what we want to do for the rest of our lives.
2. A bad manager is often cited as the top reason for leaving a company.
3. A toxic company culture is another significant motivator to quit a role.

Despite these challenges, I believe we always have options in life. These can be summarised as follows:

1. Stay unhappy and complain about it, sinking into misery because we feel we can’t afford to leave—or at least we think we can’t.
2. Quit our job—easier said than done, especially when it feels like there are no other jobs available.
3. Change our perspective and look at the situation differently (this can be challenging, but it is possible).

Here are some ways you can move away from a job you hate:

Access your situation and determine ways you can use your current role to prepare for your next move. Consider what new skills you can learn from your present job.

Talk about your lack of engagement with your manager. Sometimes, we tend to assume that they know, and in reality, sometimes, they really don’t, and they are not faking it. Have a serious career conversation with them. If they can’t do anything about it, at least you voiced it, and 50% of the problem is solved.

Tell your network (your smart network) that you are looking for a new opportunity, and they might just connect you to someone.

Focus on yourself and your self-development. When was the last time you learned something new that up levels your essential life skills and prepares you for your next move?

Without action, nothing happens. Get a mentor or coach, start with the first step, and once you do it, things will roll, and your energy will shift into making your new role your new reality instead of focusing on how miserable you are in your current one.

I believe you should pursue what you love, as this is the only way to avoid feeling like you’re working. It is what it is, and it’s up to you to make the best of your circumstances. Do you want to spend 90,000 hours of your life feeling unhappy, or are you ready to be bold and brave?

Find your purpose and monetize your passion! Grow every day!

Meet David Monro-Jones, reality specialist, coach, IAPC&M COO and Head of Accreditation.

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