The other day a friend sent me a text saying 'I'm fine, I just hate my work SO much'.
Oy. If only work was three hours a week and not 40 (plus).
If we are honest, work gets the best of us for around three to five days a week.
When we love our work - it's challenging, meaningful, inspiring and fun - spending time at work is life giving.
But what do you do when you hate your work?
First up. Get specific.
Why do you hate it?
Find a page or a person to thrash this one out with using the following helpful categories...
The three Cs...Content, colleagues and culture.
What is good and unsatisfactory about the content of your work - the topic of your work?
What is good and unsatisfactory about your colleagues (including supervisors)?
What is good and unsatisfactory about the culture of your workplace - xxxxxxx
Why are you still there?
This is an interesting question. It shows up the mental cage we have built about why we have no choice, have to stay, are stuck...
What are your beliefs about why you are still there? Do you feel like you have a choice in the matter?
Do you actually deeply want to stay but need to iron out some big kinks with colleagues, your own thinking or confidence, or your role?
Make a plan
Does leaving this job feel great in your body or not? If it feels delicious to leave, it's a good sign to go.
If it feels horrible to leave, it may be that you have kinks to iron out instead.
Either way, you'll have to grow to face these challenges and you get both growth (and the courage that comes with it) as well as the joy that comes with doing work you are happy with!
So it's time to make a plan.
Start looking for work that you want or at least that feels good for now (if you're unsure what you want). Use the information you gathered in section 1 to see what you like and would want in future roles, colleagues and work cultures.
Start working on those kinks! Get support you need to do it. Talk, think, practice and you'll be amazed at how quickly your work life can change.
You are not powerless, you can do this!
You might have been thinking about your work for ages, have tried different approaches and are feeling stuck, frustrated and need a hand. I'm your gal. I specialise in helping people thrive at work - whether that means finding a new job, starting a business or elevating their current role or business. Your work life can be SO much better. It can be awesome and you deserve awesome (we all do!).
Big love,
Lara xx
