Turn job burn-out into positive action
Is your workday filled with tension, delays, muddled progress, incompetence from fellow workers or the feeling that you would rather be anywhere else than on the job? What happened to the fresh excitement, the challenge of meeting each new day at the office with willing eagerness?
Whether it’s constant conflict with the boss, non-stimulating job responsibilities, long, unappreciated hours or the nagging feeling that what you’re doing is totally without value to you personally – all of these describe the similar symptoms of an enervating, ultimately incapacitating disease called job burn-out.
It happens to many people across varied fields. Bad jobs are perceived as dead-ends, with the worker caught fast in a web of complacency, stress, and an agonizing feeling of insecurity. You know there must be a better job out there somewhere. But you’re too tired, too overworked and too uncertain to look for a new job. So you ignore the fact that your productivity is suffering, your temper is short, your patience gone and your respect for your boss is at an all time low.
Fear keeps you from looking for another job. Fear of a loss of security, fear of anyone wanting your skills, fear of entering the job market again after years out of it, fear of not being able to cope … the reasons are endless. But these types of fears are just traps. When it’s time to find a new job, you’ll know it. An important point to realize is that you are the only one who can solve your problem. The guidelines below can help you begin the search for a better job and a happier you:
- Don’t let the familiar confines of your present job keep you rooted in place. You may feel comfortable around co-workers and safe since you know what’s expected of you, and nothing about your position is strange or the least threatening. This is common amongst people who have been employed by the same company for several years. But this same security can become a prison.Perhaps the idea of changing jobs and giving up all the benefits, security and perks is too frightening to ponder. But you have to ask yourself what’s more important in the long run: your peace of mind and sense of value or a regular paycheck in a job you can’t stand?
- Start working on a resume or calling contacts. If you’re uncertain of what you want to do, take your time. Talk to different people and feel out the job marketplace. Be sure to let people know you’re interested in a job change. Some jobs never end up in the classifieds, which makes word-of-mouth job searches invaluable.
- Never underestimate your abilities. You can do anything you want to if you believe in yourself. Take college or vocational school courses if more education is required. Attend organization meetings in your field of interest and take the time to meet other people in the same job area. Read and study everything you can find about your new vocation.
- Remember, stagnation leads to failure. If you’re always too tired to learn something new, or don’t pay attention to what’s happening in your market, or you just can’t cope with looking for another job, you will lose out. It might take a while, but failure will catch up.