Sadly, being dissatisfied at work is a common fate, with over 50% of the US claiming that they don’t enjoy their current job. But what are the reasons behind this? And is it possible to change how we feel?
If you really dread going into the office each day, you want to know why before you start thinking about other options. It’s not always practical to hand in our resignation whenever we are frustrated or overwhelmed.
Below, we will talk about five questions that you should ask yourself if you’re unhappy at work.
Let’s get started.
Am I being mistreated?
Being mistreated at work is undoubtedly an acceptable reason to be unhappy. Everybody has the right to be shown equality and respect in the workplace, regardless of factors such as race, age, gender, disability, or religion.
If this is the case for you, it’s important to remember that you don’t need to suffer alone. Labor lawyers work for employees and can help you build a claim for things such as harassment and discrimination.
What solutions have I tried?
Before you suddenly decide to leave, it’s always a good idea to try out a few other solutions first. For example, if you believe you’re overworked, speak to your employer about cutting down your hours. You may consider remote work too.
If you’re clashing with fellow team members, bring up your concerns with the HR department. Sometimes you just need a few changes to rediscover your passion again.
How long have I been feeling this way?
We all have bad days, but if you’re unhappy regularly, then it’s understandable that you may want to start looking at other job opportunities. Nobody should sacrifice their mental wellbeing for a position.
Alternatively, figuring out when you started feeling this way may help you determine the exact cause. Then you can try out a few different solutions as we mentioned above.
Are there any positives to my current job?
Another vital thing to do when assessing your work life is to weigh up the pros and cons. It’s easy to get stuck on the negatives, but it shouldn’t prevent you from thinking about the things you do enjoy.
Perhaps you get along with your coworkers or actually enjoy the type of work you are doing. Determining this will help you make your final decision.
Is it time to move on?
Finally, once you’ve gone through the above, you can start thinking about if it’s time to move forward. Remember, you may want to have another job lined up before officially resigning.
It’s also vital that you are in a suitable financial situation. Otherwise, you may have further problems later on down the track.
Final words
While being unhappy at work can certainly be disheartening and challenging, it won’t be that way forever. Once you’ve established what the problem is, you can either try and fix it or look for another position. Again, those negative emotions will be temporary.