Ask EDN Question
I hate my job. Everyday it gets harder and harder to go. I spend over an hour, laying in bed, scrolling through social media, reading articles, instead of getting ready, until the very last minute. When I am at work, I do the bare minimum. I don’t know if it is that I lack motivation or I hate my job, but I just feel like I’m going through the motions everyday living for the weekend. I’ve thought about quitting, but I don’t mind the paycheck. Any advice on staying motivated and keeping your head in the game?
Dear Reader:
When we first read your question, everyone on the team agreed that we could relate with what your going through. Everyone hits a moment in the professional life where you just, for lack of a better word, feel like blah! But it’s okay, it’s part of the process, and we are going to get you through it. The PD Team got some wise counsel from folks on our different social media platforms and we’ve included their feedback in our response.
First, everything in life, the good and the bad, happens for you-not to you, so know that there is something to be gained in this moment of your life. With that said, use this moment to ask yourself some important questions about your future. For example, do you see yourself working at your organization in the future? How can you use the experience and knowledge that you’ve gained to your benefit? What can you see yourself doing? Do you see yourself advancing in your current organization, or do you see yourself moving elsewhere, or perhaps starting out on your own? What is it that you don’t like about this position and why? Sometimes when you lack motivation, it’s best to step back and and ask yourself what your purpose is. Once you’ve figured that out, you can move on to the next step.
Second, if you decide based on your assessment that you are going to leave or stay, it is important to remain engaged in your current position while looking for the next job or building your own thing. No one is every always a 100% happy at work all the time, but you have to make a decision to stay engaged even when its rough. Remember that a lot of great business ideas come from people who hated their jobs so much, they wanted to work for themselves-that could be you. You can also choose to work for another company, so take this time, and time you’re getting a paycheck to look into other positions that may interest you. Network, prepare your resume, review job descriptions, update your LinkedIn and review Linkedin profiles for people with the position that you want, and prepare yourself for what’s next.
One note of caution we will offer is that you should be strategic and smart about how and where you are looking for in your next position. We advise that you don’t look while you’re at work or be blatant because that may get you fired. It’s best, to leave your current position with a good recommendation at the very least if your hope is to move to another company. Quitting always seems like the best fix when your over a job but it may not be the real answer to your dilemma. So do some work to figure out what it is that will allow you to live a purposeful and meaningful life.
Lastly, if your still feeling stuck and need help, talk to someone. It can be a family member, a pastor, a good friend, a mentor, coach or a therapist. In our community sometimes it’s faux pas to talk about your issues you may be facing, so we recommend talking to a third party, preferably someone neutral who can offer some sound advice and perspective.
Don’t be so hard on yourself. Give yourself a break and rest in the truth that this is lull is part of your process.
We wish you the best. Be sure to follow up and let us know how things turn out.
Best,
EDN PD Team
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