I Hate Working Too

You keep saying, “I hate working. Work sucks. How can I make it better?”

Psychologists, philosophers and poets believe life is more meaningful and enjoyable when you lean into passion, purpose and prosperity. If you feel something in your bones and commit to pursuing it, you will be rewarded.

I think that’s mostly garbage.

I’ve always been skeptical of the adage, “Do what you love, the money will follow.” That’s because you could pursue your passion but work alongside jerks who ruin it for you. You might find your purpose, but it might not pay well. And the definition of prosperity is relative and can change based on age, external economic forces, or even your medical condition.

Here are a few realistic and practical thoughts if you hate working and want to make a change.

Pick one thing you hate about working and try to fix it.

You probably have a million reasons why your career sucks. Pick just one and solve it. Hate waking up in the morning? Make a case for flexible work hours. Struggle through meetings? Say no to a few requests and see what happens. Is your boss a jerk? Collect documentation and work on a plan to report him to human resources. Once you solve one problem, start over and solve another. Not only will work get a little bit better, but you’ll also distract yourself from work with this unique project.

Look for a new job that doesn’t feel like work.

For everybody out there who hates working, I feel your pain. Work sucks, but adulthood is expensive. When I struggled as a human resources manager, I went on a journey to find my next role. I wanted a job that didn’t feel like “work.” I started writing on the internet for no money. Then AOL paid me to write a few articles back in the day. Before you know it, I was able to pivot like a professional. Now I’m a writer who hates being on the internet, but a hard day of creating B2B content is better than an easy day being an HR manager. Practice your pivot before you make it official, and your transition to a new job won’t be so hard. 

Dare them to fire you.

Do you know how difficult it is to fire someone? In America, we fear lawyers. In Europe, leaders fear unions and works councils. You could do 20% less work and get away with it, trust me. Just make sure your 80% is top-notch, and you’ll be just fine. Take some PTO, leave work on time, stop checking your email on the weekends. Those three pieces of advice will make you hate your job a little less.

No matter what, I have some news for you: Work will always suck. As my Gramma said, that’s why they call it work. You get paid for your discomfort. Snuggling with puppies is marvelous, but it doesn’t pay the bills.

Want to make your job less taxing on your soul? Display self-leadership and solve some of your problems, find a job that isn’t as awful, or work a little less often. Wish I had more sentimental answers for you. I also wish I had a winning lottery ticket that we could share. Wouldn’t that be great?

I know you hate work, but it doesn’t have to be this way forever. The critical differentiator in solving this problem is you and your mindset. Good luck! 

 

Want more help with fixing work for yourself?

My book, Betting on You: How to Put Yourself First and (Finally) Take Control of Your Career comes out on January 12th. I have written detailed and actionable ideas for how you can fix work for yourself and stop saying “I hate work” all the time. Pre-order your copy of Betting on You here.