Have you ever had a job that you dread going to?
Did you count down the hours until you could clock off? Maybe even a job that on your way there, contemplate just skipping town and starting a new life just so you didn’t have to go into work? We’ve all been there.
I’ve had a job where I would sit in my car and cry before my shifts.
I’d have to give myself pep talks to even clock in. I watched the clock just waiting for it to be time to go home.
Then I’d have to do it all over again the next day. The weight of that job didn’t just go away after I clocked off; it bled into my everyday life. It affected my mental health, physical health, and social life.
When you hate working a job it carries over into other parts of your life and can affect you in multiple ways.
If you resent your employer, then it’s time to find a different job. If the anger you feel about your work keeps you up at night, drains your energy, and causes anxiety, then you should put your overall health first and find another profession.
Continuing to work somewhere you absolutely loathe has negative side effects on everything, but especially on your mental health.
In fact, it can lead to:
- Depression
- Constant stress
- Overwhelming thoughts
- Self-doubt
- Lack of purpose
I’ve kept a job I absolutely despised because of the money. I told myself it would be short-term until I got back on my feet financially. Short-term ended up turning into long-term, and boy did it take a toll on my mental and physical health! I was scared to start a new job that would potentially pay less. After a while, I realized I was prioritizing the wrong things. My mental and physical health are far more important than my fear of the unknown. I know branching out into the unknown feels scary — but sometimes it’s necessary.
My physical health was the first thing I noticed starting to deteriorate. I felt it before anything else.
The negative physical side effects from working a job you hate include:
- Insomnia/oversleeping
- Fatigue and tiredness
- Aches and muscle pain
- Constant stress which can lead to stomach ulcers and other ailments
Not only will working an awful job deplete your mental and physical health, it’ll also exhaust your social life.
Some negative side effects on your social life are:
- Feelings of isolation
- Needing additional love, appreciation, and human connection
- Decreased communication
You can and will find a job that doesn’t drain every bit of energy from you and also pays the bills. If you’re lucky, you might even find your dream job by taking that leap of faith.
If you think it’s time to leave your job, take a moment to ask yourself:
- What makes you happy?
- Could you be happier than you are right now?
- Does this job include something you are passionate about?
- Are you gaining anything from this job?
- What could be done to improve your situation?
Do not stay in a job that genuinely makes you unhappy. You have to be able to look forward to going to work, not dreading it. At the end of the day, you should always put yourself first. Do what is best for you to maintain an overall well-balanced life. If your work life is flourishing, your happiness will overflow into other areas of your life.
Photo by Christin Hume on Unsplash
