{"id":94383,"date":"2025-09-30T09:19:07","date_gmt":"2025-09-30T09:19:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/94383\/"},"modified":"2025-09-30T09:19:07","modified_gmt":"2025-09-30T09:19:07","slug":"hate-your-job-but-cant-afford-to-leave-20-ways-to-love-your-work-a-little-more-work-careers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/94383\/","title":{"rendered":"Hate your job \u2013 but can\u2019t afford to leave? 20 ways to love your work a little more | Work & careers"},"content":{"rendered":"

At some point in their career everyone experiences feeling unfulfilled at work. But with confidence in the UK job market weakening<\/a>, and competition for roles increasing, more people than ever are clinging to their positions, even if they have fallen out of love with their work. It\u2019s a phenomenon that some have termed \u201cjob hugging\u201d.<\/p>\n

If you find yourself prioritising a sense of security over ambition, and are unhappily sticking with your current role, is there a way you can weather the storm and even revitalise your passion for your job in the process? We spoke to career coaches, workplace psychologists and Guardian readers to find out.<\/p>\n

Remind yourself why you wanted the job<\/p>\n

It can be easy to lose sight of what originally drew you to your job when you are feeling dissatisfied or disengaged. Yet taking time to think about why you initially liked it can create a positive shift in your attitude and potentially give your working days more purpose.<\/p>\n

\u201cPeople often struggle with being a small cog in a big machine and working to make rich people richer, but if you can think of who you\u2019re personally helping every day and why you first joined up, that can help you to engage better,\u201d says career coach Alice Stapleton says. \u201cFocus on the daily impact of your work and the people you might be helping with your tasks rather than the bigger picture.\u201d<\/p>\n

Consider the benefits. Photograph: Posed by model; Richard Drury\/Getty ImagesThink about what work gives you<\/p>\n

If your reasons for doing the job are elusive, it might be easier to focus instead on the tangible benefits it can bring. \u201cOur careers can give us purpose but they also provide a salary, stability, routine, holidays and perhaps even a social side with your colleagues,\u201d Stapleton says. \u201cOnce you think about the benefits your job gives you right now, you will be more energised.\u201d<\/p>\n

Talk to your colleaguesCo-workers can become mentors. Photograph: Posed by models; Maria Korneeva\/Getty Images<\/p>\n

\u201cGoing deeper with work colleagues rather than just asking \u2018What did you do on the weekend?\u2019 can bring huge benefits,\u201d says career coach Dina Grishin. \u201cConnect with colleagues from other departments and those you click with, since if you have someone at work who can be a safe harbour, it can really help change your mindset.\u201d<\/p>\n

In a world that increasingly adopts remote working<\/a>, Grishin emphasises the need to \u201cput yourself out there\u201d and potentially learn from co-workers who could become mentors for career progression and change.<\/p>\n

Space for a little benign misconduct? Photograph: Posed by models; Ivan Pantic\/Getty ImagesFind fun moments<\/p>\n

For librarian and Guardian reader Tommy Vinh Bui, engaging in harmless fun with colleagues helped him overcome the burnout he had begun to feel at work. \u201cDrumming up an appropriate amount of benign misconduct can help while away the time,\u201d he says. \u201cSometimes, when the building is empty before closing time, I might build architecturally complex book igloos. Silliness today helps temper the drudgery of tomorrow. This eventually helped me reconnect with the purpose of my job, which is to help create a vibrant community hub.\u201d<\/p>\n

Learn something new outside workFind a hobby outside work. Photograph: Posed by models; Maskot\/Getty Images<\/p>\n

Feeling fulfilled away from your desk can have a positive impact on your work and help you feel as if you are progressing, even if your career might seem stagnant. \u201cAs humans, we always like to feel we\u2019re growing and learning,\u201d Stapleton says. \u201cBy picking up a new hobby, you can give yourself a sense of learning that can make things feel more bearable day to day.\u201d<\/p>\n

For Guardian reader Maya Kawashima, joining the non-profit public speaking organisation Toastmasters<\/a> not only became a fun hobby but also gave her extra skills to use in her work as a teacher. \u201cThanks to Toastmasters, I now engage in clear and kind communication with my colleagues, family and friends,\u201d she says. \u201cBy seeking skill sets outside work, you will always be honing your craft.\u201d<\/p>\n

A change of remote workplace can help. Photograph: Posed by model; Maria Korneeva\/Getty ImagesChange your surroundings<\/p>\n

Remote working is becoming the norm in many industries, and a change of scenery can help you feel less stuck. \u201cI signed up to the website Trusted Housesitters<\/a>, which allows me to house-sit somewhere else for a week or two while working,\u201d Grishin says. \u201cIt feels like a holiday, but it\u2019s free, and you get to do your job in the same time zone in a new environment. It totally revitalises you.\u201d<\/p>\n

Glow up your workspace<\/p>\n

If you can\u2019t leave your desk, then Gretchen Spreitzer, professor of management and organisation at the University of Michigan suggests personalising your workspace. \u201cI have pictures of my family on my desk and artefacts from companies I\u2019ve visited. They are all booster shots of purpose that surround me when I\u2019m in a difficult Zoom meeting,\u201d she says. \u201cThey remind me that the work I do can be really meaningful. Even if you hot-desk, you can put an image on your screensaver to help remind you of that same sense of purpose.\u201d<\/p>\n

A gratitude journal can lift the mood. Photograph: Posed by model; MoMo Productions\/Getty ImagesStart a journal<\/p>\n

\u201cKeeping a gratitude diary can work really well when it feels as if you\u2019re struggling,\u201d Stapleton says. \u201cAt the end of the day, write down three things that you\u2019re grateful for, or three things that went well. It can help you engage in the long term, as well as change your perspective to see how you\u2019re still succeeding.\u201d<\/p>\n

Grishin also suggests starting the day with three pages of stream-of-consciousness writing \u2013 a technique outlined in Julia Cameron\u2019s book The Artist\u2019s Way<\/a> \u2013 to help you reconnect with your feelings and priorities. \u201cYou will find creativity and meaning within you,\u201d she says. \u201cIt\u2019s an amazing way to get more in touch with yourself and see what might need to shift at work for your experience to be better.\u201d<\/p>\n

Focus on what you enjoyHome in on what works for you. Photograph: Posed by models; supersizer\/Getty Images<\/p>\n

It might sound straightforward, but reflecting on the elements of work you still like could help shift more of your daily tasks towards using those skills. \u201cMost people don\u2019t hate every part of their job and might be surprised at how they can move closer towards the tasks they do enjoy,\u201d Stapleton says. \u201cMaybe you can investigate cross-departmental work that gets you closer to projects you like, or have conversations with decision-makers to get a greater insight into building those skills.\u201d<\/p>\n

Jobcrafting gets the best out of you. Photograph: Posed by models; DMP\/Getty ImagesTry to jobcraft \u2026<\/p>\n

Once you have identified the elements of work you enjoy and the skill sets you would like to develop, look at how you could change the parameters of your job to skew it towards those aspects. Alison Gibbs, a business psychologist at Work Psychology Group, explains: \u201cWe call it jobcrafting, where individuals can proactively tailor their jobs to their strengths. It gives them a sense of being in control rather than being led by what the organisation is telling them to do. We can think of our jobs as being rigid, but often if you can have a frank conversation with your superiors about working towards your strengths, you might gain more flexibility in your role than you thought.\u201d<\/p>\n

Figure out the priorities. Photograph: Posed by model; Maskot\/Getty Images\u2026 Or taskcraft<\/p>\n

On a smaller scale, Gibbs says that organising your to-do list of daily tasks can lead to a greater sense of fulfilment and job satisfaction long term. \u201cIdentify the few things you absolutely have to prioritise on your daily list of tasks. When you come to the end of the day and can see that you have achieved them, it will give you a boost, even if you don\u2019t have much autonomy in your work,\u201d she says. \u201cBy managing your stress in the moment on a micro level, it provides you with a greater sense of control and an easier day.\u201d<\/p>\n

Apply your strengths in different ways<\/p>\n

If you have been in the same job or career for some time, you might have lost track of your strengths and how best to keep nurturing them, Grishin explains. By taking a free strengths test, such as the Institute on Character survey<\/a>, employees can pursue what\u2019s most important to them. \u201cYou might feel you\u2019ve been coasting for a while but organisations often have a small learning or coaching budget you could access,\u201d she says. \u201cThat would enable you to take courses or find conferences on the strengths you want to develop, and it will ultimately benefit you as well as your company.\u201d<\/p>\n

Consider a sideways moveLeave the desk, not the employer. Photograph: Posed by model; Westend61\/Getty Images<\/p>\n

Leaving your job for a new employer might be a tall order, but there could be the possibility of switching jobs within your existing company to find a role that allows for new challenges and skills. Guardian reader Mathilda Chenu, who works for a technology company, negotiated to move roles within her organisation after she explained that she didn\u2019t have enough to do in her initial job and that frustrated her. \u201cI moved to another team in the same institution and although it created a higher workload, it saved me from boredom,\u201d she says. \u201cI also met new colleagues, and working on new projects with them helped.\u201d<\/p>\n

Reward yourself regularlyA little pat on the back does wonders. Photograph: Kseniya Ovchinnikova\/Getty Images<\/p>\n

Career coach Jo Maughan speaks of the importance of developing \u201cnourishing rituals\u201d that can make tough days seem easier. \u201cWhen you\u2019ve finished a task you didn\u2019t want to do, get up and do something you like,\u201d she says. \u201cIt could be making a cup of tea or chatting to a colleague, but it\u2019s taking time to give yourself a reward that\u2019s important.\u201d<\/p>\n

By celebrating these small wins, we can give ourselves a greater sense of accomplishment, Gibbs adds. \u201cWhen you get lost in the humdrum of work, you need to find those opportunities to pat yourself on the back,\u201d she says. \u201cYou can\u2019t rely on someone else to do it for you.\u201d<\/p>\n

Solve problems together<\/p>\n

There might be certain issues at work that can be tackled with the help of like-minded colleagues, rather than feeling as if the only solution is to change jobs. \u201cIt can be empowering and create an added sense of purpose if you can connect with colleagues over the shared problems you might face as a group,\u201d Maughan says. \u201cYou could pitch solutions to your manager, and not only can it help galvanise your team, but it can showcase you as a go-getter.\u201d<\/p>\n

Take control of your time<\/p>\n

For Guardian reader John Wilson, changing his perspective on how his life and work intersected led him to find greater fulfilment in his career in pharmaceuticals. \u201cI realised it was more about how the job fits into your life rather than the other way around,\u201d he says. \u201cIt\u2019s easy to focus on the negatives when you focus just on your job alone, but looking at it as a portion of your week can allow you to see what other things you have space for. Take charge of your time; use your commute to read that book you\u2019ve been meaning to start, since not every moment in the week has to be a salary-making opportunity.\u201d<\/p>\n

Consideration goes a long way. Photograph: Posed by models; Klaus Vedfelt\/Getty ImagesPerform acts of kindness<\/p>\n

Saying thank you often, smiling and respecting others around you at work can help cut stress levels and anxiety and foster a better workplace culture. \u201cBuilding acts of kindness into your everyday routine will help you to model the workplace environment that you want,\u201d Gibbs says. \u201cIt\u2019s basic human nature to seek out kindness and, when it\u2019s reciprocated, it makes the workplace far easier to be in.\u201d<\/p>\n

Change how you talk about work at home<\/p>\n

The way we recount our day to our family or friends once work is over can reinforce negatives and build a difficult narrative around our jobs. \u201cIt\u2019s all about how you frame your day,\u201d Spreitzer says. \u201cI used to talk about the highs and lows of my day with my kids because it makes you go back and think about the things that have gone well, rather than only focusing on the negatives. It\u2019s often harder to remember the good than the bad.\u201d<\/p>\n

Don\u2019t let the job consume your life. Photograph: Posed by models; Maskot\/Getty ImagesDon\u2019t make your job the centre of your world<\/p>\n

\u201cThere is such a thing as too much emphasis on your career,\u201d Grishin says. \u201cIt\u2019s dangerous to get fulfilment from work when it only functions as a status symbol, since that relationship can lead to burnout and it can have damaging consequences once things start to go wrong.\u201d Developing a healthy social support network and hobbies or interests outside work can instead change your perspective on your career and create resilience if it begins to feel overwhelming or dissatisfying.<\/p>\n

Work on your exit plan<\/p>\n

If you have outgrown your current job but haven\u2019t yet found the opportunity to leave, there is nothing stopping you from plotting an exit strategy. \u201cOnce you have figured out what you might want to do next, start thinking about upskilling or reskilling through further training or education,\u201d Stapleton says. \u201cGo to industry workshops or seminars and use that time to build up your network. It will beef up your CV and help you to find new opportunities. Humans are loyal, but you need to remember that in a lot of jobs you\u2019re a bum on a seat and you have to make your own career.\u201d<\/p>\n

Some people featured in the article responded to a Community callout<\/a>. You can contribute here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Do you have an opinion on the issues raised in this article? If you would like to submit a response of up to 300 words by email to be considered for publication in our letters<\/a> section, please click here<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"At some point in their career everyone experiences feeling unfulfilled at work. But with confidence in the UK…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":94384,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[176],"tags":[79,18,19,17,227],"class_list":{"0":"post-94383","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-jobs","8":"tag-business","9":"tag-eire","10":"tag-ie","11":"tag-ireland","12":"tag-jobs"},"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/94383","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=94383"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/94383\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/94384"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=94383"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=94383"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=94383"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}