If you’ve ever dreaded going to work in the morning, you’re certainly not alone. It’s a feeling that most people have probably had, at one time or another. Even an excellent job can sometimes be stressful and difficult.

So what should you do if you’re currently experiencing that terrible sinking feeling every weekday morning? Author Alyse Kalish suggests that you begin by pinpointing the reason for your negative emotions, and then take steps to alleviate them.

Here are four reasons why you might dread going to work (and what to do about it):

  1. You’re bored – If you don’t have stimulating work to do, your workday might seem incredibly dull and ridiculously long. Time seems to move so slowly when you don’t have tasks to keep you occupied. But there are things that you can do to make this bad situation better! Ask your manager to assign you to a new, challenging project, take an online course or some other sort of training, or see if you can assist a coworker who is doing interesting work.
  2. You’re unhappy – Something is bothering you. Maybe it’s your crazy commute, your noisy coworker, or your ridiculously large workload. If you fall into this category, you need to start by identifying the source of your unhappiness. After that, you need to try to alleviate the problem. So if your commute is making you miserable, try to figure out if there’s a different way to get to work – or maybe you could work from home a couple days a week. If your noisy coworker is driving you crazy, try talking to your coworker about it or start wearing headphones. If your workload is unmanageable, talk to your manager about how to prioritize your projects or lighten the load. Don’t just accept your situation as it is. It’s always possible to make a change for the better.
  3. You’re dissatisfied with the way your career is progressing – If you’re not moving forward in your career as you had hoped you would, try talking to your manager about it. Maybe it’s possible for you to take on new types of projects or responsibilities that will help you to move in the right direction.
  4. You’re dealing with big changes – When major changes happen at work, it can sometimes be hard to adjust. Changes can sometimes be really disruptive and upsetting, and it’s not surprising that you might be having a hard time dealing with them. But give it some time. The sadness, confusion, or frustration that you might be feeling won’t last. And if you can overcome this, you’ll emerge stronger and wiser than before.

 

Kalish, A. (n.d.). 5 career ruts everyone gets into at some point (plus, how to get out!). The Muse. Retrieved from https://www.themuse.com/advice/career-ruts-everyone-will-get-into-some-point