How to Make Your Job a Little More Tolerable

So you hate your job? Me too. I think most people out there are in the same boat we are. We go to work, do a bunch of things that we don't get paid enough to do, work ridiculous hours, deal with a bunch of people who think they know more than they actually do, drink way more coffee than our bodies can handle, then go home and try to forget about the day we had. Does all of that sound way too familiar?

Even though your job sucks, there are a few ways to make the experience a lot more tolerable:

Why do I work here again? - Put some pictures of your family on your desk to remind you why you wake up every morning and come into this stink hole. They will also trigger memories of good times that you've had or things you are planning to do which will give your brain a rest from work. "Bobby has practice tonight and he needs a new pair of shoes but those things are expensive! I guess a little overtime isn't all that bad."

Deck the Walls - That colorful painting that you have, you know the one that just seems to brighten up the place, put it in your office. Against the drab tan walls, it will make the place look a lot less depressing. Hang up some posters of the things you like so when you look at them you can think about more enjoyable experiences. I have posters of the old Universal monster movies in my office. They brighten the place up and they also initiate conversations with my co-workers. I don't know how many times people have came in and said "I remember seeing that movie when..."

Plants, plants everywhere! - Plants tend to make your work area look a heck of a lot more lively as well as wall decorations. Watering them will be a good break from doing your monotonous work as well as giving you something to talk to that doesn't talk back. Even though your boss won't listen to you, that spider plant in the corner will!

Want to see my toy collection? - Toys, stamps, books, bugs, whatever. Bring in something that you enjoy and aren't embarrassed to show others. Personally, I have Batman action figures. It's another thing to show you why you come here. If you didn't work this bland job, you wouldn't be able to buy that stuff. It also shows your coworkers what you like. So maybe around Christmas time, if there's a gift exchange, someone may get you something that you actually want.

For those about to rock... - Who likes music? I think we all enjoy some form of music or as our parents would say, "crap". Bring in a radio, CD player, tape deck, 8-track player, it doesn't matter. (Something that makes noises that you like is what I'm getting at.) To me, music is a better thing to listen to than keyboards clicking, people coughing, clocks ticking and other sounds you might hear in the workplace. It's also a good way to drown out the sound of Nancy down the hall talking about how good her kids are at EVERYTHING and how they never do anything wrong. (Even if they're failing school and have been busted for underage drinking a few times.)

These are just a few ways to make your way of life a lot less depressing; there could be a hundred more ways that I didn't even think about. Just remember to make your workplace suit you and your likes. There's nothing worse than all white walls and overhead fluorescent light bulbs.