Surviving a Job You Hate: Strategies to Get You to Payday

Yesterday, three coworkers individually confided in me that they hate their jobs. I listened and sympathized - after all, I hate mine, too. Even so, none of us is quite ready to quit and look for a new employer. Who can blame us? The job market isn't being particularly kind to anyone right now. I've got friends with degrees, great personalities and amazing motivation who have been unemployed for over a year. So far, my applications for other workplaces in my area haven't fared much better.

I'll keep looking for other options, but in the meantime, I've developed a few strategies to help me cope with clocking in. With a little personalization, they might be the little boost you need to make it through the workday.

1. Make a List
Zig Ziglar once spoke in a recording about meeting a woman who absolutely hated her job. He told her to make a list of all the things she loved about her job. Wasn't there anything she liked? Her paycheck, maybe? "Write that down!" She called him crazy, but when he met her months later, she was a changed woman. She loved her job. I can't say that making my own list has made me love my work, but it has helped me to appreciate the people I work with, and the fact that at least a little money appears in my bank account every two weeks.

2. Crank It Up
Studies have shown that music can help reduce stress and improve mood. If you're in control of what you listen to at work, put on something upbeat. If there's no music allowed in your workplace, or the dial's under the control of someone with lousy taste, then make the most of your drive to and from: crank up your favorite station and sing out while you make your way through rush hour traffic. You'll feel friendlier and more open, and all those little stresses that pile up through the day will be more likely to bounce off of you.

3. Hug Your Family, Pet Your Dog
Remember when you were a kid and had a terrible day at school? When you got home, your mom would give you a big hug, or Buddy would rush up and practically knock you over with his excitement to see you, and somehow it helped. It didn't change anything, or fix anything, but all the same it felt a little more like you might make it through. As adults we often overlook the importance of physical touch as a partial solution, and it's even easier to push loved ones away when we're saturated with tension and irritation. Tomorrow, try giving your spouse a hug before you leave. When you get home, spend fifteen minutes or so petting one of the four-legged members of your family. Curl up with one of the kiddos and read them a story. The warmth of the physical contact will disperse some of your tension, and before you know it you'll be feeling more grounded and more yourself.

4. Kill 'em With Kindness
It feels counterintuitive, but this has become one of my favorite tricks. On nights when I'm especially dreading going to work the next day, I pull a package of frozen cookie dough out of the freezer and bake a batch or two. It takes me about fifteen minutes, and the next day at work I'm a hero. Suddenly the grouch in the next department is smiling at me, and my manager chats with me instead of flinging paperwork at me and zooming off. Don't bake? Bring a pie from the bakery.

5. Use the System
If you have to go to work at a place you hate, use the time to strengthen your resume. Many employers offer educational programs of some sort, some by offering tuition reimbursement, some through partnerships with on-line colleges, some through internal programs. Even if your employer doesn't offer an educational program, let them know that you're interested in learning new skills on the job. The more skills and certifications you acquire, the more attractive you will be to potential employers, and the sooner you can be hired to a job you'll love.

It's unlikely that any of the above tips and tricks will make you fall in love with your job, but they will help you feel better, reduce stress, and move on to bigger and better things as soon as possible. Good luck!