Part II

Yesterday, in Part I of How To Cope When You Don’t Love Your Job, I wrote the story of the job I despised.

There is a quote by Confucius that I admire:

“Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.”

How simple and true.

What happens if you are stuck in a job you don’t love?

If you’ve decided that it simply will not work, you need to develop mental fortitude to survive until you land a new job.

Here are 6 ways to cope:

Breathe. When things get stressful, take a break and go outside. Do nothing but breathe. Breathing is something we can instantly control and can help us relax and reduce stress.

Laugh…often. Scientists believe that laughter reduces stress hormones. Humor can also change your perspective and help you see your problem in a different light. I would take my manager’s grade-school euphemisms (play nice, boys will be boys) and say these at home with Dad for a laugh. My Dilbert cartoon of the day also helped!

Talk it out. Find a friend and blow off some steam. Not only does it feel better, often times you’ll learn that your friend has had similar experiences and can offer advice.

Get a Life. Spend time outside of work doing something you love. If you don’t already have a hobby, get one! Give yourself something to look forward to at the end of the day.

Eat Well, Sleep, and Exercise. It may sound like a simple suggestion but it is vital to take care of yourself. Stressful job situations can affect your mental and physical health. By keeping your body healthy, you can better deal with external stressors and keep your mind healthy too.

Remember it’s only temporary. When you are in a job that makes you miserable, it’s easy to fall into negative thinking and believe things will never change. Change this mindset! Focus on your job hunt and remind yourself that this isn’t a permanent situation.

A lousy job can seem like a life sentence. The key to surviving is to realize that YOU are ultimately in control of how you feel.

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