10 strong signs that you are unhappy in your job
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1. Your anxiety levels are higher the day before you go to work
If you find yourself growing more anxious as your weekend or days off come to an end, and this is a regular occurrence, then this may be a strong sign that you’re unhappy with your job. When we’re unhappy about work, for whatever reason, it’s natural for our bodies to let us know through elevated anxiety and increased stress. This is more common than you think. Studies show that those who work a Monday to Friday job see an increase in calling in sick on Mondays.
Some people even have a poor night’s sleep due to the anxiety. A great way to help to relieve your anxiety would be to journal the pros and cons of your job, do something that you find relaxing and to engage in a soothing routine. If you’re unsure as to why you feel this way, really dig deep and be honest with yourself as to why you’re feeling anxious about your job. Read this article 15 Common Reasons Why You Hate Your Job to help you to understand why you’re feeling less than enthusiastic about your job.
2. You're experiencing a lack of motivation in your job
If you’ve been feeling unmotivated and uninspired in your work lately, then this could be due to something in your job that’s making you feel unhappy. Motivation ebbs and flows and it’s not expected that you’re 100% go-go-go all of the time. However, if you’ve been feeling blasé for a while and you can’t seem to shake this feeling then it’s important to take stock of what’s likely to have triggered this.
One way to help find your motivation mojo again is to make a list of the initial reasons that you chose this job. Additionally, reflect on what you enjoy most about the job. Start small and if you keep revisiting this exercise each time you feel meh. Also, if you have a variety of tasks at work that you enjoy doing, communicate this with your boss to see whether you can do more of this, if possible.
3. Your productivity has decreased over time
Job unhappiness over an extended period of time can lead to an overall decrease in productivity. If this is the case, then try communicating with managers/your boss about the aspects of your routine, tasks or environment that you can change to support your productivity. If your productivity is suffering because of a toxic workplace, however, it could be time to consider finding a more positive environment.
4. You find yourself thinking and talking about your job negatively
It’s normal to vent about bad days at work or talk negatively with friends and family about an annoying colleague, given we spend on average one-third of our lives at work. However, if you always find yourself talking about work when you’re not working then this is the right time to step back and reflect on what is really causing you to feel unhappy. This will then help you to assess if any of the root causes are fixable and the next steps to take.
5. Your quality of work has decreased over time
Remember, if you’ve been feeling unhappy about your job for a while, it’s almost inevitable that your best self won’t show up to work. You may know what’s causing your unhappiness in your job. This is where it’s important to assess your current performance and identify areas where you can strive for improvement. This approach should be taken even if you’re actively looking for alternative jobs. It’s never good to burn bridges and always aim to leave professionally, if that’s your plan.
If you’re not looking to leave, focus on areas of your performance and work quality that you enjoy more and may be passionate about. This can help you to reignite job satisfaction – whether it’s a little or a lot, it’s still a positive step. However, if you’re genuinely unhappy in your current job and can’t think of anything, no matter how small, that you actually enjoy then it will be pretty much an uphill struggle to find motivation to improve. In this instance, you may wish to consider finding alternative roles, internally within the organisation you work for or externally. Consider roles where you’ll be passionate about putting your best food forward and adding value.
6. You find it increasingly difficult to focus on your work
If your concentration levels have been on the decline at work, and there’s nothing outside of work to have resulted in this, then this could be a sign that you’re unhappy in your job. Evaluate the factors that affect your focus while you’re at work, such as having too many tasks to complete than usual. Do you have too many meetings and are unable to complete your work when your calendar is free? If so, manage your availability through communication with your team. Depending on how you deliver the message, most people are relatively amenable to rescheduling internal meetings if you speak up.
It’s important to identify what you require to limit any unnecessary distractions and keep your work organized so you can communicate this with your coworkers and managers. Also, procrastination scrolling on personal mobile phones is pretty common, if your workplace doesn’t enforce a strict no-phones at desk policy. It’s well known that too much mobile phone screen time can lead to mental fatigue, resulting in a lack of mental focus for tasks that actually require it. In this case, put your phone away so it’s “out of sight, out of mind”….until your lunch break and after work.
7. You're tired before, during and after the workday
Job related exhaustion is horrible. Feeling tired at the end of a long working or mentally taxing day is pretty normal. But, feeling exhausted and having a lack of energy because you feel that your job is too demanding means that it’s time to evaluate how you’re managing your workload. It’s common for working professionals to sometimes take on take on far too many tasks that can be completed within contractual hours.
Also, prioritization is important as it’s always important to ask your boss when something is due. Learning how to say no in a professional setting is one of the most powerful tools one can have, irrespective of seniority. This can help you to manage your workload more efficiently so you avoid overworking which could ultimately lead to burn-out.
8. You're experiencing stress more frequently
If your stress levels have been elevated for a while due to work, irrespective of a specific reason, then this may lead to burnout. We all have different stress tolerances as individuals and based on stages of our lives. Be sure to use up your holiday/PTO allowance and speak to your boss if this is impacting your wellbeing and come with practical ways in how your boss can support you to reduce stress.
If, however, your stress is due to a toxic workplace and you’ve tried to manage conflicting situations or change stressors in your environment, but to no avail, then alleviating your stress actually mean reconsidering your workplace.
9. You feel out of place at work
When starting a new job, it’s expected that it’ll take some longer than others to settle into new working environments and feel part of the company’s culture. However, if you’ve worked there for a while and you still feel out of place or it’s a recent feeling then this can lead to feeling unfulfilled at work.
Assuming you don’t work in a toxic environment, take the time to get to know a select few colleagues properly. Proactively get yourself out there and be seen to be making an effort and offer to help out with tasks, within your job spec. Building meaningful and supportive working relationships is so important to enjoying work for most.
10. You experience new aches and pains
If you’re newly suffering from physical aches and pains, please do discuss this with your medical professional to rule out anything serious. However, it is not uncommon for those suffering with workplace unhappiness to see their physical and mental wellbeing be less than optimal.
For example, if your stress levels have been elevated due to your job for a long period of time, you may suffer from migraines and tension in your body. If it is solely due to work then it is so important for you to reflect on what you can do to alleviate, if not change, your situation.
Your employer has a duty of care for your health at work, and more importantly, so do you. No job should ever compromise your health.