Unhappy at work

pikmeupe

I'm unhappy at work and while I understand that it is work and a job is a job I'm beginning to wonder if I shouldn't look at doing something else. The problem is I've only been fully qualified a year and half. But I just find myself completely unmotivated and anxious. I would love to be able to come home in the evening and think that I worked hard to be the best I can be but the reality is I come home most evenings and start thinking about all the **** I have to do for tomorrow. Friday evening is about the only time I don't stress about work, even by Saturday morning I'm already thinking about how little free time I have left. I would love to take pride in my work but I just really don't care that much. But looking back to other times I have worked I felt like this about other jobs too, I just didn't mind so much because it as a job not a career. However, any other job I've had felt like part of my life where as this feels like a completely seperate thing. I don't know how to explain that. It's like I have to psyched up to go in, and it's often the only thing I do with my day. And when I do other things I worry about how it will effect my work or how much time I'll have left to prepare for tomorrow.

Also my work feels a bit pointless on a personal level. Yeah I need the money, but not this much money, I do like travelling but I often find I over-budget. I'm not a material person and would probably survive just fine on 2/3 of my salary even though it's quite basic.

I feel like I'm not very good at my job either. Which is terrible as it's quite a vocational career and other people are "born" to do it where as I can be ok at it with minimal effort, I'm still only ok if I try really hard. I've spent so long getting to this point I feel like it would be a waste to give up now.

I just don't really know where to go. If someone could help me increase my motivation I would be happy, or if someone could help me decide what I do want to do. One of my friends has worked as a waitress since she graduated 3 years ago and still loves her job. While she worries a lot about money and career progression I couldn't be more envious.

Dumb Juan

Hi,
I was sorry to read about your problems.
It is obvious that you are very stressed about your work. The only advice I can give is you need to reflect about difference aspects of your work.
You feel you are not good at your job but is this true? Did you have a performance review? Was it bad? If no then your manager feels you are performing well or adequately, so trust them on their appraisal of your work. If you had not had a review, have you been discplinined? If no then your work is ok or good.

Feeling that your job is a separate part of your life that is normal. I compartlise my life and my work persona is differt to the me with my kids or neighbours. I try not let my job, an accountant, define me as a person tbh I have very few accounting friends as I do not like the characteristics of a lot of accountants.

Remember a lot of people think some aspect of their job is fruitless, just accepted it, once it is done try not to think about it. I have often worked days on something to have my advice disregarded it happens to us all.

You say work is the only thing you do every day, well try and put something different into your day for an hour, read a book one day on another day do exercise on a third day try mediation. If we turn off social media or inane tv for an hour. This will allow you to define each day eg. "oh it's Monday so it my couch to 5k day" or the day where I learn to cook something different etc. there are loads of options.

You are only 18 months in your job, can your job take on another path that would be more interesting in another 18 months? What roles do others progress to? What I do today is completely different to my jobs when I started out.

Finally try not to compare yourself to your friends ( the happy waitress) everybody has their own crap which they might not have told you, so despite Facebook we all have a little sadness or crap in our lives, try to remember you have your health & you are only one thought away from doing something nice.