Getting Out of a Slump at Work

Do you ever get tired of your job? Maybe it’s the people, maybe it’s the long hours staring at the computer screen or standing behind a counter, maybe it’s all the things you would rather be doing. Whatever the case may be, everyone can get stuck in a slump every now and then. The key is to get out of that slump quickly and to do an even better job than before.

Your job is obviously tied to your finances. But that connection goes deeper than you may realize. The better you do your job, the more opportunity you have for raises and bonuses or promotions. The more you like what you do, the better you will probably do it, and the more income you can potentially bring home. See what I mean?

When you do a better job, you create more value for your employer. Why did he hire you in the first place? I can promise you he did not think to himself that it would be a great idea to pay someone your salary to sit around and surf the web or chat on the phone all day. No, your employer hired you to do a job. And the more you do, and the better you do it, the more value you create. If you show your employer that you are incredibly valuable, then he will want to reward you and offer you compensation to show that he wants to keep you around. If you don’t create value, not only do you forfeit those things, but chances are there is someone waiting around the corner who would love to jump into your position.

But how can you do better when you hit a slump? The first thing you can do is avoid bad-mouthing your job. If you go home and all you do is talk about how miserable you were all day, you are going to create what is known as a self-fulfilling prophecy. Each day you’ll expect it to be worse than the day before, and I can tell you it will happen if you believe it. Instead, try a little positivity. Now I’m not saying that all of the sudden you will love your job if you sit in the mirror and say “I love my job!” 850 times. Rather, talk about the good things that happened during your day. Instead of sharing with your husband how Matilda in the next cubicle chewed her fingernails all day and drove you nuts, tell him about the compliment you got on the latest report you turned in. You could even try writing a short list every day of 5 good things that happened or that you were thankful for at work. This will help you have a better attitude about going to work.

Sometimes there really are reasons we need to leave our jobs and look for something new. If this is the case for you, then make sure you get into a career that you can be happy with AND that will generate the income you need. Some people think they may be happy doing volunteer work for the rest of their lives (yes, volunteer work is great, I’m not saying it’s not. I’m saying when you are volunteering and your children are starving, then there’s a problem. You need to find balance and make sure you can support your family). You know, there are numerous resources out there for finding a career that fits you. Make sure it is something that you are passionate about and that motivates you. You’ll do much better if you are doing something you enjoy.
So remember, your work is tied to your finances, just like every other area of your life. You can choose to do a great job and pull yourself out of a slump. Get on out there and get back on the horse!

If you do find yourself struggling with your job or a decision about changing careers, be sure to talk to someone about it. Our Financial Life Coaches are always happy to talk with you to find out where you are at and help you make decisions about the next steps you should take.