I Hate Going To Work

Feeling Trapped? Here’s How to Escape the Job You Hate.

Picture this: each morning, your alarm clock goes off. You drag yourself out of bed, stumble into the bathroom, look in the mirror, and mutter, “I hate going to work.” Sound familiar?

man looking at alarm clockYou drag yourself out of bed, look in the mirror, and mutter, “I hate going to work.”

Eh, you’re not alone. According to Gallup’s 2023 State of the Global Workplace report, 60% of employees feel emotionally detached at work, and 19% are downright miserable. Whether you’re drained by relentless deadlines, stuck in a toxic work environment, or burned out by a lack of fulfillment, the dread of work can feel suffocating.

I know, I have been here before.

It doesn’t have to be this way.

If this sounds like you, you’ve already taken the first step by seeking answers by connecting to this search result. 

Allow me to be your mentor for this little time we have together. 

I want to walk you through a few strategies, share a couple of real-life stories, and give you some actionable steps to help you break free from your situation. As a bonus, you might find your purpose. I want to help you change from "I hate going to work" to "I love going to work".

Let’s not get too far ahead of ourselves.

We will take it one step at a time.

Why Do You Hate Your Job?

To fix the problem, you first need to understand it. 

(if you’ve been to my website before you would be familiar with my passion for writing and recording everything)

A man writing in a notebook on a parkbench.Grab a notebook or journal and write your answers down in longhand. It is important to write it down… DO NOT TYPE IT:

A Quick Exercise

Grab a notebook or journal and ask yourself these questions and write your answers down in longhand. It is important to write it down… DO NOT TYPE IT:

Title it "Why I hate going to work"

  • Is it the monotony of your tasks?
  • Are you frustrated with management?
  • Toxic workplace culture?
  • Is it the commute?
  • Lack of growth?
  • Low pay?

Get it down on paper in your notebook.

Emma's Story

Emily is excited to be at her first networking meetingArmed with this insight, she pitched a project to revamp her company’s social media strategy, tapping into her passion for content creation.

Meet Emma, a marketing coordinator who dreaded her 9-to-5.

“Every day felt like Groundhog Day,” she says. “Same emails, same meetings, same soul-sucking office politics.” 

After writing down her issues, Emma realized her biggest frustration was a lack of creativity in her role. 

Armed with this insight, she pitched a project to revamp her company’s social media strategy, tapping into her passion for content creation. 

The result? A promotion and a new sense of purpose.

Did she love her job?

No.

But it was better than hating it. Things were better. It was a small step for her but a giant step for her well-being.

The Journaling Exercise that Uncovers the Truth

1. List everything about why I hate going to work

2. Peel back the layers:

    Why does each issue bother you?        

3. Rank the problems: 

    From most frustrating to the least.

Once you’ve created your list, reflect on it.

Leave it for an hour or two. Go for a walk, then re-visit it.

Now ask yourself, could any of these problems be solved with slight adjustments, or is it time for a bigger change? Think about it.


What Does Your Ideal Work-Life Look Like?

Flip the script. 

Imagine your perfect job:

  • Do you want more flexibility and freedom?
  • A higher salary?
  • Work-from-home options?
  • Work that aligns with your values or passions?
  • A promotion pathway?
  • Up-skill opportunities?

This is only the start of your list. A prompt to get you thinking. Read on and other questions will come to mind.

visualizing 2Close your eyes and imagine your ideal workday: Where are you? What does it feel like? Are you working in an office, your spare room or the local Starbucks? What are you doing?

Visualize Success

Many ‘shrinks’ recommend the power of visualization to achieve goals.

I agree with this statement. 

I have used it on my goal-setting tasks and recommended it to the people I mentor.

Now close your eyes and imagine your ideal workday:

  • Where are you?
  • What does it feel like when the alarm goes?
  • The commute? Are you using public transport, cycling, walking or driving?
  • Are you working in your spare room, patio, back deck, on the dining room table, in the local Starbucks?
  • What are you doing?
  • How do you feel?

Got it? Write it down.

Studies show that putting goals on paper increases the likelihood of achieving them by 42%. 

What if...

What if after all this effort you still are not motivated?

Then the big question is…. stay or quit.

Should you stay and try to make your current job better, or is it time to move on?

You Stay:

Sometimes, the solution is to re-engineer your role, using all the issues you wrote in your notebook.

Including these majors…

  1. Talk to your manager: Share your concerns and propose specific changes.
  2. Upskill: Take online courses or attend workshops to add new skills to your arsenal.
  3. Shift your mindset: Find aspects of your job that bring satisfaction, even if they’re small.

You Quit:

Quitting and taking the leap into a new job can be scary, but with the right regime, skill set and good preparation with guidance from an experienced mentor it is completely manageable and takes the fear from the equation.

  1. Research new opportunities: Use tools like 'Glassdoor', 'Career Basecamp' (highly recommended) or 'LinkedIn' to find roles that align with your future goals.
  2. Update your resume: Highlight transferable skills and accomplishments. List everything. Things you think aren’t worth mentioning. Maybe your next employer does.
  3. Network: Get out and about. Attend industry events. Catch up with former colleagues. You never know where the next opportunity will come from. It’s as easy as ABC - Always Be Connecting.

What About This - Start a Business?

If traditional employment isn’t cutting it, entrepreneurship could be for you.

It’s not too difficult, and the rewards can be transformative and probably the most exciting thing you will ever do. IMO.


young man at computerFocusing on his passion for education and helping kids, Jack found joy in his work and built a thriving business.

Jack's Career Reset

Jack, a former teacher, felt drained by the demands of the classroom.

It didn’t start that way.

In the first years, it was fabulous.

Then a new principal, new rules, more demands from government regulations, difficult parents, unruly kids and bingo Jack is “Jacked” and just hates the job.

After months and months of frustration, he quit and started a tutoring service specializing in helping kids with ADHD. 

By focusing on his passion for education and helping kids, Jack found joy in his work and built a thriving business. 

Here is another story that might inspire you. It is rather long so I have included as a link.

Tools to Help Start Your Business

Free niche finder tools

Identify good profitable niches that you can get your head around try these:

  1. Semrush.com (free trial)
  2. YouTube
  3. seodity.com


Business Plan Templates

Get all your plans organized into a workable plan.

  1. asana.com
  2. canva.com
  3. hubspot.com

Budget Calculators

This is essential for planning for at least the first 6 - 12 months.

1. budgeto.com

2. upwork.com

3. feedough.com

Negativity - Do not let it consume you

Do not accept that hating your job and "I hate going to work" is normal. It is not. 

You are dead a long time my friend. 

Get on with your life your way.

Just like Jack and Emma - turn it around - you can control your future. 

Don’t put up with this shit in your life. You are better than that. 

I know because I have been here before.

Take actionTake Action. Start with the small steps to build a foundation. Listen to advice. Build on the foundation.

Action Steps for Change

  1. Take control. Own it. Acknowledge and record your frustrations in your notebook.
  2. Identify the Causes. Record and journal all your thoughts and ideas and rate them from 1 to 10. Ten being the thing you hate most. 
  3. Re-wire Your Future. Use the visuaization methods to re-frame your ideal job or business.
  4. Decision Point. The hour of power. This is where the rubber hits the road. Equip. Update. Up-skill. Seek a mentor. Together, build a plan of action.

Now Take Action. Start with the small steps to build a foundation. Listen to advice. Build on the foundation.

Woman hating herselfI hate going to work

Transform "I Hate Going To Work" into "I Love My Job"

You have heard it all before,

‘you are the architect of your future’,

‘the master of your destiny’.

So if you keep getting out of bed moaning,

“I hate going to work”,

you are going to get the same result. 

Despair, depression, anger and, yes, mental health issues. 

In a nutshell, doing the same old thing and expecting a different result is not going to cut it. 

Get off your ass - get going and make a difference to your future.

happy woman at workI love my job. Spot the difference!!!

Positive Affirmations to Help You Make a Change

  • “I will do the exercises to move forward”
  • “I will take control of my life”
  • “I will find my purpose”
  • “I will make a start”
  • “I will love what I do”

Write them all down in your notebook.

Additional Tools and Help

  • Subscribe to my newsletter for further aid 

Join my tribe - grab the book - subscribe 

  • Book recommendations:

   “Dying To Be Me” Anita Moorjani

   “The Happiness Project,” Gretchen Rubin

Conclusion

Please, please, please, know this - don’t settle for second. 

You are better than you think you are.

Re-work your life. 

Build a plan. 

Get a mentor.

Take control and change your life, change your destiny. 

Do not accept anything, but what is best for you. 

Be selfish. 

This is your life. 

Make it the best you can.

Let me know if I can support you. Guide you. Be there when the going gets tough. When you need someone to listen, I’m here.

You have nothing to lose and everything to gain.

Just get up get going and go.


Experience isn't the best teacher, experience is the only teacher.

cliff climber

Confidence comes from experience