Top 10 signs you’re unhappy at work
How do you know that you’re unhappy at work? That something is not right and that it’s time to either make some changes at work or move on to a new job?
In my work, I talk to a lot of people who are not happy with their jobs. Here are the top ten symptoms of unhappiness at work that I’ve observed. How many apply to you?
1: You procrastinate
You really, honestly try to get some work done. But somehow you never really get around to it. Or you only do it at the last possible moment and then only do a half-baked effort.
Many people view procrastination as a personal weakness. To me, it’s one of the strongest warning signs of unhappiness at work.
2: You spend Sunday night worrying about Monday morning
“I never sleep on Sunday night very well because I’m worried about going to work on Monday morning. My job is very stressful and you kind of have to gear up for Monday and getting back into that.” (source)
One of the worst things about being unhappy at work is that the unhappiness bleeds over into your free time. If you’ve had a lousy day at work, it’s difficult to go home and have a great evening. If your week sucked, it’s hard to have a fun, relaxed, carefree weekend.
3: You’re really competitive about salary and titles
You don’t like the job itself, so you focus much more on salary and perks. Knowing that someone in a similar position is paid more than you, or is promoted when you’re not, really eats at you.
When we’re unhappy at work we get a lot more competitive, for one simple reason: When work doesn’t give us happiness and enjoyment we want to get something else out of it. And what else is there but compensation and promotions.
4: You don’t feel like helping co-workers
Your colleagues may be struggling. But you don’t really feel like lending a hand. Why should you?
One very interesting psychological study started by putting subjects in either a good mood or a bad mood. They were then asked to go down the hall to another room where the experiment would continue. In the hallway the real experiment took place - the subjects passed a man holding a big box struggling to open a door. Would the subject help that person? The experiment showed, that when we’re in a bad mood, we’re much less likely to help others.
5: Work days feel looooong
The first thing you do in the morning, is calculate the number of hours until you can go home.
Ironically, this makes the work day feel even longer.
6: You have no friends at work
Friends at work? They’re mostly all jerks anyway.
Gallup have found in their studies of workplace engagement, that one of the strongest factors that predict happiness at work is having at least one close friend at work.
7: You don’t care. About anything.
Things can go well or they can go badly for your workplace. Either way, you don’t really give a damn.
When you’re unhappy, you care mostly about yourself and not so much about the workplace.
8: Small things bug you
Small annoyances bug you out of all proportion. Like someone taking up too much space in the parking lot, someone taking the last coffee without brewing a new pot or someone talking too loudly in the next cubicle.
When you’re unhappy you have much thinner skin and a shorter fuse. It takes a lot less to annoy you.
9: You’re suspicious of other people’s motives
No matter what people do, your fist thought is “what are they up to?” Good or bad, big or small, all decisions and actions made by your co-workers and managers are seen in this light.
Studies show that we’re also more suspicious of others when we’re unhappy.
10: Physical symptoms
You suffer from insomnia, headaches, low energy, muscle tension and/or other physical symptoms.
Studies show that when you’re unhappy at work you’re more prone to experience these physical stress symptoms.
Your take
How many of these apply to you in your current job? Did I leave any important symptoms of workplace unhappiness out? Please write a comment. I’d really like to know your take!
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Sean Said,
November 1, 2007 @ 3:56 pm
Wow, I think 1, 2, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, and 10 describe me.
Felipe Said,
November 1, 2007 @ 6:07 pm
It’s funny that all points describe how I feel about what I´m studing…
dave Said,
November 1, 2007 @ 7:42 pm
If you’re only procrastinating at work (not at home), I’d agree that it is a red flag. But even if you procrastinate away from work as well, its a clue that something is out of balance.
There is a fairly good book on procrastingation called The Now Habit by Neal Fiore. To over simplify, he says that procrastination is a symptom of internal conflict over perfectionism, control, or other issues. Basically, we are telling ourselves to do something and resisting it at the same time. (If work triggers procrastination, you’re in conflict!) The better you understand where these two contrary motivations are coming from, the easier it is to balance them.
As someone who has really been butting heads with procrastination lately, that’s my two cents.
Scott McArthur Said,
November 1, 2007 @ 9:24 pm
In other words you turn into a workplace dementor!
http://mcarthursrant.blogspot.com/2007/06/keep-away-from-those-workplace.html
Kirk Friggstad Said,
November 1, 2007 @ 10:07 pm
At my previous job, I definitely was experiencing 1, 2, 5, and 7 through 10. Four months ago, I quit (after 10 years there) - I’m now freelancing, and slowly starting to “detox”. I gotta say, your blog here has been a big help to me over the past year - I believe that what you had to say here (and in your book - I was one of your early reviewers that never actually got around to posting a review - what was that item about procrastination?) really helped me to make my decision to finally make a change in my career. I’m a lot happier where I am now!
Mark Said,
November 1, 2007 @ 10:33 pm
1,2,5,7,10
10 esp. high cholesterol levels, continual bouts of bronchitus, receding hairline at age 22…
thank goodness I quit when I did
Guilla Said,
November 2, 2007 @ 12:18 am
WOW!
As always Alex, your blog confronts me with everyday life at work.
I have been thinking about this for a long time now (I even emailed you asking for advice) and I believe this to be so true and applicable in my case that it is scary!
#1: I certainly do not waste time at work, I just have nothing to do so I log on to the training website and take as many courses as I can… and I guess I procrastinate before I even get to work because no matter if I wake up earlier to be on time I always end up leaving home the same time (usually late) and then traffic does not help…
#3: Where I work is all about the pay scale and job description, so I have tried to apply to other vacancies where the salary and job is much better and appreciated by others, but have not succeeded at this so far… although my patience might be gone soon, there are other positions I am interested in so it would be worthwhile waiting for my chance, but will it be a conceivable chance soon?… I don’t really know…
#4: It’s not that I don’t feel like helping co-workers, it’s that my bosses and where I work is so concerned about what the ‘job description’ says that I am not allowed to leave my workspace to help others… so this is quite frustrating and of course, I think that as a consequence the following signs apply to me…
#5: Work days feel looooong - and it does not help to be hyperactive, because I finish what I have to do extremely fast and creativity is not really allowed here, so I just study and look at the clock hoping the day will end soon…
#7: I don’t care if there are patrons or not, if we have enough budget or events, really I don’t, just because I have proposed several things that would get us more customers but since “that is not in my job description” they were just disregarded, so I really do not care about anything that happens here…
8: Small things bug you - Of course I am supposed to answer or make calls and redirect them, but it’s just depressing that, although my boss knows I am overqualified for this position he still never misses the opportunity to reminds me how at the “bottom of the food chain” I’m at, so anything he requests over the phone bugs me, the way other people talk really loud in the cubicles behind me or the fact that my workspace is the pass way for everyone coming and going and sometimes they just do not even say hello.
10: Physical symptoms - I don’t think I sleep well, so at work I have low energy and sleepy and tired, I get allergies and just feel down…
So after ventilating all this, I wonder what I should do…
How can I be sure to know what I would love to work in, how to find a job I’ll love and be happy at work? I would even be willing to change my residence and leave my beloved Mexico if that meant that I would be happier altogether!
Any feedback?
Mike Cardus Said,
November 2, 2007 @ 1:37 am
How true are all those things. I recently left a job that turned me from a happy and dedicated employee to a miserable and not so dedicated employee. THe day I left that job suddenly it was like a weight was lifted off me. My eyes cleared my head opened and I found dedication and passion like never before. Although I am fortunate that I can leaver a job, with no children and no one to support. I am curious what advice you have for those who are miserable and cannot find a different or better job. Additionally you have covered this before, leadership and work culture have a large impact on employee happiness.
Mike
lykkelige omstændigheder? « the capital booster Said,
November 2, 2007 @ 10:18 am
[...] Læs mere hos CHO Alexander Kjerulf [...]
Vignesh Said,
November 2, 2007 @ 5:14 pm
Well, according to me, relationships with Bosses does add some percent to people being unhappy at work. And I guess, the factor of people-not-happy-with-bosses, came up as another important factor for leaving their jobs.
#6 is nice, thinking at the other way round, if there are a loads more of closer friends in the current firm, you would probably think a bit before try to shift! :)
Squish Said,
November 3, 2007 @ 5:14 am
This one sure hits home. This week has been extremely stressful and it is amazing how stress manifests itself in our bodies, psyche and behavior. I grind my teeth and noticed it after a particularly stressful day.
Currently I’m sorting out what I can change and what I can’t and when/if I should quit. The optomist in me says that I can make it work, anywhere, anytime. It’s all about my attitude, self-control and inner self-esteem.
Lin Davis Said,
November 4, 2007 @ 9:49 pm
This looks like plagerism - have you copied someone elses article as I have seen something very similar before. You really should make an attribution if someone else gave you the idea.
Alexander Said,
November 4, 2007 @ 10:20 pm
Sean: 8 out of 10? Ouch!
Felipe: Good point, they probably apply equally to studying. And I’m sorry to hear that they also apply to you.
Dave: Procrastination as a sign of conflict - that’s a great concept. That book goes into my shopping basket (click) right about now :o)
Scott: Workplace dementor - I love it!!!
Kirk: Thank you for the kind words - and congrats on the self-employment detox :o)
Mark: I agree - thank goodness :o)
Guilla: That sounds absolutely horrible! But remember: there are great jobs, great managers and great workplaces out there.
Do you know someone who loves their job? Talk to them and find out what they love about it. Have you previously had a job you liked? What did you like about it? What is your dream job like?
Thinking about these questions may give you a clearer picture of what kind of a job you will love.
Mike: “My eyes cleared my head opened and I found dedication and passion like never before.” - That’s amazing!!
My advice to people who are miserable stuck in a bad job is to consider not only the risk of quitting that job - but also the risk of staying. And that risk can be insanely high.
Vignesh: I agree - a bad realtionship with your boss is a huge source of unhappiness. And friends are a source of happiness.
Squish: You CAN make it work anywhere. The question is: Is it worth it? Or will moving on to a different job make you happier, faster?
Lin: Nope, I came up with these all on my own. But if you’ve seen a similar list somewhere please send me the link, I’d love to read it :o)
Kecek-kecek Tok Mudin 3.0 » Kecek-kecek orang makan gaji: 10 tanda tidak gembira Said,
November 5, 2007 @ 8:34 pm
[...] baik dari The Chief Happiness Officer. Bagaimana untuk mengenal pasti bahawa kita tidak gembira dengan kerja? 1: You procrastinateYou [...]
Personal Growth Said,
November 6, 2007 @ 8:14 am
It’s a bit different since I work from, but a lot of these can apply… (work days feel looooong) yet when I’m working on my own projects I really love it.
-Chris
Management Zingers: Get Charged Up with these Blog Posts » Slacker Manager Said,
November 6, 2007 @ 12:22 pm
[...] Alexander Kjerulf listed the top 10 signs your are unhappy at work: Number 8: Small things bug you. Small annoyances bug you out of all proportion. Like someone taking up too much space in the parking lot, someone taking the last coffee without brewing a new pot or someone talking too loudly in the next cubicle. When you’re unhappy you have much thinner skin and a shorter fuse. It takes a lot less to annoy you. [...]
joel Said,
November 7, 2007 @ 7:44 am
kind a difficult to be happy at work when your Company had an 80% turn over the first year , same the second and settle at 64 the third . Were all these Employees bad ? a good share yes , due to very poor quality in hiring , and a combination from the management of oppression , repression and retaliation , Kind a difficult to be positive to say the least and yet they complain about customer satisfaction and how much it cost the Company , do they pay attention on the cost of this turn over no , they forget everyone of these employee which have been terminated give a negative inside story , far more effective than a single customer , in my view combining termite and dry root .
grog Said,
November 18, 2007 @ 4:45 pm
looks like lin davis needs to get head head out of the corporate box……..good lord give it rest on the plagerism thing, you need a cocktail!
lykkelige omstændigheder? « the capital B Said,
November 18, 2007 @ 11:34 pm
[...] Læs mere hos CHO Alexander Kjerulf [...]
sys Said,
December 6, 2007 @ 12:01 am
Lin,
It’s very rude to accuse someone of plagiarism and reprimand them for something you think you “MAY have read” elsewhere. To call someone out for an effort (plagiarized or not…bc this list is still a service to lots of unhappy ppl) without any evidence to back it up is rather cavalier and lazy.
having just made the job switch, I’d say everything on this list applied to me except that i did enjoy my co-workers (we would all huddle and lunch and plot our eventual escapes). and i’d like to agree that a poor boss can make or break a job no matter how poor or great the overall environment is.
joel Said,
December 6, 2007 @ 12:16 am
PLAGIARISM.
an interesting word,unless you are into high tech R&D just about everything has been done and said before , in this concept however it is very well presented and definitly do not fit into plagiarism,hope I did not desappoint you too much . but it is a fact.
Seoinfocenter Said,
February 29, 2008 @ 9:29 am
Seoinfocenter…
Many times, you will become surprised by the colossal quantity of online sales intelligence handy….
MAI Said,
April 28, 2008 @ 3:14 am
Wow….I think all of these things apply to me. I’m absolutely miserable in my job. My job is the kind of place where you feel like no matter what you do, you are not doing enough. When I first started two years ago, I would come in on the weekends and work at least 10 hours each day in an attempt to please my supervisor. But it was never enough. At my job, you could do 100 things right, but if you make one small mistake, that’s the only thing that will be noticed….and harped on. Also, management has favorites….who can do no wrong.
The office is infested with gossip and low morale. Several of my coworkers have confessed to suffering the same symptoms as myself: depression and physical illness. On one particularly bad work week, I found myself heavily bleeding, even though I was not nearly close to my menstrual period. I also sometimes dread going to work so much in the morning that I actually begin to shake, and/or feel stomach sick.
However, the job pays relatively well and covers my tuition for my graduate degree 100%, so I didn’t leave. I kept telling myself that things would get better. Now, I have been put on probation (unfairly, in my opinion) and I cannot transfer to another department for a whole year. So while most of my coworkers are sending resumes and honing their interview skills, I have resigned myself to making it through another year and not giving up. I pray every day about it, because I need every bit of strength and positive energy I can muster up to make it throuogh the next year.
So a word of advice: if you find yourself in a toxic environment like this, do not burn any bridges. Act happy, make yourself work hard, and leave as soon as possible.