Have you ever woken up dreading the workday, or thought about calling in sick to take a break from it all? If you answer “yes” to these questions, then you might be stuck in a rut at work.
At one point or another, most workers have gone through a difficult time at work. There are several factors why people seem to be going through a rough patch in the office—negative co-workers, a difficult boss, endless paperwork, deadlines, or boredom all contribute to these feelings. But there are a lot of things that people can do to make things better in the office this year.
Here are some tips on what you should do if you’re stuck in a rut at work.
Take up a new hobby
Taking up a new hobby is one way to get your mind off work during the hours when you’re supposed to be relaxing. A hobby that you can do during your break time can also benefit you during this difficult time.
This year, bullet journaling appears to be the rage among people who have a strong passion for stationery and who love to write down everything. This is a great hobby for office workers as all it takes is a notebook, some pens and a few minutes to scribble down one’s thoughts and ideas.
You could also try calligraphy, which is said to be good for one’s mental health. Another benefit of this hobby is that you develop great handwriting skills, and most of all, it’s not as expensive as other hobbies such as painting.
Connect with your co-workers
Most people think that avoiding one’s co-workers is a sure-fire way to avoid getting caught up in all the negativity in the office. However, avoiding any human interaction in the workplace can backfire on a person.
It’s natural to want to make your personal life separate from your personal life, but not exchanging pleasantries, ignoring your co-workers, or just simply avoiding them will result to you being branded as antisocial and rude. Find positive, like-minded people in the office and spend a few minutes exchanging ideas or just talking to them during break time.
Learn something new
Some offices offer seminars or classes to workers that can help make them be more productive and knowledgeable. Participate in these classes or seminars, especially if they’re free.
If your office doesn’t offer learning activities, you can always research on classes that you can take after office hours to brush up on your skills. You might be surprised to know what’s out there—there are lots of classes to choose from whether it’s on making spreadsheets, PowerPoint presentations, public speaking, business writing, and the like.
Take control of the situation
Pinpoint what’s making you miserable at work and find ways to take control of the situation. For instance, if you have a co-worker who you think is trying to sabotage your career, gather evidence to support your belief that you’re being sabotaged. Keep a record of all the instances with evidence to support them, and get information from colleagues if they also think that your co-worker is trying to make you look bad in the office.
After this has been done, talk to your co-worker in a calm manner. If the situation persists or worsens, consider going to your supervisor to see what can be done
For more, check out Jobs & Hire’s report on habits that make you look unprofessional in the workplace.
