Why do so many people hate their jobs–and what you can do about it:

 The Monday Blues. Hump day. TGIF. It's become so normal, we've just accepted that you should dread work and celebrate the end of the work week. Why do we put up with this? Why do we settle for jobs that drain us, rather than energise us? Especially when they're not necessarily meaningfully contributing to society. And more importantly, what can you do about it? In this episode, you're going to find out.

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Topics:

Escape the 9 to 5 

Escape the 9-5 

Career Coach 

Career Advice 

Career Guidance 

Career Transition 

Career Change 

Next Step Careers Limited

Auckland Wellington Christchurch New Zealand

Episode Transcript

Shure MV7 (00:00):
Talk to someone about their job, and they'll say something like this.
It pays the bills.
It's just a job.
It is what it is.
How is it that we've created a societywhere so many people hate their jobs?
Or at least are apathetic about them.
We spend over a thirdof our lives working.

(00:24):
That's about 90, 000 hoursin an average lifetime.
And yet, how many peopledread Monday morning?
Are only doing it for the money?
But even worse, one in threepeople feel their job is pointless.
It's one thing not enjoying your jobas a plumber, but at least you're

(00:44):
actively contributing to society.
It's another thing completely, hatingyour job as a corporate middle manager
and being unable to see how you'retangibly contributing to society.
Here's where it gets worse.
People don't just disliketheir jobs, they hate them.

(01:06):
They drag themselves out of bed eachmorning, They count the hours until 5pm.
They live for the weekend.
And when Sunday evening rollsaround, that pit in the stomach
starts to creep in again.
The Monday blues.
Hump day.
Thank God it's Friday.

(01:27):
It's become so normal, we've justaccepted that you should dread
Mondays and celebrate Fridays.
What do we put up with this?
Why do we settle for jobs thatdrain us, rather than energise us?
Especially when they're not necessarilymeaningfully contributing to society.
And more importantly,what can you do about it?

(01:51):
In this episode, you're going to find out.
You're a working professionalstuck in a 9 to 5 job.
You're good at what you do.
Maybe you've even climbed the ranks.
But something feels off.
You spend your days workingin a job that feels draining.

(02:11):
Feel that maybe your boss doesn'tget you Or you're stuck in tasks that
don't excite you And deep down you'restarting to wonder Is this really it?
I'm career coach Dr Steve Oiley Hostand creator of Escape the 9 to 5 I help
other working professionals like youTake the next steps in their career And

(02:34):
design a career that works for them Andtoday we're tackling the real reason
why so many people hate their jobs.
And how you can escape the trapby finding work that actually
plays to your strengths.
Let's get real.
Most of us did not choose our careers.

(02:54):
based on what we're naturally great at.
We chose them based on what seemedsafe, what our parents encouraged,
what our teachers said we're good at.
But here's the thing, being good atsomething doesn't mean it energises you.
There's a difference betweenbeing capable and being fulfilled.

(03:16):
and if you spend your career doing thingsthat drain you, things that don't align
with your true strengths, you're goingto feel exhausted every single day.
So do so many people hate their jobs?
Because they're playing the wrong game.
They're trying to force themselvesinto roles that don't fit them.

(03:39):
They're spending their days doing thingsthey can do, but don't want to do.
And eventually, that misalignment is goingto catch up with them, and maybe even you.
So here's a better question.
What if your job actuallyworked to your strengths?
What if, instead of fightingagainst yourself every day, you

(04:01):
built a career that fit you?
Imagine waking up excited for work,not because your job is easy, but
because it aligns with who you are.
Imagine spending your timedoing work that feels natural.
The kind of work where you lose trackof time, where you feel and flow.

(04:21):
That's what I call a super job.
A job that fits your natural strengths.
A job that energises you,instead of draining you.
A job where you're not just good atwhat you do, you actually enjoy it.
So how do you find work thatyou're good at and enjoy?
It seems like an unrealisticdream, but there's actually

(04:44):
research to suggest it's not.
Step one, identify what energizes you.
Think about the moments in your work.
When you feel the most alive.
What are you doing?
What kind of problems are you solving?
Even if you don't feel it in your currentjob, there's got to have been tasks and

(05:05):
jobs in the past where you did feel alive.
Step 2.
Look for patterns in your past successes.
The things you naturally excel at, withoutforcing it, are your true strengths.
It's the sort of things that people haveconsistently told you you're good at.
Or you've just noticed you find easy.

(05:27):
Step 3.
Redesign your role.
As I've discussed previously, youdon't have to quit your job tomorrow
to start doing more of what you love.
You can start by shifting yourresponsibilities, delegating some
tasks that drain you, and leaninginto the work that lights you up.

(05:48):
Because escaping the 9 to5 isn't about quitting.
It's about designing a careerthat actually fits you.
Let's change the narrative.
Instead of dreading Monday morningand celebrating Friday Arvo's, what
about finding work where you'reactually excited on Monday morning
and you want to work into theweekend because you love what you do?

(06:13):
That's the real goalof Escaping the 9 to 5.
Thanks for listening.
I'm career coach, Dr.
Steve Oiley, your host, and thanksfor being part of our movement.
See you next time.