Daily Grind for Dummies?

December 30, 2008 3:21 PM

For those of you that have a 9-5 type job that you're not absolutely passionate about, how do you survive the daily grind?

I've been working, on and off, for 13 years in jobs that are related to my degree, which I have little passion for. I tend to lose my motivation pretty quickly, and the standard 2-3 weeks of vacation time doesn't cut it. So I tend to jump from job to job, sometimes with long breaks in between. While this feels wonderful at the time, it is making it understandably harder and harder to find the next job.

I've been trying to identify new career possibilities for a long time, and have read many books, and lots of questions here about that. For now, let's just say I am going to keep working at a job that I don't love. I know I'm not the only one. So how do you stay motivated? How do you prevent the 9-5 cubicle-type job from crushing your soul?

posted by mumbleitaliano to work & money (17 comments total)

Headphones. It's that simple.
posted by infinitywaltz at 3:28 PM on December 30, 2008

To expand on that a bit, I have a sideline thing (separate from my day job) editing a weekly online music magazine, so most of the time I've got music related to that on my headphones. If I'm going to be doing an interview with an artist soon, for example, I'll line up a whole stack of their albums and listen to them sequentially.

I should also point out that I quite like my day job, but it's nice to have a distraction of something that I'm actually passionate about for the less exciting, more grinding aspects of my day job.
posted by infinitywaltz at 3:30 PM on December 30, 2008

I tried to make the work day a bit more enjoyable by doing things like taking walks at lunch, surrounding myself with fun things on my desk (mini zen garden and the like), and listening to streaming radio on my computer.
posted by All.star at 3:34 PM on December 30, 2008

1.) Stay Busy. It seems to me that when I am least busy is when I am least happy at work. In the past I have asked to take on added responsibilities to make sure my day is packed with stuff to do so I don't have time to get bored.

2.) Help Coworkers. Seek out ways to help my coworkers. Figure out which ones have the most work and lend them a hand. It will make you feel better to help others.

3.) Change your attitude at work. If you make sure you always react positively to those things that happen at work it will make you feel better about your job and other people will notice you are a nicer person to be around.

I'm not sure if these are the kinds of things you had in mind. They will make your days go faster and be more pleasant but if you truly don't like what you do then it is time to seek other employment. Life's to short to spend long days being miserable.
posted by OneCrayon at 3:40 PM on December 30, 2008 [11 favorites]

How to Be Happier in the Job You Sometimes Can't Stand.
posted by davcoo at 4:19 PM on December 30, 2008

you don't. might as well love what you do.
posted by nam3d at 4:19 PM on December 30, 2008

Have a pre-work routine - before I get in the office I've gone to the gym, worked out, had a leisurely breakfast with my husband, caught a few minutes of tv news/weather and read a chapter of my book on the subway. Yes this unfortunately requires getting up early but there's nothing worse than the bed-shower-office thing to make you feel like work is taking over your life.

Enjoy my colleagues - they're smart, funny people and it's usually a pleasure chatting and drinking with them regardless of the job.

Have a little routine - I've got a time I check my personal email, a time I make tea, a time I take a walk round the block, etc. I also try to make plans for after work so there's no reason to stay late or hit the couch straight after. The whole day doesn't stretch out before me.

Try to keep busy - downtime is brutal, it makes the days drag and my mind wander. This is not usually a problem I have at my job, we're slammed.

Keep a What I Done Did list - I take a few minutes every week to update my projects worked on list, achievements list, list of CPD taken, etc. Yes this sounds bit silly and corporate, but my appraisals go well, and my resume is sterling and good to go at any time.

Ironically the job-hopping (and I understand why you do it) may restrict a bit of your freedom to do what you will. When you have a bit of seniority and tenure in that desk of yours, it enables you to take the odd personal day and long lunch and so forth for your own sanity without feeling like you're taking liberties, as well as be well compensated for the torture and to negotiate the extra time off you need.

Hope this helps, hang in there.
posted by jamesonandwater at 4:20 PM on December 30, 2008 [13 favorites]

You're looking at it.
posted by dirtdirt at 4:50 PM on December 30, 2008 [9 favorites]

Hmmm..I think I may be quite a bit like you (for the last few years, 1 year is a long term job for me), and I have been hopping from job to job for probably the same amount of time.

One thing that helped me at my last job was to change my mind set: What kind of skills did I want to acquire at job X? Then I did everything in my power to acquire that skill set at the job.

A few examples:

1) I wanted certain type of projects that I could use as samples for freelance work. I did everything I could to get the projects I wanted (I took the projects home if I needed to complete it in a certain time line, read journal articles at home) – but after a while, the supervisors came to me and asked me if I wanted to work on certain projects or not.

2) I asked for an editing class (taught by our editor). Supervisors gave us the time and resources to do this. If your workplace does not endorse internal classes, look into whether they will pay for a university course.

Also, at my last job I did make a point of getting to know and have fun with my coworkers; I think (hope) it can help me – a lot of people jump from job to job.

Finally, like a lot posters mentioned, if you listen to podcasts at work, related to whatever you want to do outside work or at that next job, it helps time go by.

Good luck.

PS: Honestly, what helped me survive this last cubicle imprisonment the most was making plans to get out of the cubicle; spend time outside and during work making escape plans.
posted by Wolfster at 4:52 PM on December 30, 2008

1- Work is not life. It's how you pay for life. If it was easy it wouldn't be called work.

2- Have something to be excited about besides work. Life goals, self improvement, hobbies, kids, something.

3- Don't let it get to you. As long as you are doing your best, you can't do any more.

4- There's always *something* to improve upon.

5- Document everything you do, especially if you solve a problem. Don't make yourself indispensible. Best case, you are indispensible and are stuck doing the same things over and over and over and over. Because nobody else knows how. So make yourself the person who is easiest to promote. Someone can step in and be able to do your job when it's time for you to do something new.

6- I disagree with the headphone thing, mostly because I think it's rude. It sends a bad message to those around you. If something is unbearable, either get out, or figure out a way to fix it.
posted by gjc at 5:16 PM on December 30, 2008

Podcasts help pass the long, grueling hours.
posted by CwgrlUp at 5:17 PM on December 30, 2008

Double-quadruple-nthing gjc's "2- Have something to be excited about besides work." I enjoy my work just fine - I enjoy the people I work with, enjoy learning new things, get a weird kick out of both tedious repetitious work and solving easy problems, totally enjoy solving big problems - but my work is not my passion. My passions are in my personal life - learning stuff, bird watching, playing my guitar. Work gives me money to live, so I can have time for those things.

You don't have to have a passion for your job to be happy. Some people have that, but some folks (like me) are happy even without the consuming passion for the job.
posted by kristi at 6:48 PM on December 30, 2008 [1 favorite]

It really helps to have passions in your life that you can focus on when not at work. Sometimes you can begin to incorporate those into your dull job. I have a kind of boring techie job, but my passion is drawing and painting. I was able to take classes, learn more, and recently have been asked to do some illustrations for my company (after 8 years of working there). You have to put yourself out there, though, and say, "Hey, look what I can do!" and eventually, someone will notice. Then you're on the road to doing what you love for a living (I sure hope so, anyway). The key thing here is to find something in your life that you love to do. Then do it.
posted by TochterAusElysium at 6:48 PM on December 30, 2008

How do you prevent the 9-5 cubicle-type job from crushing your soul?

Leave the job and find something you love. Seriously. I worked 9 years in a 9-5 software job that I couldn't stand. It wasn't that I hated the work, I was just uninterested. Long story short, I did some soul searching, read "What Color Is Your Parachute" a couple times and finally mustered up the gumption to get the additional education I needed to do what I really wanted. Three years later, life is good. I wish I had been brave enough to make the move years before. I can't describe how nice it is to go to a job everyday that you look forward to. Don't get me wrong, there are still bad days (and bad weeks), but doing something that is interesting and important will do wonders for your motivation and outlook.
posted by perrce at 7:20 PM on December 30, 2008 [3 favorites]

Music, talk radio, and podcasts, definitely, if the work environment allows it, of course. If mine didn't, or worse, if we were forced to listen to a particular crappy station... I'd probably jump out the window. Having cool co-workers to talk to helps, too, although that's kind of the luck of the draw.

There might be days/weeks where time seems to really drag on, and others where it seems to go by relatively quickly. I've only started a 9-to-5 office job this past summer, and there really seems to be an ebb and flow. Just give yourself time to see if you're able to adapt to it. But having a monotonous, boring job sure beats an aggravating one that really does crush your soul, like my retail job.
posted by TheSecretDecoderRing at 9:54 PM on December 30, 2008

Podcasts help.
Music helps.
Pandora.com ALWAYS helps.

Heck even if those are blocked just about EVERYONE has an iPod...and the shuffles or Sandisk Sansa Clips are MOST affordable for what you get.

I make a point to get out for lunch every day. Even if I brought in peanut butter and jelly. Eat outside when it's nice, or even go to the cafeteria etc. Make the most of your break times and TAKE your 15 minute breaks. Make friends with a coworker. Even if you don't think you'd initially like the person. All it takes is one or two people you like to brighten any work day.

I also bring in some movies sometimes and let them play in the background since I don't think watching movies is a good idea at work lol, but listening is no problem.

Always try to seek out more than your job to do. Bosses will love your initiative, you'll learn tons of new stuff and become more valuable. More valuable = promotion or a raise, and perhaps a new position you ENJOY!

I also text my gf throughout the day. Doesn't distract me and during big lulls can keep your mind sharp. Make sure you eat breakfast and lunch so you don't hit an afternoon crash and want to sleep.
posted by PetiePal at 11:55 AM on December 31, 2008

I spend a lot of time on Metafilter when I'm supposed to be working.
posted by Jacqueline at 1:58 AM on January 1, 2009