That burnt out feeling...

[cowgirl836]

Thanks for the advice. Your suggestions are great. One thing I know I struggle with is talking about it. I just feel like 99% of people would be like "everyone hates their job - get over it." "Just put your 40 in and get to the weekend", etc. I can definitely say I've stayed in my job out of fear - fear of change and fear of the unknown. Thanks for the book recommendations - will check out for sure. Glad to hear thing are going well for you - thanks for sharing your story!

have definitely seen that before and it's so unhelpful.

it sounds like you have a good life outside of work - just lack of stimulation in your current role. We recently had someone in an interview say the same thing about wanting to work more on something they could see the direct results of. In their current role (this was for a change within the company) they began a process that would be handed off to someone else to finish. They wanted that beginning to end responsibility. In the end we were not able to give them the position, but did make it so part of their time would be involvement in a new project that they could have more control over. If your company values you, they'll want to work with you on this.

To me it sounds like job hunting isn't a bad idea. There's nothing wrong with going and doing some interviews to see what's out there. And just because you interview doesn't mean you have to leave or say yes to an offer. But it sounds like it's worth testing the waters for you.

 

[Hackgolfin72]

I was in the exact same boat working at an insurance company. Just decided to go back to school and get my teaching certification and am now student teaching. Sometimes you just have to take the plunge or you will go absolutely crazy, I got really tired of coming home and being miserable because I knew I had to go back to the office the next day.

I've thought about getting my coaching authorization and helping out at the middle school level or something. The class to get authorized is somewhat inconvenient as far as scheduling, but we'll see.

I hear ya on that plunge, I just gotta make myself do it - that's the hard part. I've also had that miserable feeling you speak of - BRUTAL.

 

[SpokaneCY]

Thanks for the advice. Your suggestions are great. One thing I know I struggle with is talking about it. I just feel like 99% of people would be like "everyone hates their job - get over it." "Just put your 40 in and get to the weekend", etc. I can definitely say I've stayed in my job out of fear - fear of change and fear of the unknown. Thanks for the book recommendations - will check out for sure. Glad to hear thing are going well for you - thanks for sharing your story!

Have you done any reading on emotional intelligence? I'm ADD but worked in accounting and auditing for years and never understood why I hated it. Never thought it was about the best fit for me. Once I better understood what made me tick (I hate detail, I hate routine) I spent several years at my company networking for a new gig that took full advantage of my innate skills and have been thrilled ever since.

 

[LincolnWay187]

Read as a man thinketh, it is very short and inspiring.

 

[Beyerball]

Coming to CF on this Friday looking for some inspiration.

I've got that burnt out feeling w/ my current job. Just totally disinterested and bored. There are the obvious motivational factors: mortgage, cars, utilities, food, etc. With that being said, I still feel just "blah" about my current position.

Any CF's out there have any suggestions, maybe motivational books, music, videos, workouts, etc. that they've used to combat a similar feeling in the past? What have you done when you've experienced this? Again, aside from the above obvious things that we all go to work for everyday. Thought I'd come here for some wisdom and maybe a few tips/tricks on how to crank up my energy level.

HAPPY FRIDAY!

Wow. You just described how I feel to a tee..strange. I've been doing the same thing for nearly 20 years and it's getting to me..

 

[Kagavi]

I've got that burnt out feeling w/ my current job. Just totally disinterested and bored. There are the obvious motivational factors: mortgage, cars, utilities, food, etc.

I agree 100% - and yes, it has started to bleed into my personal life. I keep hearing people say life it too short, you need to do what makes you happy, etc. Maybe I'm just afraid of the unknown if I attempt to make a change.

Haven't got to that point yet - I don't think I have the guts to quit without something else lined up. Great to hear the gamble worked out for you

Took the plunge, left a management job to start Kagavi, never been happier. Couldn't have done it without my wife's support. That was a few years ago. You talk about the obvious factors like mortgage, cars, etc. These are things I've questioned heavily in recent years. It's all about keeping the monthly required bills as low as possible, in order to find oneself.

By exploring different things with Kagavi, custom blankets, clothing, art, writing, etc. and listening to feedback from others that I trust (namely, my wife), I believe I've centered upon my calling and will be executing Kagavi v3.0 soon to facilitate this shift.

Combined, we make a good living, but our car is over ten years old with peeling paint. We only own one car--sold mine years ago and started walking everywhere/carpooling. For the most part, we have signed apartment leases that were month to month, for maximum flexibility with jobs, etc.

Miss Kagavi recently left a higher paying position, in order to work a position that was full-time, but only four days a week. The extra 52 days off a year have made a massive difference--she was essentially given 10 extra weeks of vacation.

Sold/donated many of our possessions, reduced clothes to bare minimum, have strongly considered the "tiny house" lifestyle in order to facilitate early retirement as soon as possible. Been fortunate enough to travel the country/world and want to keep doing more of the same.

After all, it's just money and silly things. Be happy and don't put unnecessary roadblocks in your way.

 

[throwittoblythe]

Thanks for the advice. Your suggestions are great. One thing I know I struggle with is talking about it. I just feel like 99% of people would be like "everyone hates their job - get over it." "Just put your 40 in and get to the weekend", etc. I can definitely say I've stayed in my job out of fear - fear of change and fear of the unknown. Thanks for the book recommendations - will check out for sure. Glad to hear thing are going well for you - thanks for sharing your story!

If you go to someone with your feelings and they tell you to "get over it," those aren't the people to be seeking advice from. We all have seasons of life where we just have to "stick it out." You have a mortgage, two kids, and one on the way? Yeah, you should probably stick it out until you find a new job. That doesn't mean you have to stay in an unhappy job/role though.

As someone else said, we spend way too much of our life at our jobs to hate them. For me, I have to have purpose in my work. I have to know I'm doing something that is: A) meaningful, B) leverages my strengths while challenging me to grow, and C) is valued by my employer.

I do not subscribe to the thought that "work sucks and everyone just deals with it." Our work is such a big part of who we are. It matters so much and we should do all we can to get it to align with what we want. Just remember that YOU are in control. If things aren't going well for you, it's up to you to change.

 

[throwittoblythe]

I've thought about getting my coaching authorization and helping out at the middle school level or something. The class to get authorized is somewhat inconvenient as far as scheduling, but we'll see.

I hear ya on that plunge, I just gotta make myself do it - that's the hard part. I've also had that miserable feeling you speak of - BRUTAL.

On that topic, check out "Start" by Jon Acuff. In summary, the book says you just need to take those first steps and you'll be amazed at what happens. Make a couple calls, set up a meeting with someone to initiate a conversation, you'll be shocked at what happens.

Here's what happened for me: I was stuck in a new job that I knew wasn't going to work. I had moved my family from Omaha to MSP. There was no going back to the old job. I was reading "Art of Work" and it has a chapter on mentors. The author states that we all have mentors around us, we just need to ask sometimes.

On a whim, I sent an email to an executive at a company here in Minneapolis that I met briefly at an ISU alumni event. All I asked him to do was to meet with me and give me some advice on my career. I had 0 expectation that he would even respond. He responded right away and even agreed to have breakfast with me. A few months later, I'm working at his company. That was such a groundbreaking moment for me and it meant the world to me that he would take him to sit down with someone he basically knew nothing about.

Some people are born doing what they love, some people stumble upon, some people have to work to find it. I'm in the last boat. Only through working through being in a crappy job was I able to find something I love to do.

 

[isu22andy]

Multiple people have told me, you'll never get rich working for someone else but Ive always struggled to figure out what business to start or attempt to start...I value my free time too much to start a business I feel like.

 

[CarlHungus]

Have you ever thought about self-employment? I wouldn't jump into without a plan, but if you're passionate about something, it might be worth your time researching it and how you could be successful at it

 

[Doc]

Coming to CF on this Friday looking for some inspiration.

I've got that burnt out feeling w/ my current job. Just totally disinterested and bored. There are the obvious motivational factors: mortgage, cars, utilities, food, etc. With that being said, I still feel just "blah" about my current position.

Any CF's out there have any suggestions, maybe motivational books, music, videos, workouts, etc. that they've used to combat a similar feeling in the past? What have you done when you've experienced this? Again, aside from the above obvious things that we all go to work for everyday. Thought I'd come here for some wisdom and maybe a few tips/tricks on how to crank up my energy level.

HAPPY FRIDAY!

I think it's good you realize it's a problem, and I think you need to weigh the benefits of facing it head on against just dealing with being burned out.

 

[CyForPresident]

Put your **** in stuff

 

[DRCHIRO]

Find something that keeps challenging you where you can learn and grow.

I think every job is going to have those periods where your down and out or burnt out. You may just need a vacation, something energize you.

Find someone else to help. Could be as simple as holding a door for someone or volunteering at a soup kitchen. Helping someone else will make you feel better about yourself.

 

[CyForPresident]

I maintain that you just put your **** in stuff. Most probable is a vagina. Find a vagina and put your **** in it

 

[Hackgolfin72]

Multiple people have told me, you'll never get rich working for someone else but Ive always struggled to figure out what business to start or attempt to start...I value my free time too much to start a business I feel like.

I've heard that wise quote before as well..I too have thought about being my own boss. Like you, I've struggled to find "that business" - truly not as easy as it sounds.

 

[Hackgolfin72]

Have you ever thought about self-employment? I wouldn't jump into without a plan, but if you're passionate about something, it might be worth your time researching it and how you could be successful at it

I have - just not to the point of execution. I'm passionate about a lot of things, but haven't actually sat down and put pen to paper to come up with a plan of attack.I can't thnk of any self-employed friends/family off the top of my head to bounce thoughts off of, but I'll definitely do some research on the topic.

 

[Hackgolfin72]

I think it's good you realize it's a problem, and I think you need to weigh the benefits of facing it head on against just dealing with being burned out.

Agreed - that's really the beginning steps of where I'm at now. I've received great feedback and advice from lots of people already on CF. I'm going to take this info and spend some time doing self reflection and determine what it truly is that I want.

On a side note, I'm somewhat shocked by all the positive and helpful tips/advice/motivation/shared stories that people have posted. I was hesitant to start this thread, figuring I would get a lot of negative and troll-like responses based on what I've seen in other threads. It's honestly refreshing to see there are still people on CF that are willing to have an actually conversation.

 

[Hackgolfin72]

Find something that keeps challenging you where you can learn and grow.

I think every job is going to have those periods where your down and out or burnt out. You may just need a vacation, something energize you.

Find someone else to help. Could be as simple as holding a door for someone or volunteering at a soup kitchen. Helping someone else will make you feel better about yourself.

Very true. I need to find something that I know nothing about or know I'm not good at and make myself try it. A vacation does sound nice - I have some time off available, I might just do that.

I definitely would like to volunteer more. I volunteer at a couple different shelters in DSM a few times during the holiday season, but I have the time to do more - and it's actually fun to do.

 

[Hackgolfin72]

I maintain that you just put your **** in stuff. Most probable is a vagina. Find a vagina and put your **** in it

 

[Dopey]

You could take a 2 week vacation to travel and then return to 1200 emails.

That always calms me down.