Everyone experiences unhappiness in their job at some point. A rough day, or even a rough week, can get you down. For some people, it’s easy to know when they should change jobs. Others find it a lot harder to know when that time has come. If you notice these signs, it’s probably time to start searching for a more fulfilling position.
1. You dread starting work every day.
Do you stay in bed, drag your feet, and do everything you can to delay getting ready for work? If this is part of your daily routine, it’s a good sign that you’re not happy with your work. Showing up for work feels like one of the hardest things to do. You should be excited to work, at least on some days. If every day is a slog, you aren’t feeling passion for your current role.
2. You stop taking initiative.
Satisfied, engaged employees tend to take on more tasks and be more active in meetings. If you’re unhappy at work, you might find yourself doing the bare minimum. You don’t share your thoughts in brainstorms, or only respond when asked a question. You try to just float on the sidelines as much as possible. This isn’t a personal failure but instead, a cue that you should look for something more engaging.
3. You have the Sunday-night anxiety.
It doesn’t have to be Sunday—it can be whatever is the end of your “weekend.” After having time to relax and unwind, you can’t sleep because you know that when you wake up, you’ll have to start work again. Maybe you’re worried about a specific client, phone call, or report you have to take care of. Relaxing feels impossible when you’re dreading tomorrow’s work.
4. You’re constantly bored with work.
Often called “bore-out,” being too bored at work is a real thing. People need stimulating, engaging activities to feel satisfied. Maybe all of your tasks are too easy for you, your workday is repetitive or monotonous, or perhaps your skills aren’t being put to full use. If you find yourself staring at a wall in mind-numbing boredom, that’s a sign it’s time to go.
5. You procrastinate.
When you really don’t want to do your work, you take more bathroom breaks or chat longer with coworkers. There could be a few reasons for this: your work is too difficult, you don’t have enough support, or it’s just too boring. Whatever the reason, constantly putting off tasks until the last minute builds up more stress and anxiety.
6. You lost your work/life balance.
Do you find yourself working late most of the time? Taking work home with you often? What about always being attached to your phone or email? A good work/life balance is vital for overall happiness. If you find yourself devoting more and more time to work, at the cost of your personal and social life, it’s a sign you’re in a bad situation. Occasional sprints or busy periods happen, but you shouldn’t be working overtime year-round.
7. You always feel unhappy, upset, or stressed at work.
Your feelings are one of the best indicators you have. Sometimes this shows up as “pettiness,” where every extra sound, loud voice, or lukewarm cup of coffee just grates on your nerves. Or, it could just show up as being generally on edge and unable to relax—you might find yourself skipping meals or breaks because you’re so worried about getting everything done.
8. You really dislike your coworkers.
We aren’t going to like everyone we have to work with. But really disliking someone, or disliking everyone in your office, is a bad sign. If someone gets on your nerves sometimes or isn’t the most reliable, you might be able to manage that. When they make you so angry you have to rant about it to someone else? That isn’t good. And if you don’t get along with anyone at your workplace, it’s a definite cue that a change would be beneficial.
9. Your physical or mental health starts to suffer.
Stress from overworking, being too bored, or lots of conflict will build up and affect your health. You might notice new physical ailments, like getting sick more often or having new pain. Of course, for any health concerns, you should see a medical provider. They might tell you that stress is the likely cause, though. Your health should be your priority, so it isn’t wise to stay in a job that is negatively impacting you.
10. You’re experiencing burnout.
Burnout is more than just one day of low motivation. It’s when you find yourself constantly lacking energy, drive, and willpower. If you have to slog through every task and have trouble focusing on anything, you might be feeling burnout. Burnout is built up over a long period of time, and it can’t be fixed immediately. But by making changes to the things burning you out, you can eventually find a balance you’re happy with again.
11. You don’t take pride in your work.
A sign of a good, fulfilling job is coming home and feeling proud about what you did that day. You won’t feel this every day, but it’s important to have moments like this now and then. You want to feel like you’re doing something right. Feeling a sense of accomplishment helps maintain your confidence and mental wellness. If you don’t feel any pride in what you do, your job might not be right for you.
12. Your work performance is decreasing.
Your worth should never be measured by productivity. If you notice your productivity starting to drop, though, it’s a sign you’re unhappy. Of course, there could be other reasons for this; a loved one recently died or you’re recovering from surgery. If you notice a decrease in performance without any clear cause, it might be because you simply don’t want to be doing that work.
13. You constantly complain about work to loved ones.
Everyone has bad days, and everyone needs to vent sometimes. But there should also be good days, and positive stories to share with your friends. Constantly complaining or venting about work means you aren’t in a good work environment. A fulfilling job will have a mix of good and bad days, with more good than bad.
14. You’re always tired.
This is a common symptom of burnout. It doesn’t mean just being tired at work. You’re tired at work, before work, after work, and on the weekends. Having little energy usually means you’re pushing yourself too hard, and/or not getting enough of a reward. If you don’t have another reason to be tired, it could be that work is always draining you.
15. You don’t fit in with the company culture.
Even if you’re a contractor or don’t work for a “company,” there’s still a culture among the people you work with. Do you feel like an outlier? Are you not able to make friends among your coworkers, struggle to communicate with them, or disagree with some of the company’s values? Choosing to switch jobs can be a scary venture, but you’ll be much happier if you find a job where you feel included, accepted, and supported.
