If you are burnt-out or have a crappy attitude

[MMAdvisor]

If you are burnt-out or have a crappy attitude at work, how do you hit the "reset" button and move forward? I know people will say a vacation, but I'm trying to hoard my PTO time. I could take a day off, and I have, but that just doesn't do it for me anymore.

What do you do?

[hamster]

Can you find other tasks at work that interest you? That's helped me tremendously. I still have to do the hated tasks, but at least I have other duties that I can look forward to.

[Deleted]

Oh man, I have no good advice, but I'll follow this thread closely since I am SO DONE WITH THIS SHIT at work. And I'm trying to hoard pto too.

Talking with my boss usually helps. He's hating life too right now, so we commiserate.

[ejpint]

Can you talk to your boss? If you have a good relationship, carefully share that you're not feeling as challenged. Obviously not, "I hate this crap and I don't want to do it anymore!"
If you can go into the meeting with a thoughtful list of what pieces you aren't enjoying, and maybe some realistic things you might enjoy taking on, that's productive.
I'd also consider why you aren't enjoying certain aspects - maybe there are pieces of your job that feel boring or mundane because they aren't even necessary. I wouldn't be afraid to ask why something is done if you think there might be a better way. Maybe an improvement project would spark your interest again.
Does any of that sound like it might shake things up for you?

[ijack]

no freaking clue

[je55]

Find a new job? Unless there's a light at the end of the tunnel, it's prob a good idea to at least see what else is out there. I've also had "seeing what else is out there" help me realize how not bad my current job is.

[katiescarlett]

I'd like to know too! I only work pt but I dread work days.

[oregonpachey]

You might not want to hear this but I was hating my old job. I had a shitty attitude and was seriously burnt out.

I got a new job and now I am really happy and have a positive attitude whereas before I dreaded going in to work everyday.

[Deleted]

Care less. I'm not even being flippant.

[MMAdvisor]

Thanks for the advice everyone.

Unfortunately the main reason that I'm miserable is that I have a horrible boss. She has no personality whatsoever and is strictly professional 100% of the time. I jokingly refer to her as RoboBoss because it's like working for a robot. There is no funding for promotions or raises, so she is preventing me from taking on new projects/assignments because she doesn't want me to have a case for a raise. I am not comfortable talking to her about work tasks, let alone expressing my feelings.

I am currently searching for a new job so hopefully something will work out soon.

[locarb]

booze can help. j/k or am I?

[missajane]

I don't have any work advice that isn't time off related. Could you take like 5 mins once an hour to do something you enjoy (read a book, play a game on your phone, take a walk, etc) just so work isn't so tedious? Just until you can find something you don't hate as much. I don't know what you do, but I have had to do this in the past just to not want to walk out.

Or... start exercising? It relieves stress.

[claireblue]

Happy hour! :drink:

[rex]

I am not allowed to have a crappy attitude (well, at least outwardly). We have to be emotionally neutral at all times. It's hard.

But, we do get burnt out.

Honestly, I try to find the fun in it. Or something funny about it. My job is likely very different from yours but we often say "laugh or cry". So, we laugh.

I'm sure not everyone has the option to laugh when things are going horrifically bad but I work with kids under 5.

But for you, I would just try to find a new task that can help you feel better about the shitty stuff you don't want to be dealing with. Or maybe some rewards for yourself for dealing with it?

[booyah]

I thought I had depression at my last job. I went to a therapist and got a zoloft prescription. Nothing helped. Turns out I had a douchebag for a boss. I switched jobs and *poof* no more crying at night, pit in my stomach at the end of the weekend, etc.

[monica_geller]

Right there with you. While I'm not ready to actively job seek, I have started to update my resume and start preparing myself for it - gives me back a sense of control.

When I'm actually at work, I will sometimes put a post-it on my monitor that says "BE NICE" or "BREATHE!" (I spend a lot of time on the phone.) It's cheesy, but when i'm extra crabby, it reminds me that generally we're all just trying to get through the day.

And ditto misoangry - care less.