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The 7 Things You Can't Let a Bad Job Steal From You (No Matter What)

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Whether you’re just having a bad day at work or feeling unsatisfied in general, you’re not alone. The most recent Gallup employee engagement data shows that less than a third of American employees are engaged at work, with only 28.9% of Millennials (the least engaged cohort) reporting they feel engaged in what it is they’re doing as a career.

That’s pretty grim, guys.

When you feel that disinterested in what you’re doing, it can really take a toll on you—physically, emotionally, and mentally. It’s not hard to fall into the trap of negativity with your work; that, because you’re unhappy with some aspects of it, you’re unhappy with everything.

Once that happens, it can quickly spill into your personal life. Let’s face it, it’s pretty damn hard to dislike what you’re doing eight or nine hours a day and then just leave it at the office when you walk out the door.

When you’re feeling overwhelmed by the pressures of work, or completely and totally dissatisfied with your career, remind yourself of these things your work can never take away from you:

1. Your Drive

You got where you are today because you have the drive to land yourself in that chair, but you aren’t stuck there. Even when you feel stuck, remember that it’s not permanent. Your drive will carry you through to your next station in life.

2. Your Personality

Sure, it feels like work is sucking the life out of you. That’s why it’s even more important to make time for friends, family, and doing the things you love. You’ll always be you, and the people who appreciate your personality, not just what you do from when you’re in the office, are still there for you.

3. Your Creativity

It’s tough to keep your creative side active when it feels that your ideas may not be appreciated at work. Even if your colleagues or bosses aren’t skilled at nurturing creativity in others, you can keep yourself sharp in your downtime. Your next venture is going to need that creative side of you, after all!

4. Your Achievements

Maybe you feel underappreciated and unrecognized in your current position, but no one can take away what you’ve accomplished before. Someone in future will see the value in this, don’t worry.


5. Your Positive Attitude

Sinking into negativity is a choice. You may not feel it’s a conscious decision you’re making when you let negative thoughts and self-talk take over, but it is. Keep up the good fight and practice having a positive attitude.


6. Your Ability to Improve

If you’re feeling inadequate, unprepared, or in over your head, take a step back and evaluate what it is you need to learn to fix the situation. Online and mobile learning have made it easier than ever before to work on self-improvement and skills building. No one can take away from you your ability to make yourself more valuable!

7. Your Dreams

Even in the most negative workplace environments, we’re free to dream of something better. Don’t ever stop dreaming of your next steps, your next big move, and what your life will look like when you get there.



Remember, even super successful billionaires Oprah Winfrey, Jeff Bezos, Larry Ellison and more have had their rough patches. Don’t let a bad time at work get you down.


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