05.30.08
How to maintain your Self-Esteem at work
“I don’t want to go to work today”
Do you recognize who said this? You and I, full of this stuff called ‘free-will’, give in to the incessant demands of our jobs simply because they hold over our heads the very stuff of survival, a steady paycheck.
As if constantly wrenching our individual will-power in order to be subservient to another isn’t bad enough, once we are in our work environment we encounter no small number of things which are detrimental to our physical and mental health.
Poor air quality, sitting at a desk, social isolation, high background noise, fixed eye focus, repetitive activity, unhealthy food, stress, travel, deadline pressure, unhelpful criticism, limited self-expression, being unheard, unreasonable expectations, and defensive managers all contribute to a general malaise and lack of passion towards work. Extreme cases involve abuse of power, yelling, and survival threats.
After more than half of our waking hours are devoted to this self-destruction and the surrounding commute, it’s little wonder most people are happy to find a few moments to zone out in front of the tv, drink to forget the day, and eventually de-stress enough to get less than 8 hours of sleep to repeat the same cycle again.
How is this freedom? How is this life? After your energy is stolen for the day, you’re supposed to go out and make something of yourself?
In short, yes.
Your situation can always improve. Focusing on the external world is a great way to free your mind from the shackles of internal noise. For the introverts, this might mean working on a project, for the extroverts, being with a group that shares a common interest.
- Your passion and creative energy still exists, and is perhaps stronger for being subverted all day.
- Night classes are a possibility, for those needing more education (or inspiration) to pursue a dream.
- Make half an hour of pursuing an outside interest part of your evening routine.
- Read or listen to audio books.
- Join a professional group or networking organization that holds regular meetings.
- Spend time with family & friends.
- Get some exercise.
- Avoid boredom with plans.
- Find another, better job.
- Start a small business.
Most of all, you need something that you can be excited about. You need something to look forward to. You need a reason to exist besides collecting paychecks and paying bills.
You need an identity outside of work.
Ulyana said,
June 25, 2008 at 1214430439
I really like your blog and the advice you give in this post. I, however, don’t agree, or don’t see why, you describe the employer-employee relationship as subservience. It’s a contract. You do get paid for your time and you don’t have to lose yourself in your work. My opinion is probably such because I am happy at work and do pretty much all of the things you list above to “spice up” my life.
Sean Canton said,
June 25, 2008 at 1214432268
Thank you for the comment. I don’t intend to equate our current at-will working situation with real human slavery, which is a deplorable condition that still exists in the world today, even in the united states. I use the word subservience because part of keeping a job is subverting your willpower away from your own ambitions to follow the directions of another. When this is a matter of choice and inspiration, then I am not opposed.
What I am opposed to is the incredible expense of time and energy that work demands of us, in exchange for meeting our basic survival needs. The lowest level on Maslow’s pyramid.
Threats to our job are threats to our survival, and those threats are made daily, either explicit or implicit, creating a human condition of disempowerment and oppression. Physical slavery is devoid of choice, but it cannot be denied that a threatening work environment is a form of mental slavery, forcing you to think a certain way.
Which is why we have to maintain a strong sense of self outside of work.
Ulyana said,
June 26, 2008 at 1214501486
These are such good points. I think what you describe is especially characteristic of those jobs that people get fresh out of college. Thanks!
Sean Canton said,
June 26, 2008 at 1214502439
Yes, I agree, the working world is especially unforgiving to the uninitiated. However, the ‘inspiration’ for this is my… 7th job out of college. Things are getting better, but still… it’s frustrating.
Generation Y: Here Are the Real Dues We Need to Pay : Brazen Careerist - A Career Center for Generation Y said,
July 8, 2008 at 1215516405
[...] to my stomach. Not because I’m trying so hard to avoid the whole thing (I am), but because I have more important things to develop before worrying about a fat paycheck and a corner office with a [...]