May 30 2024 24 mins
This Work, Life, Balance Lesson is all about finding a balance between work and everything else in life when you hate your job.
Now, hate is a strong word, which I don’t use lightly. In this case, it’s a direct quote from people I’ve interviewed on this podcast who have talked about this exact thing. And it’s right that it’s a strong word because when you don’t like the work you do, it has an incredibly strong impact.
A person’s job is often the benchmark against which people measure their value and identity, as well as being a means to pay the bills and put food on the table. Regardless of the number of hours spent working, feeling like you hate your job will inevitably impact your sense of balance detrimentally.
In this episode, “hating your job” is categorised into three depths of feeling:
1. Rock bottom: a whole hearted hatred, which likely leads to a crisis point.
2. A mid-depth where you might hate aspects of your job, or your chosen career, but not all of it.
3. A shallow level of hatred, perhaps better termed as “not loving your job”. Here, you may feel uninspired or excited by your work, but you recognise the limits of its value to you, and other aspects of life compliment the job to make it more tolerable.
Throughout the episode I share some examples that have featured on the podcast that relate to each of those levels of “depth” of hating your job, and share some of the actions that have helped people regain their balance in those situations.
Here are links to some of the Work-Life Balance stories featured on the blog or podcast, 'A Fine Balance', which are referenced throughout this episode:
On Marketing, Corporate Cultures, Having Fun, and Asking for Help - Dan's Story: https://a-fine-balance.com/2024/05/22/on-marketing-corporate-cultures-having-fun-and-asking-for-help-new-podcast-episode-out-now-featuring-dan-knowlton/
On Teenage Pregnancy, Teacher Burnout & Finding Balance When You’re “Busy” - Laura’s Story: https://a-fine-balance.com/2023/05/26/a-fine-balance-the-podcast-season-2-episode-5-out-now/
On Part-Time Working Fatherhood, Perfectionism & Finding Balance When Living with Cancer - Sam’s Story: https://a-fine-balance.com/2023/12/18/a-fine-balance-the-podcast-season-2-episode-8-out-now/
Finding Balance in Retirement: Tom’s Story – on Empathy, Leadership & Passion for your Vocation: https://spotifyanchor-web.app.link/e/ulx9EoIO0Jb
“It Doesn’t Have To Be That Way” – Finding Balance by Setting Precedents: Katherine’s Story – on setting work-life boundaries as a legal professional & sharing the workload in marriage: https://a-fine-balance.com/2022/04/01/it-doesnt-have-to-be-that-way-finding-balance-by-setting-precedents-katherines-story-on-setting-work-life-boundaries-as-a-legal-professional-sharing/
On Not Being Career-Oriented & Finding Balance as a Musician and a Newlywed - Amanda's Story: https://a-fine-balance.com/2023/02/03/its-official-season-two-of-a-fine-balance-the-podcast-is-live/
Now, hate is a strong word, which I don’t use lightly. In this case, it’s a direct quote from people I’ve interviewed on this podcast who have talked about this exact thing. And it’s right that it’s a strong word because when you don’t like the work you do, it has an incredibly strong impact.
A person’s job is often the benchmark against which people measure their value and identity, as well as being a means to pay the bills and put food on the table. Regardless of the number of hours spent working, feeling like you hate your job will inevitably impact your sense of balance detrimentally.
In this episode, “hating your job” is categorised into three depths of feeling:
1. Rock bottom: a whole hearted hatred, which likely leads to a crisis point.
2. A mid-depth where you might hate aspects of your job, or your chosen career, but not all of it.
3. A shallow level of hatred, perhaps better termed as “not loving your job”. Here, you may feel uninspired or excited by your work, but you recognise the limits of its value to you, and other aspects of life compliment the job to make it more tolerable.
Throughout the episode I share some examples that have featured on the podcast that relate to each of those levels of “depth” of hating your job, and share some of the actions that have helped people regain their balance in those situations.
Here are links to some of the Work-Life Balance stories featured on the blog or podcast, 'A Fine Balance', which are referenced throughout this episode:
On Marketing, Corporate Cultures, Having Fun, and Asking for Help - Dan's Story: https://a-fine-balance.com/2024/05/22/on-marketing-corporate-cultures-having-fun-and-asking-for-help-new-podcast-episode-out-now-featuring-dan-knowlton/
On Teenage Pregnancy, Teacher Burnout & Finding Balance When You’re “Busy” - Laura’s Story: https://a-fine-balance.com/2023/05/26/a-fine-balance-the-podcast-season-2-episode-5-out-now/
On Part-Time Working Fatherhood, Perfectionism & Finding Balance When Living with Cancer - Sam’s Story: https://a-fine-balance.com/2023/12/18/a-fine-balance-the-podcast-season-2-episode-8-out-now/
Finding Balance in Retirement: Tom’s Story – on Empathy, Leadership & Passion for your Vocation: https://spotifyanchor-web.app.link/e/ulx9EoIO0Jb
“It Doesn’t Have To Be That Way” – Finding Balance by Setting Precedents: Katherine’s Story – on setting work-life boundaries as a legal professional & sharing the workload in marriage: https://a-fine-balance.com/2022/04/01/it-doesnt-have-to-be-that-way-finding-balance-by-setting-precedents-katherines-story-on-setting-work-life-boundaries-as-a-legal-professional-sharing/
On Not Being Career-Oriented & Finding Balance as a Musician and a Newlywed - Amanda's Story: https://a-fine-balance.com/2023/02/03/its-official-season-two-of-a-fine-balance-the-podcast-is-live/