I don’t want to go to work!

Are you dreading going back to work after the holiday?  Not the “gee, I really love sleeping in and can’t believe I have to wake up early again” discomfort, but real “gut clenching, eye twitching, get on your knees and pray for calmness” dread when you think about heading to work.

Have your friends started avoiding you because every conversation seems to turn into how much you hate your job?  Your boss?  Your unfair performance review? Not sure because you haven’t talked with your friends lately?  There’s your answer.

A slow office death

If this is you, do these four things now before it’s too late!

1. Take steps to shore up your income by becoming an Independent Worker

I’m sure it comes as no surprise that most of us work for the money. Financially, if we could quit we would quit — duh!  So what can you do now?  Find a second stream of income by becoming an independent worker part-time or second-time.

To quote FastCompany.com’s evaluation of the freelancer economy,

These days, even professionals like attorneys, CMOs, and consultants with world-class training are choosing to work independently. –Brendon Schrader

FastCompany goes on to say that by 2020, 40% of the American workforce will be independent workers.

Don’t know where to look?  Try Freelancer.com or Upwork.com.  Looking for more than temporary work or want to build longer-term wealth without quitting your job?   Trade your knowledge for pay and/or equity at a startup by joining SweatEquitE.com.

2. Enhance or expand your skill set by taking classes 

Jobs come and go as companies merge and divest quite regularly.  Are you keeping your most valuable asset — your skill set — evergreen?  Is what you know of any value outside of your current company?

Skill sets can go stale faster than bread left uncovered on the counter so continuous learning is critical.  Certifications and degreed classwork not only let future employers know you take yourself seriously but also show you what’s new and exciting in your industry.

Don’t know what the best certifications are?  Search job sites like Indeed.com, Careerbuilder.com or SweatEquitE.com and search for the job you want.  A quick perusal of required and desired skills will tell you what’s valued in the marketplace.

Another advantage of taking classes is the networking.  The job a classmate wants to ditch might be just the opportunity you’re looking for. And speaking of networking…

3. Rekindle your network

Spent hours online applying to job openings? So have hundreds of other people all applying for that same job you did.  Truth is, public companies have to post certain types of jobs broadly even if they have all but selected an internal candidate to fill them already.  Not getting responses? That might be part of the problem.

To really find that perfect assignment, you have to know someone on the inside and that often comes from your network.  Joining affinity groups, meetups and signing up for industry events allow you the opportunity to connect with real people.

And finally…

4. Do a real self assessment

Changing jobs alone often means swapping one set of “dreads” for another just with different character names and a new commute to a new office.  Maybe what’s really bothering you most is your work lifestyle.

Use your loathing to explore less obvious options.  Take the time to do a comprehensive pro/con list of your ideal career, not just your next job.  Once you’ve done that, rank your priorities and see what shakes out.  Does travel outweigh salary?  How important are medical benefits? You might surprise yourself.

Don’t be afraid to explore the non-traditional.  Virtual workplaces, digital nomading, and objectives-based employment can be better options.

Work happier

The world is becoming more accessible.  With a cell phone and laptop, doors are open everywhere.  Life is too precious to dread tomorrow.