“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.