Work sucks, we know - ELLE online

The wind-down of COVID-19 restrictions and gradual return to normality (in most states—sorry, Victoria) is, in some ways, excellent, so long as you can ignore the undercurrent of anxiety long enough to enjoy your socially distanced and time-restricted drink at the pub.

Going back to normal life, though, means going back to work, and for some people, that thought is giving them strong Back To School After Summer Holiday Vibes. They just don't want to go.

So what to do if that's you? On one hand, you know you should be grateful to be employed at a time when so many aren't, but on the other, all this time off has made you realise that your job actually kind of sucks.

Relationship and life coach Megan Luscombe says career anxiety is one of the most common concerns she has seen in her practice this year. "People are saying that [the time away from work] has made them realise how much they hate their careers and they're feeling that there's a misalignment with their jobs," she explains.

"There has been a lot of time for reflection, which has allowed a mental space for people to identify whether their jobs bring them happiness or dissatisfaction, and [I'm seeing] more emphasis on the latter."

In normal times, the itch for a career change should be embraced with gusto: Good for you, you finally know what you want and now you're on your way there! Let's go to the pub to celebrate!

But now's not an easy time to find a new job, and starting something new in such an uncertain environment could also compound stress onto an already hectic year. That's not to say it's an impossible step, or one that you shouldn't start preparing for.

"The thing to remember," Megan says, "is that we can actively pursue another job or career at any time, especially while working in a job we're not satisfied with. Sure, moving into a new job or career might not be financially viable right now, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't be taking steps to researching ways to make the career leap when the time is right."

So now's the time to set up job ad alerts, look into studying something new, or put together a business plan for that hobby you want to monetise (although there is something to be said for hobbies remaining hobbies, so this is the time to make 100 sure you want to turn something pleasurable into work).

As for the constant tug-of-war between feeling grateful for employment and resentful for having to do something you don't like? Megan says it's all about managing your mindset.

"I call this feeling 'gratenful'—when you feel like you should be happy, but in reality you're just angry and annoyed by the situation. People are feeling burdened and guilted into staying put, as if their feet are placed in a concrete box," Megan says. "To anyone feeling like this, I'd suggest looking at the day-to-day actions you need to complete and focus on those."

That could mean, if you're stuck doing something that isn't usually in your job description due to JobKeeper requirements or other staffing issues, lean more towards the grateful side of the scale and think about how getting paid means you can provide for yourself and/or your family. The time for a change will come.

That said, don't ignore the negative feelings. Most of us have lost our grasp on the future; control over our lives have been taken out of our hands, and the emotions that come with that shouldn't be dismissed.

"I've been telling my clients to feel their emotions fully and not burrow them deep down inside," Megan says. "Right now, it's really scary for a lot of us, and while the world [as a whole] is experiencing COVID-19, we're all affected differently. It's important to honor our feelings and work through them as opposed to avoiding them - they'll only come out in other ways later!"

Sure, going back to work might suck right now, but a bright and shiny new future—one that you've carefully thought about and planned for—is right around the corner. Think of 2020 as the year you become unstuck.

That's something worth celebrating.

This story originally appeared on elle.com.au in July 2020.