10 ways to stay positive in a job you don’t like

Give yourself a realistic time frame to find an alternative source of income and set yourself a date when you will quit your job. Knowing that you won't be in a work place you dislike forever will make it easier during the time you have left. Once you've set yourself a date to quit do everything you can to find alternative work. Join recruitment agencies, apply for jobs, network with existing contacts, or start a night class to get more qualifications. Look for projects or responsibilities that will improve your CV. The more experience you have the more employable you will be for somebody else. Do whatever it takes to move yourself somewhere you'll feel happier. If you want to change your career but are worried about how you will afford it check out my article
How to change careers when you have no money

Sometimes we can make ourselves feel worse in a job we don't like as we dwell on how much we hate the work, our boss, our colleagues etc. Make the decision that for the remainder of the time you are in the job you will make the effort to be 100 per cent positive. Smile as you walk into the office and say hello to everybody. Make a list of all the positive things your job brings you (even if it's just the money!) If you have to do mundane tasks can you listen to uplifting music as you work? Put 100 per cent effort into each of your tasks and take pride in your work. Look at any problems as challenges which you will learn from. Don't waste any energy moaning or partaking in negative gossiping. It may sound corny but being positive will make you feel better and you will have more energy and enthusiasm for finding alternative work.

Surround yourself with items in your workplace which will help you feel better. Put up a picture of a loved one, friends or your pet. Put up a picture of what is making you go to work, perhaps you are saving for a new car, holiday or are working for your kids. Have a calendar and mark of the days until your next holiday. The screensaver on your computer could be a picture that inspires you or makes you happy. Or it could be that a plant helps you feel more relaxed. If you can't put pictures up on display in your workplace perhaps you can carry a picture of what's inspiring you to work on your person. Then when you get an attack of the blues you can look at what is motivating you to be there. If you are allowed, personalise your workspace as much as possible. It can only help you feel better as you walk in each morning to an environment that feels as inspirational, comfortable and as personal to you as possible. Here's an article with a few more suggestions to brighten up your workspace.

Every job has it perks. Think about how your company's resources can help you gain new skills, experience and knowledge to help you progress in the future. Perhaps you can use the Internet at lunchtime to look for new jobs. Can you network with contacts for another job before you leave? Go on workplace training to update your skills for a new job. If you're thinking of starting a business in the future can you get together information about your company's suppliers and customers that you can exploit at at later date? Doing this and other things will help you feel like you're moving forward even though you're still in the same job.

Transferring departments or locations can get rid of problems caused by a nasty boss or unhelpful co-workers. Or it may give you the new challenges and experiences you are looking for. It may also help you build up a wider skill base to aid you in a new job search in the future. Sometimes moving out of the status quo also gives us the kick that we need to keep making changes to our lives to make it better. Moving departments or locations may be the first step in a long line of changes that sees you taking responsibility for you life, your career and your happiness.

Reward yourself throughout the day for doing your job. Do a task you dislike first and reward yourself by doing a task you love. Give yourself a square of chocolate after each hours work. Take a 5 minutes break or walk around the office. You could even put together a plan of the rewards you will earn throughout the day so you have various treats to look forward to. This may help you look at your day at work differently. Finally, give yourself a reward at the end of the day by reading a magazine, watching your favourite TV show, eating your favourite meal or having a soak in the bath.

The happiest people at work are often the ones whose colleagues are their friends. Find people in your workplace you like and make a real effort with them. Take a genuine interest in people and they will do the same for you. Ask them about their evening and weekend, their families and work. Offer your help to them. Having a couple of friends to catch up with and laugh with everyday can even help you look forward to going into work. Support and friends at work can really lift your spirits and help you feel better.

Here is an article with some great tips on how to make friends at work

Following on from the point before, helping other people will help you build relationships and make friends. Commit random acts of kindness. Make a coffee for somebody or offer to help them out with their work. Not only will this make you you feel good, eventually you will find people will reciprocate. Also if you're focusing on helping somebody else at work you won't be dwelling on how much you hate your job.

Laughter really is the best medicine. Find things to laugh at and don't take things too seriously. Try and look for the funny side of things when your work isn't going as planned. If you have trouble finding things to laugh at in your job, think of something you found funny the night or day before. Laughter and happiness really are contagious, so if you're laughing other people may join in making your workplace seem a lot happier. Laughter at work also helps build solidarity among colleagues when the chips are down.

Make sure you have something to look forward to doing in your breaks. Read you favourite book, magazine or newspaper. Go out for a walk, sit in the park or go shopping. Take the time to call or e-mail a friend you haven't seen in a while. Even better, meet up with friends who work close by. Listen to music or a podcast on your ipod or computer. Do you work near a library, go and spend an hour reading a book or magazine there. Or, be really creative, people do things like rollerblading in parks near their work. Above all, DON'T work. Remember your lunch hour is an hour off - they don't pay you for it. So make the most of your free time. Additionally research shows that people who take a lunch hour are more productive during the rest of the day.
If you need some ideas of things you could do in your lunchtime check out this article Ten ways to spend your lunchbreak

If there's a particular task you dread doing make it the first task you do that day. There's nothing worse than having something you're not looking forward to doing at the back of your mind all day. No matter how much you try to put it out of your mind and put it off until later it will keep re-entering your thoughts and bring you down. Do your worst tasks first and then you can relax a little and enjoy the rest of the day. Also, doing your worst task first gives you a little lift. You'll be proud of yourself and you'll be so pleased you've done it you will get more done during the rest of the day. Try this technique out, I'll guarantee you will feel better.

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