Dealing with Work Related Stress: How to leave a stressful job? Unconventional Advice

Image from Forbes.com

Most of us experience work related stress. We feel manipulated and powerless to the inner office politics. It is terrible to think that 40 plus hours a week we are in a situation that creates stress and often depression.

If you are feeling stressed due to your workplace, heed your body’s warning. Continuous stress can have severe physical affects leading to several diseases. According to Health.com, job related stress can not only keep you up at night but lead to heart disease.

Five years ago, I was the victim of my work environment. Often feeling powerless to the negative energy of the office. In my article, Why and How I Decided to Pay Off $71k In Debt, I discussed my experience and how the constant turmoil led to stress induced illness.

In some workplaces the stress is temporary. Before determining if your work environment will never change, it is important to investigate all the circumstances. You might be going through a:

• change in leadership

• increased workload

• unreasonable time demands

• you might notice that it is your perception of the situation that is causing stress

• one person could be causing the stress in your workplace and it is not the majority culture

Be sure to check in with yourself and try to get to the heart of the situation. If you are noticing that the stress in your workplace is the cultural norm and chances of change are little to none, it is time to reconsider your work environment.

The bottom line is life is too short to spend it miserable and stressed trying to control a situation that will reap no benefits to you in the end.

I believe that preparing yourself for an exit can be easier if you have more control of your financial circumstances. Often, when people can say they have accomplished the list below it eases their stress and worry. This is partly because the tips I am providing you will allow you to take back your power and give you the confidence you need to not be completely reliant on your current job.

1) Always Shop Around

One reason why people put up with a terrible workplace is because they don’t know their options. I know very smart people that switch jobs every two to three years. They never stop looking for new opportunities. Therefor, they know that several workplaces value their employee’s well-being. Additionally, they are keenly aware they have what the current job market is looking for.

Even when their jobs are not stressful, they still checking job sites like Indeed and Monster to see what competitors are looking for in an employee. They know they have the skillset to make a transition whenever they want. Knowing that you have options empowers you.

Even if they don’t have what is needed for their next position, by constantly looking they understand the desired qualifications. They put a plan in place to get the skills needed to move on quickly.

2) Increase Your Savings

If you don’t have a decent amount saved it is easy to feel trapped in your current job. Your savings in not only your protection, but also your freedom.

The more you have saved the more you realize that you don’t have to put up with disrespect and unhappiness in your 9 to 5. If you haven’t started saving yet, now is the time to get on it and fast.

Don’t hesitate to save. Create a plan over the next couple of months to put away a certain amount in savings that will allow you to make the transition easy. I would suggest having six months of expenses put in a savings account and use the amount to motivate you to choose yourself and your health first.

3) Cut Back on Your Expenses

To increase your savings rate cut back on your expenses. This will also change your perception of the salary you need in your next job. If a job is extremely stressful you might just want out. That was the choice I made five years ago. In those situations, you might not want a pay increase. If you are looking for a pay increase it could take longer to find a position.

Remember, I am prioritizing your health over your upward mobility in your career. (Though I do think this is important and will be covered in my Boss Advice Series over the next couple months.) When decreasing your expenses look at your spending and bills. Ask yourself, “What can I do without?” Learn to live on a shoestring budget and it will open new possibilities.

4) Look at It as A Game

Be strategic in your approach and start to look at it as a game. This will help you to start to move out of an emotional state. The more you see your job exit as a strategy, the easier it is to take the steps above. Keep score on how well you are doing. Have you increased your savings? How many qualifications do you have that the job market needs? How many places have you applied? How much were you able to decrease your expenses? Look at the hand you were dealt. Do you have all the cards to move forward, win and come out on top?

5) Set an End Date

Give yourself an end date that will light a fire under you. You need to get moving now. Don’t wait for another day of doubt and regret. What date will you turn in your resignation letter? Once you have a date, create a plan by moving backwards. Set goals that need to be accomplished to help facilitate your transition. If your date is six months from now, how much do you need to save each month to hit the goal?

6) By Any Means Necessary

Now is time for you to cultivate a by any means necessary mentality. Do whatever you must do to hit those goals above. I know it is difficult to move forward when you are being weighed down emotionally, but you have to overcome what is holding you back. In one of my favorite books, Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway, Dr. Susan Jeffers makes is very clear that successful people live in a perpetual state of fear. Change is scary, but without change we never grow. Don’t give into fear. Confront it and choose you first.

Bonus Tip- What can you do today that will make you money on the side? Use your resources and skills to earn extra money and stash it away in your savings account.