5 ways to tide over disillusionment at work. Review on Dealing with Tough Times at Work / Job

I’m going through one of those “ disillusioning “ phases at work. I hate everything in sight. And worse still I’ve discovered I seem to be completely inept at it ( work, that is)Its like I just woke up in front of my laptop and about a zillion files and I have no idea what i'm supposed to do. I even have no idea what i’m doing here.….i mean hey come on, I was supposed to be a criminal journalist, shocking the world with my bold accounts of crime.!!! ( yeah, that’s what I wanted to be before the finance bug got me). !! Instead I’ve just managed to shock my manager with my latest set of accounts (he’s scrawled a “redo” on the top sheet…. (I feel like i’m back in English comp with my terror of a teacher..who took perverse pleasure in making me redo compositions). Anyways since I’m not due for vacation for a while yet……. I’ve devised a few ways to help me tide over this crisis !

1. The not-so –dumb Charade: Sick n tired of working? Well, don’t then. Sit at your desk and pretend to be working. Compose all those long mails/letters to your old friends ( the ones you’ve been intending to send for ages now). Play chess against the computer (or maybe not chess. If you’re as good at chess as me, then that would only aggravate you further!!).Write reviews for MS. (now you know why I’ve managed to write more reviews, of late!!). Of course those employing this tactic must have quick reflexes. You should be able to close your current window/file and open that excel sheet in a matter of three seconds if any superior is in the vicinity. That’s elemental !! (those requiring further pointers on this topic may please contact Spooks. I believe the secret to all his “peace and happiness” lies in his having mastered the art of “pretending to be working”)

2.Mysterious ailments or dying uncles : Now this isn’t one of my personal favourites but to its credit, it is a time tested approach….one that has survived over the decades. Make up an imaginary contagious disease or if you’re boss aint that dumb, an imaginary dead uncle and take a few days off. Or if you’re female and your boss isn’t…...you could try claiming a gynaecological ailment. They don’t usually dare probe further (though god and everyone else knows , they would like to !!!). Imaginary uncles on their deathbeds require a higher degree of skill and should not be attempted unless you’re certain you have the talent and panache to carry it off !! Also do try and remember what you’ve said. It wouldn’t look too good, if a month later ,you brag about the wonderful fishing trip you took last month……

3.Withdraw into seclusion for a few days: Become a recluse…tell inquisitive Toms that you’re having problems at home ( if the act carries on once you’re home and you cant shake it off, blame it on problems at work) There’s nothing as refreshing as a few grumpy days to get you back on track. You don’t have to talk to people you don’t like and you have a perfect excuse for it. I do believe that work would be a lot more enjoyable if only you didn’t have to make conversation with perfectly annoying people….like this guy in my office, whose idea of conversing with me is to shake his head in disapproval and tell me that our country is going to the dogs if women have to wear trousers and slave from dawn to dusk in a glass cage filled with lusty males ! (Every time he tells me that, he assures me that, he,of course, is the only one above such degrading thoughts)

4.Say no to modern technology:Switch off your mobile, don’t check your office e-mail and do not access your voicemail under any circumstance!!! At any rate, its only when someone’s hesitant to tell you something directly ( cos he’s wary about getting his head bitten off) that he’ll resort to voicemail !. And if you’re anxious about missing out on important info, relax…. bad news will get to you anyway…..the old fashioned way. So much for modern technology!!!

1. Go clubbing ..at work !!:Form a “management-bashers “ club. Campaign actively (and furtively) for this. Get your co-workers to sign up. Hold brief meetings in hallways and restrooms and the café. And have a good “bitching” session. Or crack “anti-management” jokes. One of my all time favourites is the one about the rabbit and the crow..... The crow is sittin up on a tree doin nothin at all all day long. The rabbit envies him and asks if he too could sit down doin nothin all day . The crow says'' sure, why not !''. So the rabbit sits down , below the tree, doin nothin. Suddenly a fox pounces on him and eats him!!!!

Moral of the joke: To be sitting and doin nothin all day.....u must be sittin very, very , very high up

Again being able to switch the mode of conversation at lightning speed is an pre-requisite before you set off down this track . I assure you, it will be most therapeutic. Human psychology is really twisted. If you realise there are nine others suffering just like you, suddenly things aren’t that bad anymore.

I reckon at least one of these five should do the trick. You’ll start loving your job again. If it doesn’t then, I’m sorry, I would have to say….. that’s NOT a temporary phase you’re going through. Its much DEEPER . I’d say you probably need to resign. Considering how bad the job market is everywhere presently, the unemployment that follows would surely shock your system into believing that your last job was heavenly!!

Word of caution :

Readers should remember that this is advice generated by a highly disillusioned and reckless mind . The owner of the mind shall under no circumstances be held responsible for any consequences arising out of any of you attempting to follow her advice.