I don’t mean to ruin your day, but just in case you didn’t know, we spend about one-third of our lifetimes at work. Sending boring emails, sitting in meetings that should have been an email, making small talk with colleagues, and pretending to be invested in tasks that you couldn’t care less about… A third of your time on this planet is dedicated to all of those things.
So if you’re a part of the 60% of workers who hate their job, you’re going to have to find some way to make the days bearable. Whether that’s having lunch with a colleague you love or sharing memes with your team, whatever gets you through the day is important.
Now, the obvious solution to having a job that you hate is to quit. But that’s not feasible for everyone. We all have bills to pay, and the job market isn’t exactly full of opportunities at the moment. So if you’re looking for ways to make the workday less miserable, The Guardian has some advice.
First, they recommend reminding yourself why you wanted the job in the first place. Even if you can’t stand your manager, perhaps there are aspects of the job itself that you really enjoy. Maybe you can find fulfillment in certain parts of the job. Or, if nothing else, remember that it provides a paycheck. Try to focus on the positives of the situation.
Another great way to keep yourself from becoming miserable at work is by making friends with your colleagues. You don’t have to be besties who go to karaoke together, but finding people that you actually enjoy talking to in the office can make work so much more bearable. You can bond with them over the struggles of your job or send funny memes to one another to distract each other with a laugh for a few moments every day. While it’s important to stay professional at work, you’re certainly allowed to create connections there too.
Meanwhile, if your job doesn’t seem to be doing anything for your life but bringing negativity, make sure that you have something to look forward to outside of the office. Pick up a new hobby. Start learning a new language. Go to salsa dancing classes every Tuesday. As long as you feel fulfilled in your personal life, your job can simply be just a job. It doesn’t have to consume you, and even if you hate it, it doesn’t have to take a toll on your life. Accept that it’s not ideal, and keep focusing on yourself and your personal life instead.
According to Prevue, memes can even play a significant role in workplace culture. Aside from providing laughter and entertainment, a survey found that 81% of employees believe that a fun work environment also makes them more productive. At the same time, 93% of employees say that laughing on the job helps to reduce their work-related stress. And of course, memes can help bring employees together, especially if they don’t otherwise have much in common, as sharing a laugh is a great way to bond.
Memes can also be utilized by managers and bosses to keep their employees engaged. A dry, boring message about a meeting after lunch might be ignored by the majority of workers. But if the message is accompanied by a hilarious, relatable meme, it’s almost guaranteed to get plenty of reactions on Slack. At the same time, managers who aren’t afraid to infuse a little humor into the day are seen as more approachable, and their teams will likely feel more comfortable interacting with them and asking for help when necessary.
