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Are you singing the blues at work?

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Do you have problems sleeping on Sunday nights knowing that you have to return to work the next morning? Are you constantly daydreaming about your dream job? Are you always checking the clock at work, counting down the minutes until the day ends? If so, you might be suffering from workplace blues.
Don Thibert, director of academic affairs for Everest College, has decades of experience helping thousands of individuals a year move into progressive new careers. The seasoned career expert says it’s important to evaluate your work situation and offers great advice for finding career happiness.
“Most people are so desensitized by the daily grind that they don’t even realize they’re unhappy, let alone what to do about it. Given the recession, people are too busy just trying to keep their heads above water – they don’t have time to imagine the work situation that would make them really happy,” says Thibert.
To determine how blue you really are, Thibert suggests tracking your workplace blues for a month.
“Keep a daily record of what made you happy or unhappy each day and give yourself a score on a scale of one to 10, one being totally unbearable unhappiness and 10 being an absolute joy. By the end of the month you should be able to identify if you’re happy — specifically what you like and don’t like about your work,” says Thibert. “If your average score at the end of the month is six or lower, it’s time to start strategizing for happiness.”
New evidence north of the border shows that Americans are not alone in experiencing workplace blues.  A recent survey commissioned by Everest College found 59 percent of Canadians said 2009 was mediocre at best; one quarter called it either “a downer” or downright “depressing” and nearly three quarters said they suffer work-related blues at least occasionally.
“For some, it’s possible to find happiness in their current job,” explains Thibert. “But there are still many with a failing grade in the happiness department.  In those situations, career training is a door opener to a more rewarding work life and greater overall satisfaction.  Every day I see how it can really change your life and I encourage people to meet with counselors if they need some help to evaluate their career training options.”

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