Work Apathy: Possible Causes And How To Overcome It
Work apathy is one of the most common psychological phenomena linked to discomfort in work contexts.
In fact, it is so common that many people have come to normalize their existence, as if it were an inevitable consequence of having to work to earn a living. But the truth is that it is not, nor should it be, taken as something natural and intrinsic to any paid job.
In this article We will see what are the most common causes of work apathy and how to combat it
Work apathy is, in a broad sense, the lack of interest and motivation for the job we are in and the activities to which it exposes us It is by no means a psychological disorder, but it is an experience that weakens you emotionally and that we must take into account to ensure our quality of life.
Work apathy has effects at a micro level and also at a macro level. Regarding the first of these categories, gives rise to psychological alterations (not necessarily psychopathological) that damage the person’s quality of life who feels unmotivated with her job. Some of the most common forms that this emotional exhaustion takes are the following:
Regarding the macro level of the effects of work apathy, we can observe a series of problems that occur in the relationships that the person maintains with the rest of the staff , as well as in the entire department and/or organization. The most frequent are the following:
Thus, work apathy is a double problem On the one hand, it affects the person who suffers it personally, causing emotional discomfort and indirectly contributing to the appearance of psychological disorders. On the other hand, it affects the organization in which that worker works, since it reduces the ability to adapt to market pressures and facilitates the emergence of a bad work environment.
Possible causes of this problem
As to the causes of work apathy can be very varied and partly depend on the particularities of each individual, but in general the following stand out.
Related article: “Personal Development: 5 reasons for self-reflection”
How to face and overcome work apathy?
These are some general tips that can help you.
1. Detect the main problem
As we have seen, the causes are very varied, but Understanding what is behind the problem is necessary to solve the situation Therefore, the first step is a stage of observation and self-observation, trying to avoid biases and preconceived ideas. Only in this way can we alleviate measures that fit the nature of the problem.
You may be interested: “Self-knowledge: definition and 8 tips to improve it”
2. Don’t give up your social life at work
The social life we ​​maintain with co-workers through informal relationships can help contextualize and add value to what we do For example, they give us the opportunity to know what others appreciate about our way of working, and it may even lead to healthy competitiveness. Furthermore, group identity always helps to give value to what we seek to achieve as a team.
It is very important to always maintain a detailed schedule that includes rest periods. In this way we minimize the risk of postponing the tasks to be carried out, something that It will make the work experience much smoother and more satisfying preventing us from reaching the conclusion that we will never be able to contribute what the company needs (when in reality we just needed to adopt a more efficient work routine that would force us to always work overtime).
4. Talk openly about our interests and future plans
Human Resources departments can take this information into account to recommend certain avenues for promotion or even to create ad hoc jobs adapted to what we are looking for. if we show signs of being good at something
5. Apply self-reward routines
We do not have to opt only for the incentives given by the company; we can also test ourselves and create a simple system of symbolic rewards that allows us to monitor and evaluate our progress Ideally, you should set goals for weeks, months and years ahead.
6. Lose your fear of the idea of ​​changing jobs
We don’t have to be forced to try to like our current job. Sometimes, the incompatibility between us and the work we do in a certain company is so fundamental that the best option is just follow another path
Are you looking for professional psychological assistance?
If you are interested in having psychological support for problems related to work or professional projects, I invite you to contact me.
My name is Thomas Saint Cecilia and I am an expert psychologist in the cognitive-behavioral intervention model, with which I help adults, adolescents and companies. The sessions can be done in person at my office, or through the online format by video call.
