Can Your Dream Job Become A Nightmare?

Four leading female forces share their wisdom on how to navigate a job that is turning into drudgery for you.

- Humra Afroz Khan

There once would have been a time when you approached your career with passion and joy. But now, even the idea of facing another day at work fills you with dread. Sounds familiar? You're not alone. Surveys have revealed that most professionals, especially women a whopping 68 percent versus 50 percent men, according to one poll) let their jobs consume them completely... And the career they once cherished, ends up burning them out so deeply, their dream job turns into a nightmare! While some fleeting ennui or displeasure with the daily dealings of work is entirely normal, a sense of drudgery is not the same: one may experience overwhelming exhaustion, feelings of cynicism, or a sense of ineffectiveness and lack of accomplishment, according to research. The ultimate manifestation could be a desire to throw in the towel.

Deloitte, for its Women At Work 2022 report, studied 5,000 women in the workplace, across 10 countries— to conclude that burnout had, indeed, reached alarming levels. 53 percent women reported higher stress levels, and one-third had taken time off work due to mental health issues. Interestingly, despite all the talk about healthy boundaries, the always on’ culture continued to be heavily rampant, and over one-third of women rated their ability to switch off from work as poor” to very poor”.

And while the pandemic blurred the lines between home and office like never before—which has certainly exacerbated the problem—the skewed axis was always an issue. Questioning this rising concern, Bazaar India spoke with four established professionals on the indications that reveal a deep-seated problem with one’s work, and the ways in which one can ensure equilibrium...

RITA BANERJI

Author, and Founder, the 50MillionMissing campaign