How To Reclaim Your Job!

Got the work blahs? You have the power to turn things around for the better.

- Sasha Gonzales

Record numbers of people around the world left their jobs during The Great Resignation of 2020. Burnt out and unhappy, they searched for higher-paying or more satisfying jobs, while others quit for their mental well-being or to pursue personal endeavours.

But not everyone thought it was a good idea to quit during a global pandemic, perhaps due to instability or simply because they liked where they were and had no desire to work elsewhere.

For the people who stayed put, working through the pandemic came with a whole new set of challenges, from working from home to taking on additional responsibilities for the same or less pay.

A report in The Straits Times in January this year cites an overwhelming workload, a sense of isolation, and a lack of support at work as some of the reasons why people are increasingly disengaged at work. Furthermore, the emphasis on work-life balance had “gained significant importance during the pandemic”.

Florence (not her real name), a content marketer who works in an agency, says that while her job is fast-paced and stressful, it was easier for her to separate her work and personal lives before Covid-19.

“However, when WFH started, I found it hard to shut off even after working hours as my ‘office’ was right at home. The high-stress environment that I was in intensified, and I felt constantly wired even on weekends.”

She adds that in the past, it was easier to move on if she felt that a job was taking a toll on her mental health. But the increase in retrenchments at the height of the pandemic made her decide to “hold on until there’s a light at the end of the tunnel, no matter how unhappy she felt.