For the past couple of years, maybe since COVID happened and the world changed, I have woken up with this sense of dread.
It starts when I open my eyes on Monday morning, knowing that I have to go into a job I do not love. To spend time with people I do like, completing a task list that never ends and seems increasingly meaningless. This dread does not leave me till Friday at 5pm when I finally get two days off to be a person. To spend time with my family. To rest. And then you blink and it's Monday again.
Growing up, I was constantly told to find my passion but as someone with multiple interests, I just could never figure out which one I was meant to do, and so I gave up on ever finding meaningful work or fulfilment in my career. Hence, work has always felt like something to endure instead of something to thrive in.
The truth is that not everyone will find a passion or purpose, but how can we find joy in our work even when we feel disconnected from it?
Hustle Culture
To find joy in our work we need to first understand the reason for the disconnect. A major factor contributing to this disconnect at work is the rise of 'hustle culture'. We’ve all seen Instagram posts about waking up at 5 AM, hitting the gym, and getting home to work on side projects after a full day at the office. The idea is that if you're not grinding 24/7, you’re not trying hard enough. While hard work can be rewarding, hustle culture doesn’t leave room for rest, reflection, or enjoying life.
Before 2019, I was burnt out. I was juggling a full-time graduate assistant role at the University of Lagos, a remote marketing job, and my personal CV writing business. I felt like I was spreading myself too thin, with weekends flying by and no real time to rest. Then, the pandemic hit.
The 2019/2020 pandemic was a wake-up call for me. It was a tough time for many, healthwise, but it also became a time of reflection for others. However, the most revealing aspect of it all was the shift to remote work, which was previously considered impossible due to productivity concerns. This period became a turning point for my career as I realised that working completely from home could be just as efficient as working from the office. For many people, myself included, it was the first taste of the freedom we’d been craving, no more 9-5 commutes or endless office chatter.
Of course, there were mixed reactions. Some people craved the connection of being with colleagues, talking over coffee, and catching up in the office kitchen. A lot of these people, unfortunately, were in management positions, which led to a push to return to the office once the pandemic eased. This led to the rise of hybrid work models, something many workplaces had never even considered before.
I guess what I'm essentially trying to say is that you need to figure out if your work arrangement might be contributing to the disconnect you feel and act accordingly.
But your commute might not be the only reason.
Times Have Changed
Employers love to complain that Gen-Zs and Millennials are quick to quit over the smallest inconvenience, but you can’t really blame us. The older generations stayed in jobs they hated for the sake of survival, but we’re looking for more. We’re trying to find meaning in our work, and when that’s missing, it’s frustrating.
Plus, when your pay barely covers your bills, it’s hard to stay motivated. Many of us are choosing to quit, or even "quiet quit," while we look for something better.
Work environments have changed so much since the previous generations. Once upon a time, employees used to have fixed work hours which meant you logged out at 5PM and left your work behind. But with the rise of remote and flexi work that boundary has blurred.
During the pandemic, many of us worked outside of traditional hours—mostly because we were always home—but now it’s expected that we’re always available. Checking emails at night, taking calls on weekends has become the norm, even for non-remote workers. And now it feels like work is taking over every aspect of our lives.
On top of this, employers today expect more than ever. Take a junior marketing assistant being asked to do the work of an entire team, designing, creating content, and managing social media, while also juggling other duties. This kind of exploitation is common now, with employers taking advantage of a competitive job market to get more out of employees for less pay.
Reclaiming Control
If you're feeling disconnected from your job, it’s understandable but maybe it's time to change your perspective. Instead of focusing on whether your job is your “passion,” try asking yourself:
"How can I make this work meaningful for me?
When I moved to the UK in 2023, I spent months applying to marketing and academic roles but didn’t get a single interview. Feeling stuck, I took a customer service job, a role I was terrified of because, honestly, I’ve never liked dealing with people directly. The first few months were tough: constant complaints, struggling to meet targets, and pressure to solve problems I didn’t have solutions for. But one day, I made a decision: I was going to find joy in this job, even if it wasn’t my dream role.
I started focusing on what I enjoyed, helping people. The more I helped, the better I got at it, and the easier it became to meet targets. Six months later, I landed a marketing job, but weirdly enough, I was kind of sad to leave. I had actually started to like the work, even though it wasn’t aligned with my long-term career goals.
So, next time you feel disconnected, remember: It’s okay to step back and find some joy in the day-to-day. And, if you’re looking for inspiration, I highly recommend reading Grit by Angela Duckworth. It’s a powerful book on how to persevere through challenges.
Keep going! You got this.
