SUMMARY POINTS
It’s nearly a daily occurrence.
Every morning when the alarm clock goes off, the first word that pops in your head is, “fuck”. You just dread having to get out of bed to get ready and go to a job that you fucking hate.
Everything about the job sucks. The work sucks. The pay sucks. The people suck. The environment and culture suck. About the only thing that doesn’t suck is when there are free office donuts and even then, they’re sometimes a bit stale.
It’s a real struggle to get through each day. The only thing you look forward to is lunch and going home. Every day feels like a Monday. Staying motivated is damn near impossible.
The only glimmer of joy that happens during the week is when the clock strikes 5pm on Friday. The happiness is fleeting though because the Sunday scaries creep in and ruin the end of your weekend.
Then the misery starts all over again on Monday.
You need something to help you manage all this work stress and get you through these tough times.
You need a mantra.
Every morning when the alarm clock goes off, the first word that pops in your head is, “fuck”. You just dread having to get out of bed to get ready and go to a job that you fucking hate.
Everything about the job sucks. The work sucks. The pay sucks. The people suck. The environment and culture suck. About the only thing that doesn’t suck is when there are free office donuts and even then, they’re sometimes a bit stale.
It’s a real struggle to get through each day. The only thing you look forward to is lunch and going home. Every day feels like a Monday. Staying motivated is damn near impossible.
The only glimmer of joy that happens during the week is when the clock strikes 5pm on Friday. The happiness is fleeting though because the Sunday scaries creep in and ruin the end of your weekend.
Then the misery starts all over again on Monday.
You need something to help you manage all this work stress and get you through these tough times.
You need a mantra.
What Is A Mantra Anyway?
Mantras have been used for centuries to improve mental health. They can be used to quiet the asshole in your head, minimize external pains and focus on the positive present.
The point of a mantra is to serve as a continuous reminder of an ideology, belief, mission, etc. More specifically, it’s a statement you think or say to yourself to reinforce a thought or principle and get back on track when you stray off course.
Mantras are often used in meditations, mental rehabilitation, physical therapy, group counseling and many other forms of life improving programs.
Some common mantras are:
“I am beautiful”
“I can do this”
“My greatest struggles are my greatest lessons”
“If I can change my thoughts, I can change anything”
“Happiness is a choice, not a condition”
When you repeat these mantras either out loud, in your head or write them down, you’re giving yourself the needed support. You are your own best cheerleader.
For the purposes of this shitty situation you’re in now, we’ll be using the mantra, “It’s just a job” to help you get through rough days at work.
The point of a mantra is to serve as a continuous reminder of an ideology, belief, mission, etc. More specifically, it’s a statement you think or say to yourself to reinforce a thought or principle and get back on track when you stray off course.
Mantras are often used in meditations, mental rehabilitation, physical therapy, group counseling and many other forms of life improving programs.
Some common mantras are:
“I am beautiful”
“I can do this”
“My greatest struggles are my greatest lessons”
“If I can change my thoughts, I can change anything”
“Happiness is a choice, not a condition”
When you repeat these mantras either out loud, in your head or write them down, you’re giving yourself the needed support. You are your own best cheerleader.
For the purposes of this shitty situation you’re in now, we’ll be using the mantra, “It’s just a job” to help you get through rough days at work.
When It Makes Sense To Use The “It's Just A Job” Mantra
When you’re going through some shitty times at work, you need to have a way to deal with it by yourself. After all, your work BFF can’t be there for you every moment you start to have a meltdown.
This is why using the “it’s just a job” mantra can be like a life jacket when you’re drowning in work and misery.
It’s not going to solve all your problems - no way.
However, it will give you the mental strength to keep your shit together and get through the day. And, that’s the whole point here. It’s about surviving.
Here are just a few of the many examples of when you should use this mantra.
This is why using the “it’s just a job” mantra can be like a life jacket when you’re drowning in work and misery.
It’s not going to solve all your problems - no way.
However, it will give you the mental strength to keep your shit together and get through the day. And, that’s the whole point here. It’s about surviving.
Here are just a few of the many examples of when you should use this mantra.
Shitty Job That Never Stops Sucking
All jobs have ups and downs. You can have good weeks and bad weeks. This is what most people would expect in normal jobs.
But here, in your case, you probably have more bad days than good. And when it’s really shitty, every day is the worst day of your life.
It makes you wanna just go off the deep end, kinda like Peter Gibbons.
VIDEO: Office Space Worst Day
YOUTUBE: Gavin 9001
LENGTH: 2:47
But here, in your case, you probably have more bad days than good. And when it’s really shitty, every day is the worst day of your life.
It makes you wanna just go off the deep end, kinda like Peter Gibbons.
VIDEO: Office Space Worst Day
YOUTUBE: Gavin 9001
LENGTH: 2:47
When your job is always sucky no matter what, it can really wear you down and negatively impact your mental health.
It gets even worse when you can’t disconnect from all the bullshit at the end of the day. You end up bringing all that baggage home with you every night and into the weekends.
It gets even worse when you can’t disconnect from all the bullshit at the end of the day. You end up bringing all that baggage home with you every night and into the weekends.
Asshole Boss That Makes Life A Fucking Misery
If there’s one thing that can really mess up your life, it’s a nightmare boss from hell. Having to deal with an asshole boss day in and day out will crush your spirit and your will to keep going.
It’s no surprise that the cliche of “people don’t leave jobs, they leave managers” is totally true - unfortunately. Bad bosses come in all shapes and sizes.
Some are control freak managers that won’t let you do a thing on your own. Bitch bosses are deliberately hostile and vindictive. And, demoralizing bosses are inhumane shitty leaders that just berate and demean others.
No matter what kind of shitty boss you have, it plain sucks.
It’s no surprise that the cliche of “people don’t leave jobs, they leave managers” is totally true - unfortunately. Bad bosses come in all shapes and sizes.
Some are control freak managers that won’t let you do a thing on your own. Bitch bosses are deliberately hostile and vindictive. And, demoralizing bosses are inhumane shitty leaders that just berate and demean others.
No matter what kind of shitty boss you have, it plain sucks.
Toxic Environment That Is Killing All Joy
It’s one thing to be in a high-pressure work environment, but it’s entirely another thing when it’s a toxic workplace that you can’t escape.
Everything around you at work is unhealthy. It’s the people, the culture and the attitudes. It’s nothing but bad vibes and backstabbers that go out of their way to throw you under the bus all the time.
In workplaces like this, there’s zero chance of any joy happening.
Everything around you at work is unhealthy. It’s the people, the culture and the attitudes. It’s nothing but bad vibes and backstabbers that go out of their way to throw you under the bus all the time.
In workplaces like this, there’s zero chance of any joy happening.
Unfulfilling Deadend Jobs
When your job matches up well with your capabilities, it’s easy to get in the zone and be blissfully productive.
However, when your skillset and capabilities are higher than what the job requires, you don’t get that challenge or stimulation that leads to more growth and happiness. This is when you feel stuck at work.
Being relegated to an unfulfilling or deadend job makes you feel worthless. You feel like your life is just wasting away doing grunt work and meaningless tasks.
You’re always asking yourself, “Why am I doing this? What’s the point of all this?”
You feel frustrated to the point where you feel like quitting and just want to give up.
However, when your skillset and capabilities are higher than what the job requires, you don’t get that challenge or stimulation that leads to more growth and happiness. This is when you feel stuck at work.
Being relegated to an unfulfilling or deadend job makes you feel worthless. You feel like your life is just wasting away doing grunt work and meaningless tasks.
You’re always asking yourself, “Why am I doing this? What’s the point of all this?”
You feel frustrated to the point where you feel like quitting and just want to give up.
Totally Disinterested In The Industry
The vast majority of us aren’t even close to having a dream job that we love. Shit, most of us would be happy about having a job that is somewhat interesting instead of the shitty one we have now.
When you work in an industry that you have zero interest in, it makes work life a bear. Everything is just widgets. There’s nothing that you can relate to or be passionate about.
This is when you just don’t give a fuck about the industry.
When you work in an industry that you have zero interest in, it makes work life a bear. Everything is just widgets. There’s nothing that you can relate to or be passionate about.
This is when you just don’t give a fuck about the industry.
How To Use The “It’s Just A Job” Mantra To Survive
Mantras are all about self-affirmation to get yourself back on track and stay on course for a more healthy and better you. They’re especially useful when you’re going through challenges and struggles.
Here, we’re recommending using a specific mantra to help you deal with your shitty job or toxic work environment. However, instead of relying only on spoken mantras, we’re adding some other elements to make it more impactful for you.
Here, we’re recommending using a specific mantra to help you deal with your shitty job or toxic work environment. However, instead of relying only on spoken mantras, we’re adding some other elements to make it more impactful for you.
Shredding Mantra
If you have access to a paper shredder, this is a really good one. It’s even better if you have access to the office paper shredder as those tend to be commercial-grade heavy-duty versions.
Using some scrap, recycled paper or even some junk mail with blank sides, write down one thing that is stressing you out. Use one piece of paper for each of your stressors.
After writing them all down, head over to the shredder. Insert one piece of paper into the machine and watch and hear that stressor getting ripped to shreds. You really need to take it all in and absorb it.
And, as it’s shredding, say to yourself, “It’s just a job.”
The combination of seeing and hearing the machine shred your worries and anxieties along with hearing yourself say the mantra is a powerful and cathartic feeling. It’s such a release - kinda like toilet meditations.
Using some scrap, recycled paper or even some junk mail with blank sides, write down one thing that is stressing you out. Use one piece of paper for each of your stressors.
After writing them all down, head over to the shredder. Insert one piece of paper into the machine and watch and hear that stressor getting ripped to shreds. You really need to take it all in and absorb it.
And, as it’s shredding, say to yourself, “It’s just a job.”
The combination of seeing and hearing the machine shred your worries and anxieties along with hearing yourself say the mantra is a powerful and cathartic feeling. It’s such a release - kinda like toilet meditations.
Writing Mantra
If you don’t have access to a shredder, this can be a great substitute.
Using a blank sheet of paper, draw a line down the middle so that you have two columns.
On the left column, write down a stressor to get it out of your system.
Then, read the stressor (out loud if you can) and slowly cross it out.
Immediately after crossing it out, write down “It’s just a job” on the same line on the right side column. If you can, say it out loud as you write it.
Repeat this process for each thing that is making you overwhelmed AF.
Using a blank sheet of paper, draw a line down the middle so that you have two columns.
On the left column, write down a stressor to get it out of your system.
Then, read the stressor (out loud if you can) and slowly cross it out.
Immediately after crossing it out, write down “It’s just a job” on the same line on the right side column. If you can, say it out loud as you write it.
Repeat this process for each thing that is making you overwhelmed AF.
Mini Mantra Meditation
If you’ve never meditated before, don’t worry. This isn’t about contorting yourself into a pretzel and chanting weird sounds.
This is a 1-minute meditation that uses breathing and the mantra to clear your mind of the negative vibes and get back to neutral.
Find a quiet place and sit in a comfortable position.
As you breathe in slowly, line up the stressor in your mind and get it ready to be expelled.
As your lungs reach full, hold your breath for a few seconds with that thought.
Then, exhale slowly while thinking the mantra, “It’s just a job” and imagine that negative thought being exhaled out of your mind. You may need to repeat the cycle several times for each item.
This is a 1-minute meditation that uses breathing and the mantra to clear your mind of the negative vibes and get back to neutral.
Find a quiet place and sit in a comfortable position.
As you breathe in slowly, line up the stressor in your mind and get it ready to be expelled.
As your lungs reach full, hold your breath for a few seconds with that thought.
Then, exhale slowly while thinking the mantra, “It’s just a job” and imagine that negative thought being exhaled out of your mind. You may need to repeat the cycle several times for each item.
Mantra Session With Your BFF
You’ve had venting sessions before with your work BFF or personal bestie. This is a twist on that same idea.
Write down each of the things that are pissing you off or stressing you out. Then, hand that list over to your bestie and have them read it out loud to you, one item at a time.
For each item, you need to reply, “It’s just a job.”
Replying with the mantra for each of your own issues is very powerful. More so than you think because when you’re saying the mantra and addressing your own problems, you’re curing yourself.
Write down each of the things that are pissing you off or stressing you out. Then, hand that list over to your bestie and have them read it out loud to you, one item at a time.
For each item, you need to reply, “It’s just a job.”
Replying with the mantra for each of your own issues is very powerful. More so than you think because when you’re saying the mantra and addressing your own problems, you’re curing yourself.
Stay Strong, Better Things Are Coming Soon
You’re in shitty situation and it sucks. But, that doesn’t mean that it’ll be this way forever.
What you’re going through now, as awful as it is, is meant for you to experience and learn from. It may not seem like it, but it is a building block for your growth.
It’s like the other mantra, “My greatest struggles are my greatest lessons.”
Think back to another period of your life when you were struggling.
You got through it, right?
It’s no different here. You’ll get through this too.
So, when your alarm goes off in the morning, instead of your normal resentful “fuck” response, start with a mantra to get positive morning vibes.
It won’t take long for you to turn the corner. You’ll get through this because remember, it’s just a job and better things are coming soon.
Feel Better,
[Cubicle|Therapy]
What you’re going through now, as awful as it is, is meant for you to experience and learn from. It may not seem like it, but it is a building block for your growth.
It’s like the other mantra, “My greatest struggles are my greatest lessons.”
Think back to another period of your life when you were struggling.
You got through it, right?
It’s no different here. You’ll get through this too.
So, when your alarm goes off in the morning, instead of your normal resentful “fuck” response, start with a mantra to get positive morning vibes.
It won’t take long for you to turn the corner. You’ll get through this because remember, it’s just a job and better things are coming soon.
Feel Better,
[Cubicle|Therapy]