On a recent episode of “The Ramsey Show,” Ben Shapiro expressed his views on the American mentality toward work and how it can cause people to suffer needlessly until retirement.
“What I see is an increasingly depressed America,” he said. “[This is] a country that has created expectations that work is somehow bad and unfulfilling.”
And he's not necessarily wrong. A Gallup poll shows that about 17.8% of American adults are currently struggling with or receiving treatment for depression, an increase of seven percentage points since 2015. However, Gallup data shows that the rates are rising faster for women and younger Americans struggling with loneliness, job loss or lower incomes.
Meanwhile, 50% of working Americans say they find their work enjoyable and less than half (47%) feel their work is satisfying all or most of the time, according to the Pew Research Center. However, older workers with higher incomes were more likely to find their jobs enjoyable and satisfying.
In short, people may not be as dissatisfied with their jobs as they are with the size of their salary.
It may be easy to see why someone like Shapiro, a forty-year-old worth over $50 million, likes his job: he gets well compensated for it. With that in mind, here are three ways you can turn the tide when your work is going against you.
Staying in the same position for too long can decrease your job satisfaction. Although job hopping typically has a negative connotation, there can be benefits to knowing when to move on to greener pastures.
In fact, a study by Side Hustles found that those who change jobs are 64% more likely than long-term employees to feel like their careers are progressing. Data from the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta also shows that “job changers” have seen faster wage growth than “job stayers” over the past five years.
So if you're looking for better work and better pay, it might be time to start looking for a job.
Read more: 5 Ways to Boost Your Net Worth Now – Easily up your money game without changing your daily life
If you are satisfied with your position, you can increase satisfaction by simply asking for better pay.
