September 22, 2008 1:12 PM

Love the one you're with
Posted by Jesse Nunesat 1:12 PM

It's a tough economy out there. The country's financial situation has has the word "crisis" stamped on its forehead, and it seems everyone from hedge fund managers to delivery truck drivers are worried about their jobs and their wallets.

It probably makes it hard to even think about leaving a job you're not happy with.

Do you feel stuck? Are you burned out at your job but terrified of hopping into a job market that is as miserable as you are?

Well, maybe the solution starts at home, so to say. Or, as Stephen Stills sang: "If you can't be with the one you love, love the one you're with."

That's the general theme of an article by Liz Wolgemuth in "The Inside Job" blog on the U.S. News & World Report website. She offers "10 great things you can do right now to improve your job." Among my favorites:

1. Make some friends. "Life is hard and then you die." My mother has been saying this to me since I can remember (she pulls no punches). Well, work is also hard. But you have to do it if you want to pay your mortgage and your cable bill and avoid scavenging for Christmas presents. That being the case, why not just make some friends where you do it? Try making a joke. Ask someone about their weekend. If you say something stupid, at least you'll get some notice, which is better than being "the guy who works down the hall beside the copier."

...

6. Stop eating at your desk. It makes you look like a slave. It makes you look like you have no boundaries. I do it all the time, but I don't agree with it. If I were wiser, I would take my packed lunch to the lovely courtyard across the street, or to the indoor tables in a neighboring building. I would get a break, and then I'd come back with a clearer mind. I'll do it tomorrow.

7. Enjoy your commute. Read the news if you like. Bring a book if that's what you'd prefer. Listen to a George Winston album. Find a little pleasure on your way to work every morning.

(Click this link to check out all 10 of the tips.)

OK, so I'm writing this post while breaking rule No. 6, but still...

Anyway, I've seen people who are miserable in their jobs and seem like they honestly don't even want to like them. Sometimes taking a fresh approach to your tired routine can do wonders.

What about you? Have you ever felt your job was stagnating and tried to do something about it -- short of looking for a new job?

Were you able to take a fresh approach by changing how you act, think, or perform your daily routines? What worked, and what didn't? Share your thoughts in our discussion forum.