I Hate My Job And Would Rather Be Making Music

I’m going to make an educated guess and say you hate your job.

I mean, you clicked on this blog post, so it makes sense that you would.

I’m right there with you.

Some days, I hate my job. Sometimes it’s not too bad. But either way, I’d rather be making music all day.

So what are you supposed to do? You can’t just quit your job tomorrow.

Well, there are some coping methods you can use until you can quit — until you can move to a new position or go full-time as a musician. There are also practical steps you can take to change jobs.

Here’s what we’ll cover:

• We Got Duped
• How To Tell If You Hate Your Day Job
• Ways To Cope With Your Job
• Practical Next Steps To Take
• Remember You Get To Make Music When You Go Home

We Got Duped

I don’t know who “they” is, but they told us we had to go to university right after high school, get a “regular job” in an office, and do that until you can retire.

And then die.

My parents didn’t tell me to do this. My professors didn’t present it as the only route. So where did it come from?

I think we humans, at least in the United States, got stuck in this cycle of “school, work, retire, die.” Then passed it on to our kids. Generation after generation.

As a child, I saw most of the grownups doing this. So why would I think otherwise?

I think we all just got duped into thinking this was how life goes.

But here’s the good news: now we know that’s not the only way. You have options when it comes to working.

You can switch jobs. You can be a freelancer. And amazingly, you can be a full-time musician if you really want to.

But how do you know if you actually hate what you do?

How To Tell If You Hate Your Day Job

Maybe you’re like, “I think I hate my job, but maybe I’m just going through a stressful time at work.”

That’s very possible. So here are some signs that you may truly despise your work life.

Sunday night is always the worst night

You ever get the Sunday Night Blues? I got them just about every Sunday night while I was at university. I hated school.

If your Sunday nights are consistently dreary and you feel down, then you probably dread going to work on Monday. 

The only office conversation involves negativity, complaints, and gossip

What do you talk about with your coworkers?

If you find yourself in conversations where people are complaining, being negative, or talking behind another person’s back, you’re in a toxic environment.

And a toxic environment is no fun to be in. I’d hate working at that kind of workplace.

You find yourself on social media a lot during the workday

Are you scrolling through Instagram when you should be answering emails?

In this case, you’re at work but you’re not really there. You’re not present. And that means you don’t want to be there.

If you find yourself regularly on social media while at work, you probably hate your job. 

You spend a lot of time at work looking for (or dreaming about) another job

Ever catch yourself daydreaming at work about how you could be doing something else? Or better yet, have you ever done job hunting on your company computer?

If so, I think your subconscious is trying to tell you something.

You clearly don’t like working at your job. You’re already starting to check out.

Ways To Cope With Your Job

Okay, so now that I’ve gotten you all riled up, let me try to cool you down. Let’s talk about how you can cope with the fact that you despise your job.

Here are some ways that will help you go to work every day while still pursuing music. 

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Incorporate music into your job

As a writer, a lot of my work involves writing landing pages, emails, and blog posts for random companies in non-music-related industries. And that’s fine.

But part of my job is also to write about music for places like Bandzoogle, Flypaper, and Sonicbids. And I love doing that.

I’ve been able to incorporate music into my day job.

If at all possible, see if you can do this.

Even if it means creating a playlist to stream at the office. Or creating a team-building game where you have to answer questions about famous rock bands. Maybe you could perform some original songs at the next work event?

Bring your passion for music into your job somehow. It will make your days a little more enjoyable.

Bring more love into work

As Prince EA says in the above video, if you don’t love your work, bring more love into your work. 

This, to me, means loving your coworkers.

And by love, I mean actually love them. I’m not saying be nice to them or polite to them or infatuated with them. That’s not love.

Many people have defined love in many ways and the dictionary has several definitions for it. But I’m talking about “concern for the good of another,” as Merriam-Webster puts it.

Try to want the best for your coworkers.

Want them to get that promotion, want them to crush that presentation, and want them to not be stressed.

I think you’ll find the more you love your coworkers, the less you’ll hate going to work. 

Be more grateful

There’s proof that gratitude helps you be less miserable and healthier.

And Robert A. Emmons, Ph.D., a professor of psychology at the University of California-Davis, agrees.

“Gratitude is good medicine,” Emmons said. “Clinical trials indicate that the practice of gratitude can have dramatic and lasting effects in a person’s life. It can lower blood pressure and improve immune function…”

According to Emmons, grateful people:

• Exercise more
• Eat better
• Are less likely to smoke or abuse alcohol
• Do better at taking prescription medication

So try this: every day, write down three specific things you’re thankful for.

Over time, you may notice your job doesn’t annoy you as much. 

Don’t complain to your coworkers — write a song about it

Adding negativity to your workplace will only make it a worse place to work.

So, instead of joining in on the gossip and complaining, try to get out of those conversations in a peaceful way.

Then go write a song about it.

If you’re feeling aggravated because of what your colleagues are talking about, go to your desk and start writing lyrics about how you feel, what you see or hear, or even about one of your coworkers.

And look at that, you’re making music at work. 

Do one small thing today for your music career

I’m all about taking baby steps in your music career.

So if you’re hating your current day job or career position, do one small thing that will move your music career forward.

Block off 15 minutes before work to write part of a song.

Spend your lunchbreak emailing venue managers.

Take 30 minutes before bed to submit your music to a sync licensing company.

Just do one small thing a day and soon you’ll have gotten somewhere great. 

Practical Next Steps To Take

Okay, so if you’re ready to move onto something else, what do you do now?

Those coping methods may help you, but they’re really just a band-aid for the gaping hole in your chest.

You clearly don’t want to be working your current job. But you can’t just quit without a plan.

So here are some steps you can take that will prepare you for the big transition.

Make money on the side

The more income streams you have, the less stressful it will be to quit your job.

Worst-case scenario, side-hustle money can help if there’s any time in between jobs with no paycheck.

The most obvious way you can make money on the side is with music. Perform on the weekends, license your songs, launch an online store. There are so many ways to make money as a musician.

Plus, most millionaires have multiple revenue streams, so there’s something to the idea. 

Save “job quitting” money

Now, take that money you made on the side and put it into a savings account.

Before you quit or switch jobs or become a full-time musician, you need a safety net.

This takes some serious self-control. You could use that money for a lot of cool things.

But you hate your job, remember? You need those savings just in case.

Freshen up your resume

It’s possible you haven’t touched your resume in years. That’s fine, you didn’t need to. But now you do.

I suggest using a free resume review service like TopResume or Career Plus Resumes, both of which offer a review by a real human, not A.I.

I did this for my own resume and it was super helpful.

Start looking for a better day job 

If you’re trying to get another position that’s not music-related, it’s all about tapping into your network. Landing a job usually happens by knowing someone who knows someone.

So, check out these tips for getting a new job and start implementing them.

If you want to do what I’m doing and be self-employed, I’d suggest getting into some sort of work-from-home position.

Freelance writing, being a virtual assistant, giving online guitar lessons — things like that. 

Whatever the case, your day job should complement your music endeavors.

Remember You Get To Make Music When You Go Home

Whatever your job is, remind yourself that you get to make music in your spare time. Before you clock in, on your lunch break, or in the evening after work.

So, even though “I hate my job” may be your daily mantra, you can love the rest of your day by filling it with music. 

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Don’t get burned out