Studies have shown that the majority of people hate their job. When you factor in eight hour days with the average lifespan, that means that an awful lot of people are spending something like 88,200 hours doing something they hate.
But as this article by Louisa Jewell explains, doing job you hate is demonstrably bad for you. According to Jewell, a study by "happiness researchers" Sonja Lubomirsky and Ed Diener indicates that trying to find happiness can help you live longer. Happiness at work can improve self-confidence, warmth, leadership skills, increase the number of friends you have and improve performance ratings. It can also lead to fewer sick days.
Jewell writes, "positive emotions such as joy, hope, optimism, love, appreciation and gratitude, energize us in the workplace and contribute to our overall well-being. To experience positive emotions at work, you really need to put yourself in the right job and in the right work environment." When you are stuck in a job you are not happy with or find unsatisfying you spend much of time thinking about quitting which does not lead to a productive environment.
She also states that the thoughts of leaving a job you hate can lead to bad decisions about future jobs. She states that some people who have come to her to discuss a potential job move are so desperate to leave their current job they don't realize the new job they are considering may actually be worse.
So taking the time to think about what would satisfy you and what you really want to do and then going for those jobs is actually better than leaving at the first opportunity.
Louisa Jewell has more suggestions and ideas as well for those of you looking to find some happiness. Even with a bad economy, which can make you feel trapped in a miserable situation, should not stop you from finding that job that will bring you better health and make your overall situation much happier.