A Lesson in Loving Your Low-Paid Job

A Lesson in Loving Your Low-Paid Job Okay, lets just admit straight up that no one  loves a low salary. Working your buns off only to scrape by each month isnt anyones idea of love. Still, it doesnt mean you cant be in love with  your job. Just hear  me out. Money might make the world go round, but its not everything.  A huge salary, big house and mean-looking car would be great to have, but  those things wont  guarantee your happiness. The High Pay Centre has released a new report stating the average  FTSE 100 CEO earns £5.5 million a year. Thats quite a wedge, especially when you consider what the average employee is probably earning underneath them. Sure,  a bank full of big bucks might relieve financial stress, but  even the richest people in the world arent immune to worldly woes. If a dreary income has got you resenting your job, its time to find a new perspective. Your role might offer you a lot more than you think. If you can, try looking past your low salary for a minute and focus on the  other elements that make up your  current occupation. Enjoyment Have a look at your day-to-day work do you love what you do? If the answer is yes, sometimes  pursuing your  passion  as  a career means sacrificing a big salary. If you really love what you do, is the money really worth  worrying about? How lucky you are to enjoy your work thats more than what can be said for a lot of people.  Those who earn huge wages are often being compensated for doing work thats extremely stressful, time-consuming and laborious.  A lot of people do really love their work and are paid well, and well, thats the dream isnt it? On the other hand, if the answer is no, perhaps money isnt the real issue here, its your job satisfaction. Maybe its time to change careers  (and see whether more money might come with a change of scenery). Hours and days Have a look at the hours you work.  Do you get your weekends off? Can you clock off at 5pm, physically and mentally? Do you have time for a morning walk and coffee before work? Do you get flexible hours? Some people have to remain on call and make themselves available at only a moments notice. Others can never truly switch off from work, and worry about their work 24/7. Location Is your job local? Does not working in the city mean you can be home in under 10 minutes? Can you always find a park, or get a seat on the bus in the morning? Or perhaps  your job  is situated  away from home, some or all of the time? Do you get to visit new places, or travel with work? For some people, the location of their job is problematic for them and is an extremely stressful part of their career. How does yours stack up? Colleagues Do you love the people you work with? Do you enjoy their company, do they make you laugh? How about your boss. Is she / he supportive and understanding? Do they offer you chances to develop professionally, and take on more responsibility when you are performing well? Some people loathe their coworkers, and report to the nastiest of managers. Benefits How do your benefits look? Do you have a generous holiday allowance?  Do you get gym membership, or perhaps free breakfast on Mondays? What other non-monetary extras do you receive as part of your job?  Salary isnt always the only way for you to get ahead financially. Opportunities Is your job using your university degree? Does it offer you the chance to develop your skills and gain valuable experience which will set you up for your next move? If you have progression prospects and direction in your role, youre probably better off than a lot of people who dont quite know where their job is leading them. Fulfilment Do you feel you are helping people? Are you making a difference in peoples lives? Being fulfilled in your career is something that not everyone has the pleasure of feeling. While more  money would make life a lot easier, scoring a pay rise is  not always straight forward. Where possible, try to focus your attention  on the bits of your job you love.