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We’ve all had those days.

The coffee machine broke, the emails piled up before 9 a.m., your coworker said something snarky, and your to-do list laughed at you while it grew legs and walked away.

You get home, plop on the couch, and think: Do I even like my job anymore?

But here’s the million-dollar question: Is it just a frustrating day at work… or is it time to make a real change?

Let’s unpack it—like a friend would, over a cup of tea (or something stronger, no judgment).

1. Look at the Pattern, Not Just the Day

Everyone has rough days. Heck, everyone has rough weeks. But the key difference between a passing storm and a climate crisis is consistency.

• One bad day? Normal.
• A string of bad days that feel like a slow soul drain? That’s your clue.

Ask yourself:

• How often do I feel frustrated or unfulfilled?
• Am I just exhausted, or do I feel genuinely disconnected from what I’m doing?
• Does a weekend recharge me, or do I dread Mondays like they’re my arch nemesis?

If the frustration is frequent and deep, it may not be just a “bad day.” It might be your gut waving a big, red flag.

2. Do You Still Feel Purpose?

Even when the work is tough—do you still believe in what you’re doing?

When it’s just a frustrating day, you can usually find your way back to your why: helping clients, building something meaningful, contributing to your team. But if your why feels blurry or gone completely… that’s a sign.

Purpose is the fuel. If your tank’s been on “E” for months, it might be time to park the vehicle and reassess the road you’re on.

3. Is the Problem External—or Internal?

Some days are bad because everything around you is chaotic—bad management, unclear expectations, toxic coworkers. If those things changed, would your feelings about the job change too?

Other times, the frustration is more internal. You’ve grown, but the job hasn’t. You’ve evolved, but your role is stuck. That disconnect builds friction.

Frustration from growth is different than frustration from dysfunction.

One is a sign you’re ready to level up. The other is a sign something might be broken—and you have to decide whether it’s fixable.

4. Are You Complaining… or Craving?

Sometimes we vent because we just need to get it out. But listen to the words you’re using when you talk about your job. Are you just blowing off steam, or are you deeply craving something more?

• “I hate this place.”
• “I feel stuck.”
• “I’m wasting my time.”

Those aren’t casual complaints. They’re clues. They’re your intuition whispering (or shouting), “Hey… you’re not thriving here.”

5. What Excites You Lately?

If your excitement lives only outside of work—your side hustle, your garden, your writing, your dream of opening a coffee shop—pay attention.

You don’t have to turn every passion into a paycheck, but if all your energy is being poured into things outside of your 9-to-5, that might mean your career is no longer aligned with who you are now.

People change. Passions evolve. That’s not failure—it’s growth.

A frustrating day doesn’t mean it’s time to quit. But when those days stack up and start affecting your peace, your health, or your joy? That’s a conversation worth having—with yourself.

Sometimes the answer is rest. Sometimes it’s setting boundaries. Sometimes it’s brushing up your résumé and exploring what’s next.

Either way, be honest with yourself.

Don’t stay stuck just because it’s comfortable. And don’t bolt just because you had a bad day.

You deserve more than just surviving the workweek. You deserve to feel alive doing what you do.

Let’s be real—some days, gratitude feels like a stretch. You know those days. You woke up late, the coffee pot overflowed, your inbox is a disaster, and the dog threw up on the rug (again). You want to be positive. You try to be grateful. But inside? You’re just… not feeling it.

That’s okay.

Seriously. Let’s give ourselves some grace here.

Positivity Isn’t Perfection

We live in a world where social media feeds are filled with perfect morning routines, motivational quotes, and avocado toast. It’s easy to feel like you’re the only one slogging through the mud while everyone else is dancing through fields of sunflowers. But behind every filtered post is a real person, and we all have those off days.

Trying to force happiness 24/7 isn’t realistic—or healthy. Sometimes the most honest kind of gratitude comes from simply acknowledging, “This day is hard, but I’m still here. I’m still trying.”

The Gratitude Shift

When you’re feeling low, gratitude doesn’t have to be a big production. Start small:

• The smell of clean laundry.
• The way your dog looks at you like you hung the moon.
• A song that hits the right nerve at just the right time.

Tiny things. Ordinary things. These are the cracks where the light gets in.

What to Do When Gratitude Feels Like a Lie

Here’s what I try when I’m in a funk and can’t seem to shake it:

1. Move my body. Even a 10-minute walk can change the channel.
2. Text someone I love. Not to vent, just to say hi. Connection is grounding.
3. Write it down. Journaling helps get the mental junk out of your head and onto paper.
4. Say thank you anyway. Even if I don’t feel it. The action often comes before the emotion.

Give Yourself Permission

You don’t have to feel good to do good things for yourself. And you don’t have to fake a smile to be a grateful person. Life is messy. Emotions are complex. Gratitude isn’t about ignoring your feelings—it’s about anchoring to something solid while you ride the waves.

So if you’re trying to be positive and it feels like dragging yourself through wet cement, just know: you’re not failing. You’re human.

Keep showing up. Keep looking for that one thing to be thankful for, even if today it’s just that you made it through.

That counts.