Struggling at Work? Here’s What Could Be Wrong and How to Fix It

Work is not supposed to drain all your energy or leave you questioning yourself every day. Yet, it happens more often than people like to admit. If you are feeling off, disconnected, or frustrated in your role, there is usually a real reason behind it. 

You are not just being lazy or unmotivated. Something deeper is likely out of balance. The good news is that with a little reflection and a few smart moves, you can figure out what is wrong and start making things better. 

In this article, you will find a thoughtful breakdown of common reasons people struggle at work and simple strategies you can use to move toward a better place professionally and personally.

You Are in the Wrong Role

Sometimes it is not about how hard you work. It is about the kind of work you are doing. You could be a smart, capable person, but if your job does not match your natural strengths, you will feel like you are swimming against the current every single day.

Think about what parts of your job drain you. Are there endless meetings? Solitary tasks when you crave teamwork? Tedious spreadsheets when you love fast-moving challenges?

If this sounds familiar, it might help to take career tests & career assessments. These tools can give you a clearer picture of the types of roles that actually fit your personality and work style. Sometimes, it is not about pushing harder. It is about stepping into work that fits who you are at your core. They also help you spot strengths you might have overlooked or skills you have not been using fully.

You Are Burned Out and Don’t Even Know It

Burnout creeps up slowly. First, there is a little tiredness. Then you notice you are getting short with coworkers. Pretty soon, even small tasks feel like a mountain to climb.

It is easy to miss the signs because working hard is often celebrated. People tell you to “keep pushing” or “grind through it.” But if you are running on empty, no amount of pushing will make you feel better.

Burnout usually happens when you are overworked, underappreciated, and disconnected from a real sense of purpose. If you think this might be the problem, it is time to step back. Talk to your boss about your workload. 

Take real breaks. Maybe even use some vacation time if you can. Rest is not a luxury. It is a requirement for doing your best work.

Signs You Might Be Burned Out

• Constant fatigue even after sleeping
• Feeling cynical about your job
• Reduced performance at work
• Emotional exhaustion that spills into your personal life

Recognizing the signs early can help you take steps before it turns into something more serious, like depression or complete disengagement.

Your Skills Have Outgrown Your Job

Sometimes, the problem is that you have grown, but your role has stayed the same. When you started, the work challenged you. You learned new things every day. Now? You could do it in your sleep.

Boredom can look a lot like laziness from the outside, but inside, it feels like restlessness. You might even start resenting your job without really knowing why.

If this sounds familiar, it could be time for a new challenge. That does not always mean you have to leave your company. Maybe there is a new project you could volunteer for. Maybe you could ask for more responsibility. Or maybe you are ready for a bigger change. Either way, you owe it to yourself to keep growing.

How to Tell if You Have Outgrown Your Role

• You are no longer learning anything new
• You finish tasks quickly and feel bored
• You crave more complex challenges
• You start fantasizing about doing something else altogether

Growth is not just about promotions. Sometimes it is about finding work that stretches you, where you can keep building new muscles.

Your Boss Is Making Things Worse

A bad boss can make even the best job unbearable. If you do not feel respected, trusted, or supported, it eats away at your motivation over time.

You should not have to work under fear or constant criticism. You should not feel invisible either. A healthy workplace has managers who coach you, not just command you.

If you have a tough boss, first try clear communication. Sometimes, managers do not even realize how they are coming across. Share what you need. Be direct but respectful.

If nothing changes, you might have to accept that the problem is not you. And you might need to start looking for a healthier work environment.

Types of Toxic Management Styles

• Micromanaging every move
• Taking credit for your ideas
• Setting unrealistic expectations
• Ignoring your contributions

Knowing what kind of leadership you are dealing with can help you decide the next best move for your career.

You Are Not Being Paid What You Are Worth

Money matters. It is not the only thing, but if you know you are being underpaid, it will eat away at your motivation faster than you think.

When you feel undervalued financially, every extra hour you work starts to feel like a betrayal of your own worth. Resentment builds. Your energy drops. You find yourself caring less and less.

If you have not had a raise conversation in a while, it might be time. Come prepared. Know your market value. Bring examples of the impact you have made. And if the company truly cannot pay you fairly, be honest with yourself about how long you are willing to stay.

You Are Struggling with Something Outside of Work

Work problems are not always about work. Personal struggles can bleed into every part of your day. Grief, health issues, relationship stress, and financial worries can make it harder to focus, stay energized, and care about your to-do list.

If you are going through something tough, give yourself some grace. You are not a robot. You cannot always compartmentalize your life neatly.

Sometimes, talking to a counselor or therapist can help you carry the weight better. Sometimes, it is about setting clearer boundaries so work does not consume what little energy you have left. And sometimes, it is just about surviving the hard season until it passes.

Ways to Support Yourself During Hard Times

• Be honest with your manager if you feel safe doing so
• Adjust your workload temporarily if possible
• Focus on small wins
• Prioritize health and rest over over achievement

Survival during tough seasons is not a failure. It is a sign of resilience.

You Have Lost Sight of Why You Started

At the beginning, you probably had a reason for choosing your career path. Maybe it was passion. Maybe it was practicality. Maybe it was a dream you believed in.

Over time, though, it is easy to lose sight of that original spark. Work becomes routine. Goals get blurry. You forget why it mattered in the first place.

If you feel disconnected, take time to reconnect with your “why.” Remind yourself of the impact you want to have. Think about what parts of the work used to make you proud or excited. And if you realize the spark is truly gone, it is okay to think about what else could light you up again.

You Are Comparing Yourself to Others Too Much

Comparison is a thief. Maybe you are doing fine, but because someone else your age just bought a house or got promoted, you start feeling like you are failing.

Social media can make this so much worse. You see the highlight reels of other people’s careers and wonder why you are not moving faster.

But careers are not races. Everyone moves at a different pace. Focus on your own progress. Set your own milestones. You will be much happier working toward your own definition of success instead of chasing someone else’s.

Practical Steps You Can Take Starting Today

• Do a personal audit. Write down what drains you and what energizes you at work. Patterns will start to show.
• Take a skills and career assessment. Tools can help you spot new directions that actually match who you are today, not just who you were when you first picked a job.
• Talk to someone you trust. A mentor, a coach, a friend. Sometimes you need another set of eyes on the situation.
• Set one small goal. Just one. Maybe it is updating your resume. Maybe it is asking for a meeting with your boss. Small steps add up faster than you think.
• Protect your energy. Get enough sleep. Move your body. Make space for things that make you happy outside of work.
• Update your skills. Take a course, learn something new. Investing in yourself can reignite your sense of purpose.
• Build a vision board. Remind yourself what you are working toward. Keeping your eyes on the bigger picture can make the daily struggles feel more manageable.

It Is Okay to Want More

Wanting more out of your work does not make you ungrateful. It makes you human. You deserve to feel challenged in a good way. You deserve to feel respected, valued, and excited about the way you spend your days. You deserve a career that grows with you, not one that holds you back.

If you are struggling, it does not mean you are failing. It means something needs to change. And the good news is, you are not stuck. You have choices. You have power. You can figure this out.

It might not be easy. It might take time. But it is absolutely worth it because you spend too much of your life working to settle for anything less than a life that feels fully alive.

Conclusion

Work will never be perfect every single day, but overall, it should feel meaningful more often than it feels heavy. While struggles are a natural part of growth, staying stuck for too long is not the answer. If you are feeling disconnected or overwhelmed, it is a clear sign to pause, reflect, and start making thoughtful choices about what comes next.

At the same time, trust that change is possible even if it initially feels uncomfortable. Trust that your skills, effort, and time are worth something real. Most importantly, believe in your ability to recognize when it is time to turn the page and start writing a new chapter for yourself.

Written by:  Allison Dunn, founder, Deliberate Directions, for Deliberate Directions blog.