Millennials and GenZ don't fear job hopping. We understand that we're not our jobs and there’s more to life than grind/hustle/killing it culture.
Both behaviors are symptoms of work dissatisfaction. However, rage-applying is the by-product of accumulated stress, burnout, and frustration at work. The circumstances and reasons under which rage application occurs vary.
According to Dr. Carla Marie Manly, a clinical psychologist: "Most rage-applying occurs when individuals channel pent-up feelings of frustration and rage into action. People rage-apply when they feel they have been under-appreciated, passed over, or stuck in a toxic work environment."
Sean Moffitt, CEO & Founder of Futureproofing shares some interesting data on a survey:
But that’s not all, Moffitt goes further on the reasons behind those numbers:
You already know where we stand on this whole thing: we say YAASS to rage-applying, just as we said YAASS to “release your job” last summer - thank you Beyonce!
Rage-applying may be beneficial as it leads to new opportunities with a better work environment and pay (which are the main reasons people quit). We can view these not-so-new trends as a result of how the ecosystem and work paradigms are changing because we Millennials and GenZ don't fear job hopping. We understand that we are not our jobs and there’s more to life than grind/hustle/killing it culture.
Let’s face it: capitalism and stale organizational cultures rewarded by it have failed us, particularly those of us who are part of groups that have been systematically placed at risk. We’re talking about disabled people, pregnant people, the LGBT community, and of course black, indigenous, and people of color. Those of us who are at the intersection of those identities have every right to rage-apply our way to the top!
On the other hand, applying to other jobs is a second job in itself, since you need to polish up your resumé and microdose hell by writing fan fiction for different companies a.k.a. writing cover letters for each position you apply to -which we all honestly loathe, but we’ll talk about that at another time.
Rage applying or not- managing anger at work can be hard, especially if you're dealing with difficult co-workers, an unreasonable boss, or other sources of stress (a post-pandemic reality, glooming recession, environmental doomism… #sad). Whatever you decide to do, we've put together some tips based on personal experience and science, on how to manage and channel rage more healthily.
If you've been triggered at work, the first step is to become aware of the situation and try to identify the trigger or source of stress. Bringing awareness to your emotions is key to better managing them at work. This is called emotional regulation skills; vital for our overall well-being, be it work or not.
After becoming aware of what is occurring internally, take long and deep breaths into your diaphragm. Oxygenating the brain is a mindfulness technique that has a track record of helping calm our heart rate and nervous system; allowing us to view situations more calmly and with less stress
Understanding the effects of anger on our bodies is essential if we want to become better at managing rage. When we experience feelings of anger, or rage it increases our levels of cortisol which can put us in a state of chronic stress; affecting us professionally, physically, and privately. Sustained levels of cortisol in our body signal that we are in a prolonged state of fear or fight-or-flight mode. High levels of cortisol can cause anxiety, increased heart rate, and higher blood pressure; affecting the proper functioning of our nervous system. You get- it's not a healthy cycle.
What is even crazier, is the relationship between chronic stress and creating new neural pathways in our brains- it can rewire our rage circuit! This means that our capabilities of emotional regulation decrease if we experience continued anger and stress at work. We can become less patient and snap at little things. Just some food for thought.
Usually, our go-to response is talking about it to someone we trust when a situation at work triggers us. Emphasis on most, as there are people who do not feel the need or relief to vent and prefer to manage things on their own.
While talking about it can help us blow off steam, it is actually not as healthy as we think. Especially if we are venting to someone at work about work-related situations. This can cause uncomfortable situations or overwhelm the other person by dumping all our baggage on them. Similarly, chronic venting is not useful when we are caught in an endless repetition loop and don't try to understand the source of the issue and focus on solutions.
The next step to managing your anger is understanding what triggers it. Is it a coworker? A project deadline? Something at home? Is it overall work dissatisfaction? Is it burnout?
Once you've identified the cause of your emotions, try and think of ways to avoid those triggers or handle them differently when they come up again. How can you manage stress at work? If certain aspects of your job are causing stress, such as long hours or heavy workloads, try brainstorming solutions with your manager so that together you can find an agreeable solution (and hopefully prevent more rage-inducing situations)
The key here is understanding if the cause of the anger can be managed better by bringing awareness to it to avoid inflicting stress on yourself and others. However, the root of sudden outrage at work can also be something deeper such as burnout or anger issues which need to be handled differently. In that case, talk to HR and try to seek professional help. Remember, there is nothing wrong with therapy!
This practical tip doesn't require great emotional regulation and can help a lot in the process of better understanding our emotions. Take a pen and paper or a computer and a blank page and start writing. Put everything that happened, everything that you are feeling down without much thought. In the process, you will realize your brain's natural instinct to organize thoughts. Jotting things down, not only does it serve as venting but also allows you to view things from an outward perspective; making it easier to arrive at solutions or understand the roots of our triggers. Most importantly though, make sure not to send it.
If you're feeling angry and in a situation that triggers your rage, there are several ways to remove yourself from the situation.
Leave the room. If someone is being particularly offensive or irritating, take a break from them by going somewhere else for a few minutes. This can be as simple as walking around the block or getting some fresh air outside.
Another option is to take a break from work completely. Sometimes, taking time off is all it takes to calm down and get perspective on things when things get crazy at work--and we’re not talking about just taking an hour lunch break here! It could mean making yourself unavailable during certain hours each day until your emotions have cooled down enough so you can avoid knee-jerk reactions or impulsive decision-making. This may mean working remotely or opting out of some meetings.
In conclusion
Experiencing rage and a plethora of emotions is part of the human experience. However, navigating emotions at work -especially the uncomfortable ones-, can be tricky as we don't want it to interfere with our performance nor do we want to lash out at our colleagues. Those of us who are privileged enough to work remotely can slam our computers shut, and let the anger out in the privacy of our homes. Those of us with access to therapy can vent in a safe space -we know that’s another privilege too.
Managing rage at work is crucial for our overall well-being. Hopefully, now you feel more confident about handling your anger in the office and even start rage-applying if that’s what serves you. It's normal to have difficulties managing your rage: we all have bad days and it doesn’t mean we’re bad people.
With practice and patience -and maybe a beer or two at your next local Fuckup Nights event, we can get better at dealing with stressors in our lives while recognizing the system’s role in all of this.
Written and edited by Raquel Rojas and Shanti Banus.
Editado por
Raquel Rojas
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Transformemos nuestra percepción del fracaso y utilicémoslo como catalizador del crecimiento.
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