Helpful Tip: 5 Ways to Stay Motivated in a Toxic Job Until You Can Leave (As-Salamu Alaikum)

As-Salamu Alaikum - here are a few simple things that helped me keep going in a toxic workplace until I could move on. (Not in any particular order.) 1. Re-align your skills: Quietly learn and reskill so you can prepare an exit. Investing in your abilities is one of the best ways to break out of feeling stuck. 2. Protect your mind and body: Make time for dhikr, prayer, rest, gentle stretching, journaling, and things that restore you. Looking after your health keeps you resilient. 3. Work with integrity: Don’t let bad treatment change your character. Keep showing up honestly for your colleagues and for the people you serve. 4. Be useful, not just busy: When others come to you for tough tasks, the work starts to feel meaningful even if the system is broken. Focus on being dependable. 5. Volunteer somewhere, anywhere: Helping others reminds you what it’s like to serve willingly - with a pure intention. It can be as small as visiting a neighbor, caring for an elderly relative, joining a local charity, or helping your mother prepare a meal. A note that matters: If a job is harming your mental or physical health, don’t push yourself past safe limits. I eventually left my role for the sake of my well‑being, and that was the right choice. What I learned: Growth comes when your motivation is to be useful and sincere, not just chasing promotions or paychecks. When you work willingly, with the heart of someone serving Allah and your community, clarity and progress often follow.