Millennials and GenZ are not afraid to change jobs. We understand that we are not our job and that there is more to life than just making money.
Both behaviors are symptoms of job dissatisfaction. However, rage-applying is the byproduct of accumulated stress, burnout, and frustration at work.
The circumstances and reasons under which this phenomenon occurs vary.According to clinical psychologist Dr. Carla Marie Manly: "Most rage-applying occurs when people channel pent-up feelings of frustration and anger into action. People rage-apply when they feel like they've been underestimated, ignored, or feel trapped in a toxic work environment."
Sean Moffitt, CEO and founder of Futureproofing shares some interesting facts about a survey regarding rage-applying:
But that's not all, Moffitt goes further on the reasons behind those numbers:
Last summer we told SUPER SÍ to "let go of your work and forget the rest". Thank you, Beyonce!
Rage-applying can be beneficial, as it leads to new opportunities with a better work environment and salary (which are the main reasons people quit).
We can see these trends that are actually not that new as a result of changing work ecosystems and work paradigms. Millennials and GenZ are not afraid to change jobs. We understand that we are not our job and that there is more to life than just making money.
To be honest, capitalism and its stale organizational cultures have failed us, particularly those of us who are part of groups that have been systematically put at risk. We're talking about disabled people, women, the LGBT community , and of course, Black, Indigenous, and people of color. Those of us at the intersection of those identities have every right to get angry and run for whatever positions we want to get where we want!
On the other hand, applying for many vacancies is like having a second job, because you have to optimize your resume and write fan fiction for different companies, that is, write motivation letters for each position you apply for – which we honestly hate, but we will talk about that another time.
Whether you decide on rage-applying or not, managing anger at work can be difficult, especially if you have toxic coworkers, an unreasonable boss, or other sources of stress (a post-pandemic reality, a bleak recession, climate change... #DomingoDeBajón). Whatever you decide to do, we've put together some tips based on personal experience and science, on how to manage and channel anger at work in healthier ways.
If you feel about to explode, the first step is to become aware of the situation and try to identify your triggers or the sources of your stress. Becoming aware of your emotions is key to better managing them at work. Emotional regulation skills are vital to our overall well-being, on and off the job.
After observing what is happening to you internally, take long, deep breaths from your diaphragm. Oxygenating the brain is a mindfulness technique that can help calm the heart rate and nervous system; allowing you to see situations more calmly and less stressed.
Understanding the effects of anger on the body is essential to getting better at managing this emotion. When we experience feelings of anger or rage, cortisol levels rise, which can lead to a state of chronic stress; affecting all areas of life.
Sustained cortisol levels in the body indicate a prolonged state of fear and a fight-or-flight response. They can also cause anxiety, increased heart rate, and higher blood pressure; affecting the proper functioning of the nervous system. This is definitely not a healthy cycle.
What's even crazier is the relationship between chronic stress and the creation of new neural pathways in the brain. Emotional regulation skills decrease with continuous anger and stress at work. In short, patience decreases more and more and criticism of small things skyrockets. It is worth thinking about it.
We usually go to someone we trust when a situation at work triggers us. Of course, there are people who don't feel the need or relief to blow off steam and prefer to handle things on their own.
While talking about it can help us vent, but not to someone at work about work-related situations. This can lead to uncomfortable situations or overwhelm the other person by venting all our discomfort without asking them if they have the emotional bandwidth to listen to us.
Similarly, this is not helpful in a cycle of endless repetition where we don't try to understand the source of the problem and focus on solutions.
The next step in managing anger is to understand what triggers it. Is he a co-worker? The deadline of a project? Something in private life? Is it general job dissatisfaction? Is it burnout?Once you've identified the cause of your emotions, try to think of ways to avoid those triggers or handle them differently when they come up again.
If certain aspects of work cause you stress, such as staying long hours or a heavy workload, try to think of solutions with your manager so you can find a pleasant solution (and hopefully avoid further anger-provoking situations).The key here is to understand if the cause of anger can be better managed by becoming aware of it to avoid stressing yourself out or taking it out on your colleagues.
However, the root of sudden indignation at work can also be something deeper, such as burnout or anger issues, which need to be handled differently. In that case, talk to your Human Resources area and try to seek professional help. Remember, asking for help doesn't make you incompetent.
This practical advice does not require a great deal of 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. Let out everything that happened, everything that you're feeling, without thinking about it much.
In the process, you'll become aware of your brain's natural instinct for organizing thoughts. Writing things down not only serves as an outlet but also allows you to see things from an outside perspective; making it easier to reach solutions or understand the roots of the triggering factors. However, the most important thing is to make sure that you don't send it and that no one sees it by mistake.
If you're feeling angry and find yourself in a situation that triggers your anger, there are several ways to get away from the situation. Identify your boundaries, i.e., the actions you'll take to take care of yourself, for example: I'll leave the boardroom when I sit down about to scream. If someone is being particularly offensive or irritating, take a break and go 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 altogether.
Sometimes taking some time off is all it takes to calm down and get perspective on things when they get a little unbearable, and we're not talking about just taking an hour for lunch! It could mean not being available for certain hours each day until your emotions have calmed down enough to prevent knee-jerk reactions or impulsive decision-making. This can also be seen as working remotely or opting out of some meetings.
In conclusion
Feeling anger and endless emotions is part of the human experience. However, navigating emotions at work, especially uncomfortable ones, can be tricky, as we don't want it to interfere with our performance or take it out on colleagues.
Those of us who have the privilege of working remotely can close our computers and let out anger in the privacy of our homes. Those of us who have access to therapy can vent in a safe space, but we know that this is also another privilege.
Managing anger at work is crucial to our overall well-being. Hopefully, you now feel more confident to manage your anger in the office or even decide that rage-applying is the right thing for you. It all depends on what you really want to do.
It's normal to have a hard time controlling anger – we all have bad days and that 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 managing stressors while acknowledging the influence of capitalism in our lives.
Written and edited by Raquel Rojas and Shanti Banus.
Edited by
Raquel Rojas
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Let's transform our perception of failure and use it as a catalyst for growth.
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