Stopped caring at work, much happier for it
I work for a mid-sized startup in a mid-senior role. It’s filled with the most toxic people, especially at the leadership level. The business head in particular is a temperamental bully who loves undermining people and the work they do and deliberately downplays the impact my work in particular has. My boss, his peer, does nothing to shield me from his constant criticism, especially when I present new ideas. All this obviously made me feel dejected, especially because I also have anxiety and ADHD (which I’ve masked my whole life).
I was super miserable until one day I just decided to stop caring. I stopped advocating for my “new” ideas, stopped trying to defend myself when undermined and let the business head give me instructions. It helps that there is a high level of dependence on me and that my boss won’t dare fire me (my team and I deliver a massive amount of work which my boss has no energy to manage) even if I stopped being enthusiastic at work.
Ever since I made the mindset shift, life has been significantly easier. I come for the pay, don’t care about recognition or getting a promotion, and will just move to the next toxic workplace and repeat if things get terrible.