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7 Things To Do If You Feel Unappreciated

The document provides 7 strategies for dealing with feeling unappreciated: 1) Look for signs of appreciation through others' actions rather than just words of thanks, 2) Say "no" more often to prevent being taken for granted, 3) Focus on the intrinsic benefits and rewards of your actions rather than just external praise, 4) Show appreciation to others to inspire reciprocation, 5) Reframe unhelpful negative thoughts, 6) Speak up about your feelings in a constructive manner, and 7) Continue showing kindness which can boost your own happiness.

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Nadeem Iqbal
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72 views3 pages

7 Things To Do If You Feel Unappreciated

The document provides 7 strategies for dealing with feeling unappreciated: 1) Look for signs of appreciation through others' actions rather than just words of thanks, 2) Say "no" more often to prevent being taken for granted, 3) Focus on the intrinsic benefits and rewards of your actions rather than just external praise, 4) Show appreciation to others to inspire reciprocation, 5) Reframe unhelpful negative thoughts, 6) Speak up about your feelings in a constructive manner, and 7) Continue showing kindness which can boost your own happiness.

Uploaded by

Nadeem Iqbal
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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7 Things to Do if You Feel Unappreciated

It’s tough to feel as though you’re being taken for granted. After all, helping a friend move and making a special
dinner for your loved ones takes a lot of time and energy. And when people don’t seem to notice, you might feel
as though you’re unappreciated.

If you’re not careful, feeling unappreciated can lead to feelings of resentment and anger. Fortunately, these
strategies can help you feel better and they might even prevent the relationship from being tarnished when you
feel unappreciated.

Look for Appreciation Through Actions


Just because someone doesn’t say, “Thank you,” doesn’t mean they don’t appreciate you. Not everyone uses
words to express their gratitude. So you may want to look at someone’s actions to see if they show appreciation.

That hug your partner gives you or the high five your child gives you might be their way of saying thanks.
Similarly, when your coworker invites you to lunch or your friend insists on paying for your coffee, they may
be communicating their appreciation to you as well.

So, take a minute and consider whether the people around you might be showing appreciation with their actions.
You might discover that they’re likely more grateful for you than you give them credit for.

Say No More Often


Sometimes, the more you do for people without complaining, the more they expect you to do. And they might
forget to appreciate all you do for them.

So it may be helpful to say "no" sometimes. This can remind people not to take it for granted that you’ll always
be willing and available to pitch in.

Saying no sometimes can also be good for you if you’ve become a bit of a people pleaser. Turning down an
invitation or declining to do a favor might be tough if you’re used to saying "yes," but it can remind you that
you don’t have to do things you don’t want to do.

There may also be times when you decide to set limits. For example, if you overhear one of your kids telling a
friend, “You don’t have to put your dishes in the sink. My parents pick up after me,” you may want to have a
talk about your role.

 Setting Boundaries in Relationships Is More Important Than You Think

Focus on What You’re Gaining Outside of


Appreciation
If you’re only doing something because you want recognition, you’re going to feel unappreciated sometimes.
But, praise and recognition aren’t the only benefits you’ll gain from doing good work or kind deeds. Your boss
might think your token of appreciation is your paycheck. And while it’s still nice to receive some praise,
reminding yourself that you get paid every week might help you feel a little more appreciated.

Show Some Kindness


Showing kindness can boost your own happiness. So consider whether helping others makes you feel good
about yourself, even if others don’t seem to appreciate you as much as you’d like.

You might have a chance to learn new skills or sharpen existing ones—like patience. You also might get a
chance to exercise or time to be in the car by yourself.

Take a look at all the things you gain from doing things for others and you might be surprised to see that there
are many things to feel grateful for.

Show Appreciation Toward Others


Focusing too much on the lack of appreciation you gain can cause you to forget to show appreciation for others.

But saying "thank you" to those around you can inspire others to appreciate you too.

Thank your friends and family for all they do for you. You might show your appreciation with a verbal, “thank
you,” or you might send them a note reminding them how much you appreciate them. Whatever way you
choose to show your appreciation, make it genuine and heartfelt.

Reframe Your Unhelpful Thoughts


Be on the lookout for exaggeratedly negative thoughts. Thinking things like, “No one ever does anything nice
for me,” or “Everyone expects me to do everything around here,” will only make you feel worse.

Remind yourself of times when other people have shown appreciation for you (even if you have to think back
awhile). And remind yourself of times when you have been able to put limits on what you do.

Responding to your unhelpful thoughts with more realistic ones can help you feel a little more appreciated. You
might remind yourself of things like, “My family appreciates all I do for them even if they don’t say it,” or “My
family appreciates me sometimes,” and you might feel a little better.

Speak Up
Sometimes, it’s helpful to share how you’re feeling. You might talk to your partner, your boss, or your kids
about what’s going on by saying something like, “Sometimes, I feel like my work goes unnoticed. I really enjoy
it when my work is appreciated.”

Don’t be afraid to say what you want. You might discover that other people are happy to show more
appreciation when they understand how important it is to you.

But, there’s also a chance that they might insist they already show plenty of appreciation or they may turn it into
a joke by saying something like, “I’ll appreciate you when you do better work.”
Just remember, some people make jokes when they’re uncomfortable. And their discomfort might just be a
reflection of how they feel about themselves, not how they feel about you.

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