Everyone wants to enjoy a peaceful night filled with happy dreams, but unfortunately, you can’t just will yourself to have the dream you desire.
Our dreams usually come when our subconscious mind reflects on the experiences or emotions we can’t deal with during the day. Since we spend most of our time working, don’t be surprised if you can’t escape work projects or presentations, even when unconscious.
Fortunately, dreams about work, like missing an important deadline or arguing with your boss, have a straightforward answer. Your brain is simply processing work-related stress and anxiety. But sometimes, these dreams can be a reminder of your insecurities and goals.
So, today, we’ll share around 6 examples of dreams about work and their interpretations to help you understand your REM hours escapades.
Why Do I Dream About Work Every Night?
Adults spend around 34.4 hours each week at work, whether in a physical office or at home. Therefore, it makes a lot of sense that thoughts and experiences about work become part of our visions.
The funny thing is, in these dreams, people don’t love their jobs or co-workers. Maybe this is the Sandman’s doing, but it’s disturbing how crazy these dreams can become. Like in one example, a dreamer saw the severed head of his boss and a bloody knife in his hand. This guy must have really hated his boss.
Some dreamers didn’t encounter or kill their bosses. However, they had some frustrating experiences, like having to make unexpected presentations or going to work butt-naked.
To most, these experiences might seem confusing, but dream experts believe they stem from insecurities, fears, and stress of our workplace. This holds, given that we wear emotional masks in our workplaces. We rarely get the chance to express or process our emotions in professional settings.
To further support this statement, research shows that work frustrations can elicit negative dreams. One study even goes further, saying that 65% of women and 45% of men often wake up feeling stressed and worried about their jobs.
However, not all dreams about getting fired mean you have subconsciously picked signs that you’ll lose your job. Consider these dreams a sign to learn more about what you want and need out of work. Reflect on your lingering issues, not only about your job but also your relationships.
Also Read: Dream About Money Meaning
Common Examples of Dreams About Work
1. Dreaming About Being Late for Work
In high school and college, it was common to have dreams about being late, especially when starting a new semester or exam. You were having this dream because you were worried or anxious about the coming event.
At work, you have several responsibilities and deadlines to keep, and these usually elicit stress. If left to accumulate, the stress can eventually bleed into your slumber, and give rise to dreams of being late to work. The lateness in the dream is caused by constantly worrying about not meeting deadlines or delivering as required by your employer.
Running late for work because you had a flat or got stuck in dream traffic is likely a sign of feeling stuck in life. Despite all your efforts, things do not seem to work out how you want. It’s like someone shifting the Lego pieces of your life, so you can’t have a defined path.
Your dream invites you to reflect and meditate on your current situation. If you need to change something to improve your life, do so, even if it’s quitting your job. But just ensure you have a solid plan, so you don’t stumble out there.
2. Dreaming of Getting Fired from Work
Very few people enjoy going to work from 9 to 5, but nearly everyone wants to have a job. A job opens doors and allows us to meet our family’s needs, financial goals and even grow professionally.
However, one thing always lurks in the mind of every employee – “job insecurity”. It refers to the fear you develop whenever a company rolls layoffs or experiences financial issues.
A dream about getting fired from work means that you’re dealing with some insecurities at your workplace. Maybe you feel you’re not good enough or being appreciated enough, and these sentiments are sneaking into your dreams.
And don’t think about your work alone! Insecurities can stem from other aspects of your life, from your relationship to your housing situation. It could be you’re feeling ignored by your partner or you need to make a significant change in life.
3. Dreaming of Working in an Office
If you can’t escape your office even when you’ve passed out, you are overwhelmed by work. The documents you were signing or typing in the dreams mean you give your work too much attention. And now it has reached a point where it’s infringing on your personal life.
Your dream is not merely another narrative, but your unconscious mind seeking your attention. It’s urging you to restore order and control in your life. Work is important, but so are your family and the strong relationships you have built with friends.
From another angle, if you see yourself happy working in an office, it means you feel satisfied with your current life. Rather than being stressed, you feel calm in your environment, accomplishments, and circumstances.
4. Dream of Working in A Hospital
If you dream of working in a hospital, it means you’re under pressure. You are weighed down, tired and fear you may not be able to meet your obligations both at work and home.
Hospitals symbolize both diseases and good health. Working in a hospital could mean you’re trying to change your habits, behavior, and way of thinking to improve your life. It also means that you have a strong personality.
5. Dreaming of Working at An Old Job
If you dream of filling documents in your old job or junior internship workplace, it means you are a person who stands on your own feet. Because of this, new opportunities for professional and personal growth will come your way.
Your vision of working in that job means you are about to receive great offers for career growth or a chance to overcome a hurdle in your life. It signals that you are about to enter a new phase of life that will propel you to greater heights.
The other possible interpretation could be that the old workplace stands for a lesson from your past. Maybe you faced a challenging situation while doing that job, but learned to overcome it. You can apply the solution to your current life to deal with roadblocks.
If the dream of working at your old job had a negative or disturbing theme, it could be a sign of regression. You are falling back to your old self, resuming habits and behaviors that are not beneficial to your current situation.
6. Dream of Working with A Celebrity
This dream could simply mean you desire to work with someone in your field who is considered a celebrity. For example, if you are a musician, the dream means you wish to work with talented artists like Mariah Carey or Ed Sheeran.
Alternatively, you might be going through a transformation that’s boosting your self-esteem. This could be a promotion or relationship growth.
Dreaming of working with John Wick could point to a subconscious desire. For instance, you may want your family members, friends, and co-workers to acknowledge your personal and professional achievements.
While this is good, you must first learn to appreciate your own growth. Do not seek validation from others. Those who love and care for you will notice you, regardless.
Closing Thoughts
We’ve been working since dawn of time, so the chances are that work will feature in our dreams now and again.
It’s true; most of these dreams connect to our work. But what really triggers them is the stress and anxiety associated with the job. If you dream of work, then you’re probably coping with stress due to the workload or because of the boss or co-workers.
But as we said, these dreams can represent other aspects of your personal life, besides work. This can be stress caused by conflicts at home, strong emotions, or a change of attitude to life and authority.
The next time you dream about work, analyze if there’s something that’s making you feel stressed or affecting how you work, or your relationship. Take the dream as a cue to face your problem head-on.