This won't surprise you: When the economy worsens, people tend to stay in their jobs, whether they like them or not. That's just common sense, right? When the mortgage is due, most of us would say that a bad job is better than no job.

If you're staying in a bad job for the money, you're probably feeling pretty trapped right now. If I were more of a motivational columnist, I'd tell you not to worry about the money; just seek happiness, and the rest will fall into place.

Luckily for you, I'm practical and not motivational.

Here, instead, are do's and don'ts to help you survive at work until the economy improves.

AMY LINDGREN

WORKING STRATEGIES

DO

• Seek balance outside of work. Give yourself something to look forward to each day, such as time spent in your garden or a good workout at the gym after work.

• Break up the workday by alternating distasteful tasks with more satisfying activities.

• Avoid gossip, and stay away from people known to gossip or complain.

• Look for a new assignment or project to distract you from your misery.

• Change your hours to avoid the people who make you crazy.

• Ask for permission to telecommute at least one day a week.

• Request a transfer to another department or branch.

• Join a fun or supportive work committee.

• Enroll in a class or degree program outside of work.

• Personalize your work space to feel more like home.

• Or, depersonalize your work space, as a reminder that this is just a stopping point in the day.

• Wear headphones, close your door or otherwise distance yourself from problem people.

• Sign out a conference room for yourself, to do some work in private.

• Take on a new challenge each day, such as memorizing a set of vocabulary words.

• Take advantage of all company programs, including in-house classes.

• Join a professional association, and ask for support from your manager to attend meetings or conferences.

• Save as much money as you can, to make the sacrifice of being in this job worth it.

DON'T

• Make a trip to the vending machine the highlight of your day.

• Overeat, undereat, eat only at your desk or develop other unhealthy food habits.

• Complain (much).

• Self-medicate by drinking too much after work.

• Spend all your money in an "I deserve it" fit of Internet shopping.

• "Get back" at people by turning in assignments late or otherwise misbehaving.

• Become known as a complainer to your friends; they're the ones who will help you find a job later.

• Slack off, come in late, leave early or otherwise degrade your work ethic — and reputation.

• Let your guard down when sending e-mails, even to friends within the company.

If you look around your company, you probably could add to this list of do's and don'ts by observing others. No doubt there are some very classy people in your workplace as well as some not-so-bright bulbs. You know which ones to pick as role models.

Even so, at some point all the tips in the world won't be enough to balance the misery you might be feeling at work. In that case, don't wait for the economy to improve before you gather the courage to leave.

It's possible that this isn't about the economy at all. Consider that you may be staying as much out of inertia and a generalized fear as from a realistic assessment of the market. Sometimes, for better or worse, when you gotta go, you just gotta go.

- Amy Lindgren owns Prototype Career Service, a career consulting firm in St. Paul, Minn. She can be reached at alindgren@prototypecaree rservice.com or at 1071 W. Seventh St., St. Paul, MN 55102.