YuneOhThe start of the new year is the best way to put an effort into planning and setting goals for the future. May it be listing new dreams or stopping old habits, life-maintenance is a must especially for working people. Having a 9-to-5 job is a joy for some, a drag for others; for several it is simply a way to put bread on the table.
Younger working people have this recent habit of wanting to change jobs specifically because it’s too restricting or “it doesn’t help them grow more”. It’s one thing to change jobs if it doesn’t make you happy, but what if this certain company has the best benefits you could hope for: A good work life balance, health benefits and good salary? It doesn’t ‘ignite your passions’ now but maintaining this job you have is the smartest thing to do. What now?
Like your job more.
Erika Andersen of Forbes shares these 6 ways on how to love your job more:
1. Stop hanging with Haters:
Bad vibes, leads to bad moods = bad workplace for you. Stop sticking with cynical people that could bring you down. “Hearing only the negatives about your workplace makes it hard to see the positives that may exist, and it ultimately will make you feel worse about yourself”. Stop the flow of bad energy and change perspective for a second. You never know what good has been hiding under that negativity cloud all along.
2. Ask for more of what you like:
Don’t be too afraid of your own boss. In a company, idealistically everybody wants to bring out the best in their employees no matter how small your job is. How can someone perform good on something they hate doing? Your bosses aren’t mind-readers. If you think you are better or more suited in another job, share it to them. If you think what you are doing now is inefficient with your skills, your boss will gladly help you find a better workload suitable for you. Soon you’ll find yourself breathing lightly, despite the same amount of work.
3. Talk to yourself differently:
If you’ve always talked to yourself with the thoughts of “Why am I still staying here?” or “ Why do I have to make the boss happy?” – stop. The power of self-talk is stronger than it may seem. The pressures of your current job and the temptation of living a more effortless career life may be affecting your own confidence and self-esteem in the company. Instead, try practicing your self-talk message to: “I have a big, complex, interesting job, and I can have a huge positive impact on the organisation and on the people who work for me.” With this not only will this boost your confidence, but you’ll bring positivity to those around you.
4. Change your Boss:
A boss is your manage-er. A bad manager can put a damper on anyone’s work satisfaction. He isn’t necessarily a bad person, he or she may just be bad at managing people. If you are working for a big or medium-sized company, it’s possible to ask to report to a different boss in your department. But even if this is impossible for your company right now, you can still change your boss: talk with your boss. Respectfully share habits you don’t like about him or her (stay professional, nothing personal) and ask if you can compromise to some changes. You’ll never know the positive response you’ll get.
5. Learn Something:
Challenge yourself. You might not like your job right now because you can probably do the job with one eye closed and with one arm tied to your hip. Get your brain working. “Most people are happiest when they’re at an optimum level of engagement: neither under-challenged or over-challenged.” Think of new information that could contribute to current skills. Learning new skills increases your job security and job satisfaction.
6.Work harder:
Embracing your job instead of trying to get away of it may sound counter intuitive but finding meaning and purpose in what you are doing right now will help you be happier with not only your job but also your life. “In Dan Pink’s excellent book, Drive, he notes that ‘purpose’ and ‘mastery’ are two of the things we humans find most motivating: finding meaning in what we do, and getting really good at it.” Do more than what you should just be doing. Find where (in your aspect of expertise) will you feel more purposeful in addition to your job right now.
Make an effort, be positive! You can’t find any purpose or satisfaction if you won’t try. “Realising that your experience is more within your control than you thought can be a very positive thing – and could be the start of a long-term shift toward more happiness at work.”
Even Monday mornings would be something to look forward to. Good vibes ahead, have a nice 2016!!
