Just how happy are you at your current workplace? No matter how well you do your job, you may not always be appreciated or rewarded for the work you do.
You could be facing a number of challenges in your workplace, such as:
- Little fulfilment
- Long hours and tight deadlines
- Conflicting demands on your time and loyalty
- Little balance between personal life and work commitments
- Strained relationships with the important people in your life
- Lack of any say at work
- Internal politics and a rigid company structure
- Bullying within the workplace
- Few promotional opportunities
So just how do you cope?
At the end of the day, you want your job to be fulfilling and enjoyable. You want to get recognition and promotions for your efforts and be appreciated for the work you do. But at the same time, want a balanced life with time for the things you really want to do with a full and interesting social life. Of course, you want to have clarity about your career, job duties and you want to continue to be healthy, fit, and stress-free.
It seems a lot to ask for, and the key to resolving these seemingly conflicting challenges is to understand just how much you love the work you do. You need to ask yourself, “is what I do for work making me jump out of bed every morning?” or “would I rather be doing something else?”. No matter how good things are in other parts of your life such as your family, your social life or your relationships, work is a major part of your life, and not to be neglected.
Since for now, you have chosen to be in the job you are in, it is up to you for the time being to make the most of what you do. Of course in the long term, you can either change your job or even embark on a new career. But for now, you can try to learn how to love what you are doing right now. This, of course, is assuming that in the short term, you are not able to change jobs, there are a number of things that you can do to begin enjoying more of what you currently do.
Ask yourself, “is it the job or is it me?” and “what can I do to make my current work more enjoyable?”. At the end of the day, you are the sole person responsible for your own life and if you can’t immediately change the job you are in, then is it up to you to make the most of it.
Get motivated to face the day – On the way to your workplace, listen to some uplifting music, read a positive book, do some form of exercise. Think of how the work you have allows you to have your life outside of it. A positive attitude will make the day more pleasant and productive
Keep your work in perspective – You can only do the best you can in each situation. Look beyond yourself and your work and consider the bigger picture. Consider some other rewarding activities outside of work, like volunteering to gain a broader outlook.
You are more than your work – Try not to have your identity too strongly tied to the job you do. Give up thinking that your work-life should be a certain way just because your friends or family, working in different industries from you, get more time off.
Create to-do lists and plan your time – Setting realistic, short-term goals is just as valuable and if not, more important, than long-term goals. Prioritise your to-do list with the most important goals first, achieve them and finish your day with a sense of accomplishment.
Have regular breaks – Get away from your computer, go get some fresh air and take a breather, even if only for 5 minutes and don’t skip your lunch break. This is not just for food and a caffeine fix, but it’s a mental break to recuperate your thoughts to keep your focus.
Eat healthily – As cliche as it sounds, a healthy lunch helps with re-energising and there are enough psychological studies proving that a healthy diet creates a healthy mindset and a sense of confidence.
Make your workplace more pleasant – Contribute to creating a pleasant work environment. Do not get involved with the gossip in the office as it just creates negativity all around. In saying this, don’t listen to any gossip either. Learn to have more fun at work. Laugh more. Surround yourself with your ‘fun’ colleagues.
Switch off once you leave work – You are already at work a third of your time, so do not continue to keep it buzzing in your head during your supposed ‘free time’. Don’t check your emails at 9pm when your laying in bed for sleep. Enjoy your time with the family, friends or pets. Mentally say goodbye to your workplace the moment you leave for home.
The list could go on with a thousand tips and tricks. However, it ultimately comes down to you and your actions to make your day great. Enjoy your work, enjoy your time away from work and if it comes down to it, you can always find something better in the medium to long-term. If you think that a change of career in the engineering market is the right decision for you, give me a call on 09 869 7279 for a confidential chat.