Life
5 Ways to Thrive in a Career You Don’t Love
They say if you love your job you will be successful. However, I don’t think this is the case. I don’t love my job. I don’t think many people truly love their jobs. There are times where I wake up and wonder ‘do I really need to go to work?’ Not loving your job comes in varying degrees, from the occasional niggle, to full-on misery.
I very much love my actual craft, but not so much the varying aspects of work life. More often than not, the reason we are not head over heels for our job is less to do with the actual work itself, and more to do with the way we run our lives.
Here are five valuable tips that can help revamp your work life, providing a dose of rejuvenation and a fresh perspective:
1. Exercise and fueling your body
Think of your body as the most important car on the planet. It needs daily maintenance, as well as the correct fuel, to help it run to the best of its ability. The workplace can be a place ridden with stress and anxieties but keeping in good health can psychologically and physically alleviate these issues.
You don’t need to have a gym membership to get the endorphins flowing, simply take yourself for a walk or indulge in a team sport with a group of friends. Exercise not only keeps our bodies healthy, but our minds too. Studies suggest that just 20 minutes of exercise can elevate our mood for twelve hours and, it has the greatest effect on us when we are in a negative frame of mind. Science suggests that people who are active are happier and more satisfied with their lives.
If you are exercising regularly, it is important to have the correct diet to run alongside your lifestyle. If you are feeling lethargic and lacking energy at work, chances are your diet needs a tweak. What we eat and how much water we drink has a direct impact on mood and concentration. Therefore, implementing healthy food choices can help you deal with colleagues and work-related stress in a mindful manner.
“Old minds are like old horses; you must exercise them if you wish to keep them in working order.” – John Adams
2. Strike the right balance
Even if you love your job, the minute home time comes around, cast it from your mind. This can be incredibly difficult and, of course, there are going to be times where you have to take work home. However, making a conscious choice to leave work at work and find the right work/life balance is key. If you constantly spend your free time working you will soon learn to resent it, making you very unhappy. It is important that you are not defined solely by your occupation.
Workaholics who cannot seem to switch -off have the tendency to neglect certain aspects of their life. When did you last see your friends? Does your spouse eat alone in the evenings? Have you done anything for you lately? Your schedule affects those around you and, after all, we work so that we can afford to do the things we enjoy!
3. Get outside
Those of us who work in offices, hospitals, warehouses and the like, often forget what nature looks like. We are often so tuned in to work, particularly with the advancement of the technological age, that we never get the chance to just be. Lack of natural light and poor ventilation can impact our health, so reach for appropriate footwear and head for the hills.
Whether you love the beach, or forests, reconnecting with nature allows us to relax and unwind. Scientists have suggested that time in nature lowers blood pressure, reduces pain, and strengthens the immune system. Furthermore, mental health charity mind advise that time in the great outdoors can be of great benefit to those with depression or anxiety; enhancing mood, boosting self-esteem, and reducing anger, tension, and confusion.
4. Spend time with colleagues
Work can often feel lonely. Those who work in offices tend to be confined to a desk, or plugged into their computer screens via headphones. Aside from the tea run, I often don’t talk to my colleagues for hours! Isolation can be a gut-wrenching feeling as humans are naturally social creatures.
Granted, colleagues can sometimes be the source of our exasperation, but connecting with them can also brighten your day. Taking time out of your day to ask about their weekend plans, or chatting over lunch can help work related stresses ebb away.
If you want to go one better, get the entire gang together on a bonding expedition. Depending on your preferences as a group, pop for drinks on a Friday evening, sign up for a charity marathon, or hold a quiz night. Getting to know your colleagues better and striking friendships can be a great comfort if work is getting you down.
“To get the full value of joy you must have someone to divide it with.” – Mark Twain
5. Remind yourself of the bigger picture
Often workplaces ring with sighs of ‘at least we are getting paid’. Money quite often trumps true love for the job, but often we lose sight of what our earnings provide us with. Remembering why you go to work can be a source of motivation for some.
Are you saving for your first home? Paying for your children to go to a fantastic school? Or helping a family member who is in financial difficulty? If you ever find yourself miserable at work, remind yourself why you are there. The money you earn is for your hopes and dreams.