10 Ways to Love Your Job (5 Easier and 5 Harder)
5 Easier Ways to Love Your Job
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WAKE UP AND PLAY THIS SONG!
We all know that the messaging we feed ourselves (from our outside world or our inside talk) contributes to our mindset and attitude. So much of what we hear and tell ourselves is negative and destructive. Give yourself some positive energy - remember vacation isn't about sitting on a beach drinking a margarita - it's about the attitude you have. Maybe that is happy and low stress. Maybe it is fast pace and active. Those feelings are not just reserved for your trip once a year. Integrate that feeling into your day-to-day. Kick each day off with something upbeat that is reminding you of how you want to show up! Zach (my husband) and I often play this song to jump start our day... which is at 5:00am!
PUT ON REAL WORK CLOTHES.
I know, I know - you work from home and every day you throw on leggings and a tee-shirt. You have no idea where those black pumps are but you know exactly where to find your favorite pair of fuzzy socks. I am ALL about being cozy (here is a picture of me loving being in my favorite onesie!), however, cozy clothes do something for us - they help us relax and get cozy. There is a very different feeling that happens when we put on a pair of real pants, a structured shirt, and makeup (if that is your thing). If you find yourself feeling lethargic every day, try putting on some real clothes. I promise - you will feel better about everything!
CREATE A SPACE THAT SUPPORTS YOUR SUCCESS.
If you have your Insights profile - look at your "ideal environment" page (if you don't have one and want it - contact us!). Some of these will be tangible, some of these will be more intangible. Figure out which ones you can incorporate. Are you working from home? How can you create a home office that is motivating and comfortable? This might mean you need to purchase a few things or ask your family to adjust how they use certain space. It was one thing to hover at your kitchen counter at the beginning of 2020 when no one knew what was going on or how long your remote experience would last. It is another to do so years later. Find a work space. It might mean you need to adjust a space you have, move a couch, rework a guest room, empty a closet, purchase a shelf, etc. Here are some ideas to get you thinking: Real Homes ideas. Idea Home ideas. The Spruce ideas.
Maybe your office has transitioned to hoteling and you don't have a designated space anymore. Don't let that negatively interrupt your productivity! Order yourself some fake succulent plants and carry them in your bag. When you set up for the day, arrange them on your desk.
Create your space to be an environment that you want to be in.
TURN OFF WORK.
If you are "always working" your mind and body never have a chance to relax and it builds resentment! Believe me... that to-do list will be there tomorrow! When you are done with work for the day, shut it down. If you are going to your kid's soccer game - fully be there, don't be physically there and on your phone. You end up missing the your kid's winning goal and blaming work for it when, in reality, you are the one who chose to not be present. It is easy to default to work.
CELEBRATE YOUR WINS.
Seriously answer this question:
What is one win from this past week?
It can be something small (you submitted a report ahead of schedule) or something huge (you received positive feedback from a prospective client). Recognizing what you is going well is helpful in a world where we often focus on the things all the things that are failing. It is easy to focus on the negatives. Be intentional and focus on some wins!
5 Harder Ways to Love Your Job
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ASK FOR WHAT YOU NEED.
Too often we assume that people know what we need. They do not. If you hear yourself saying, "I hope..." "I wish..." "I assume..." STOP! Take control and own it. If you need clarity on a task, ask for it! If you need feedback on your work, ask for it! If you need someone to be a sounding board (vs. telling you what to do), ask for it!
SET BOUNDARIES.
This is one of the hardest things to do, especially if we haven't been doing this previously. People will behave the way they are reinforced to behave. That means if you have a co-worker who takes up hours of your week to share office gossip, and you have always allowed it, you have been reinforcing that behavior. To set a boundary to see a different behavior takes hard work, often difficult conversations, and reinforcement. A boundary might be that you are unavailable during certain times so you can feed your kids dinner or tuck them into bed. A boundary might be that you are happy to help someone learn how to do something, but you cannot continue to do it for them. Setting boundaries means proactively deciding what you are and are not ok with and then communicating that shift to the people impacted. Work becomes a terrible experience when people are disrespecting your boundaries.
CHALLENGE YOURSELF.
Have you gotten complacent? It is easy to do. Give yourself a goal to work towards, a new skill to learn and apply, or a competition to win. We crave the ability to contribute. Find a way to contribute more! It sounds counterintuitive - if you are unhappy with work, dive in deeper! However, giving yourself a purpose and direction on a daily basis changes your focus.
APPRECIATE OTHERS.
Most people are unhappy with work because they feel under-appreciated. Look around - if you are feeling under-appreciated, so are others. If you can start to recognize the contributions of others attitudes start to shift and that ends up positively impacting you.
EAT, SLEEP, MOVE, AND HYDRATE.
The things that are the most fundamental to life are typically the hardest to implement. Make sure you are eating whole foods, getting quality sleep, moving your body, and drinking plenty of water. These four easy things are game changers when it comes to our mood, our outlook, and our attitude. We will approach things differently and perform at a higher level when we are well fed, well rested, hydrated, and active.
