Nato Lagidze
Have you recently found out that you just don’t enjoy your job anymore?
Let’s be real:
No one enjoys their job all the time, and that’s totally OK. Sometimes life throws us curve balls that leave us feeling stuck in a position we’re not happy in.
If this sounds like you, don’t worry because enjoying your job all the time is just not realistic.
However, what is realistic is that you can find ways to make your work life more tolerable and enjoyable. Surprisingly, there are many things that you can do right at your desk to make it better.
Read on for 10 ideas on how to make the most of your career – even if it’s not what you originally planned.
1) Find ways to balance work with other parts of your life
Have you ever wondered what the most common reason why people aren’t satisfied with their jobs is?
The answer is simple: it’s because we can’t find a balance between our work and private lives.
But why does this happen? Don’t we want to have fulfilling lives with our own personal goals and dreams?
Yes, we do. The problem is that it’s often hard to achieve these goals while also working full-time.
What people don’t realize is that there are many different aspects of our lives that need attention and care.
The result?
We don’t enjoy our jobs anymore. And this might also mean carving out time for hobbies outside of work.
People often feel that way because they have no time for the other things in their lives.
They work all day, have no time to exercise or eat a healthy diet, and then end up feeling like they don’t have any life outside of work.
If you find yourself in this situation, you’re not alone.
The reality is that most people don’t get enough sleep, exercise regularly, or eat healthy foods. This is a recipe for burnout and dissatisfaction with your job – even if it’s not something that you are specifically enjoying at the moment.
On top of that, if you are constantly getting into arguments with colleagues or superiors, it’ll be hard for both parties to get anything done without getting frustrated with each other.
It’s hard enough as it is trying to do your job well when you’re not on the same page as your coworkers.
But the good news is that you can find ways to have fulfilling work and still find time for other parts of your life.
So guess what?
You should try to find the balance between work and other parts of your life right now!
You may be surprised at how much it can help to have a balance between work and your personal life.
2) Learn how to communicate more effectively with others at work
Can I be totally honest with you?
One of the most common reasons employees quit their jobs is because of poor communication skills with coworkers and superiors.
They just can’t seem to get their point across in a way that makes them understood.
They don’t know how to communicate effectively with others and end up getting frustrated because they feel like they’re not being heard or understood.
So what? How does this have anything to do with work?
There’s no way around it: communication is one of the most important aspects of your job.
You’ll be able to get more done and make progress if you can actually express yourself clearly and concisely. You’ll also be able to work more effectively with others if you can tell them what you want from them and why it’s important to you.
And what’s more, you’ll be able to communicate more effectively with your boss and coworkers if you can communicate more effectively with them.
Sounds good?
And this will help both parties feel more comfortable and productive at work.
OK, I know what you’re thinking right now. “Will better communication make me feel more comfortable at work?”
Actually, yes! Why?
Because spending time talking to your co-workers and sharing your ideas with them will help you get to know them, and this, in turn, will improve your mood and satisfaction.
So, by knowing your co-workers, you will be able to perform better at your job and feel more comfortable at work.
3) Figure out what your purpose in life really is
This is a simple, yet a bit difficult, question to answer.
It’s hard to answer because people have different goals and objectives, and it’s also hard to explain your purpose in life without sounding like a self-centered jerk.
But if you think about it, you’ll realize that you might haven’t even have figured it out. what your purpose in life is yet.
And guess what?
This is because you’ve probably been so focused on your career goal that you haven’t had time to think about what’s really important to you.
And that’s why you can’t enjoy your job anymore.
But is there any way you can figure out your purpose in life?
To be honest, a month ago, if you’d asked me how to figure out your purpose in life, I would’ve felt confused. But since I found Justin Brown’s provocative video on how to discover your purpose, my entire perspective has changed.
After watching Ideapod co-founder Justin Brown’s video on the hidden trap of improving yourself, I found out that most of the self-help gurus I’ve been listening to lately were wrong.
No, you don’t need to use visualization and other self-help techniques in order to find your purpose in life.
Instead, he inspired me with a very simple way to discover my purpose.
So, if you’re feeling stuck in a rut and thinking that there’s no way out of it, you might be wrong!
In his free video, Justin shares an easy 3-step formula that will help you get out of a rut every single time you feel stuck in your job.
Surprisingly, all you need to do is to answer two simple questions and reflect on your answers in a unique way.
If you believe me, once you’re done, just like mine, your life will change for the better too!
4) Learn how to manage your time effectively at work
What is the most valuable resource that you, as a human, have in life?
Money? Your job? Healthy relationships?
The list could go on… But personally, for me, that resource is the time!
Believe it or not, time is one of the most valuable resources that we have as humans. And it’s also one of the most precious resources that we have as employees.
And you know what?
That’s why you need to make the most of it.
For this, you need to learn how to manage your time effectively at work (and I’m not talking about being lazy).
You need to learn how to effectively manage your time so that you can get more done in a day while still having time for other parts of your life (like spending quality time with friends or family).
And if you find ways to manage your time efficiently at work, chances are that you will start to enjoy your job more. And if you start to enjoy your job, chances are that you’ll be able to work more hours and get paid a better salary.
Why?
Because managing your time means that you’ll have more time for your personal life after work. You’ll be able to spend more quality time with your family and friends, go on a vacation, or even start a business.
So, if you want to stop feeling stuck in your job, then you need to learn how to manage your time effectively at work.
5) Look for new opportunities to learn new skills and meet new people
If there’s one thing that I’ve learned in my life, it’s that the more you look for new opportunities, the better you’ll feel about your life in general.
And this applies to your job too.
If you look for new opportunities to learn new skills and meet new people, then chances are that you’ll feel like you’re not stuck in your job, and you’ll be more eager to learn new things, meet new people, and explore new opportunities.
But how does this work exactly when you don’t enjoy your job anymore?
Let me explain.
When you’re in a job that you don’t enjoy anymore, it’s easy to feel like you’re out of chances in life and there’s nothing more to look forward to.
But that’s not true. In fact, there are always new opportunities that you can look forward to. And the best part is, they don’t require much effort!
Sometimes all you need to do is to look for these opportunities. Now you probably wonder, “But how do I do that? How do I find new opportunities that I can look forward to?”
I’m glad you asked.
And you’ll probably be surprised when you hear my answer.
The answer is simple. All you need to do is to meet new people. Why?
Because people are what make the world go round. And if you can meet new people and learn from them, then you’ll have more opportunities to learn new skills.
Think I’m exaggerating?
Well, actually, I’m not because new people always mean new opportunities.
You see, when you take up a new job or change jobs, chances are that you’ll meet a lot of new people who can help you grow as a person.
And if you learn from these people and get introduced to some amazing opportunities, then chances are that your career will also grow (and as a result of this growth in your career, so will your confidence).
And the more confident you feel about yourself and your work, the more likely it is that you’ll be able to deal with any kind of challenge that comes your way at work.
Believe me when I say this: You have the ability to make changes in your life for the better!
And this will help you feel like your life is going somewhere. You’ll feel motivated to do things that will make your life better, and you’ll be able to get more done in a day.
And when you feel like your life is going somewhere, chances are that you’ll start to enjoy your job more too.
6) Take a break from your job once in a while
If you’re stuck at work for long periods of time (more than a few hours), chances are that your mind will start to feel tired and numb (like having a mild case of the flu).
And this happens because the part of your brain that helps you feel energized has been used up all day long. The same thing happens when you use up all the energy in your body after working out at the gym.
But does taking a break really matter that much? Do you really need to take a break from your job in order to get energized again?
I think that the answer is yes. In fact, I think that taking a break is one of the most important things you can do if you want to feel energized at work.
Here’s why:
Your brain and your body are two separate entities. The more you work each day, the more tired they’ll become. And if you keep going without taking any breaks, then eventually your brain and body will shut down on you (like when your computer freezes up).
Now you might wonder when you should take a break.
Well, it depends on what kind of job you have and how long it takes for your brain/body to get tired.
If you’re stuck in a boring job where all you do is type numbers into a spreadsheet all day long (like an accountant or an analyst), then chances are that it won’t take very long for your brain/body to get tired.
But on the other hand, if you have a more interesting job that requires you to think a lot (like a web designer), then it will probably take longer for your brain/body to get tired.
But whatever your situation is, taking breaks from time to time will definitely help you feel energized.
The result?
You will eventually start to recognize great things about your job and you will start to feel more connected with your work.
7) Give yourself a dedicated amount of time each day
Let me ask you a question.
When was the last time you took time to yourself?
I mean, you could say that you take time for yourself every day. But I’m talking about a specific amount of time that you set aside for yourself every single day.
And I’m not just talking about half an hour or so either. I mean, I’m talking about an amount of time that’s long enough for you to really invest in yourself and in your growth as a person.
For me, this is at least an hour. I set aside an hour for myself every day and this is the best way to make sure that I don’t get too caught up in the things going on around me and also to make sure that my mind stays clear and relaxed throughout the day.
Because if my mind isn’t at ease, then it becomes very hard for me to perform at my best and also to think clearly about whatever is going on in my life.
But a lot of people don’t do this because they’re too busy with their jobs or with other things going on in their lives. They think that it’s impossible for them to set aside an hour a day for themselves.
But that’s not true at all. If you want to make sure that you have time for yourself every day, then you need to start making time for yourself every day.
The best way to do this is to get up an hour earlier and then use this time as your own. Then, you can use this hour however you like (as long as it doesn’t hurt anyone else).
How will it help your job dissatisfaction?
Well, for one thing, it will keep you relaxed and clear-headed throughout the day. And this will make it easier for you to handle whatever is going on around you and also to be more productive at work.
But beyond that, it will also help you discover yourself as a person. And this is important because if you don’t know who you are as a person, then it becomes very hard for you to know what your purpose in life is or what your true calling in life is.
And when that happens, then it becomes very hard for you to live a happy and fulfilling life. You’ll always feel like something is missing from your life, even though there’s nothing actually wrong with it. You just won’t be able to put your finger on exactly what is missing from your life.
So what can you do to live a more fulfilling life?
Begin with yourself. Stop looking for external solutions to your problems. Deep down inside, you know this is not working.
And in order to feel satisfied, you need to look within yourself and unleash your personal power.
I learned this from the shaman, Rudá Iandê. His life mission is to help people restore balance to their lives and unlock their creativity and potential. He has an incredible approach that combines ancient shamanic techniques with a modern-day twist.
In his excellent free video, Rudá explains effective methods to become more satisfied with your job, social relationships, or living situation.
So if you want to feel better about your work life, unlock your endless potential, and put passion at the heart of everything you do, start now by checking out his genuine advice.
Here’s a link to the free video again.
8) Invest in yourself
Want to know a secret?
A great way to make things better at work is to invest in yourself. Why?
Because taking time out to invest in yourself is always an investment in your future.
And when you invest in yourself, you’re investing in your future. And the more you invest in yourself, the better your chances of success will be.
And do you know how success and job satisfaction are related?
Well, when you feel successful and you feel like whatever you do is worth doing, then chances are that you’ll also be satisfied with your job.
So, if you want to enjoy your job, then you need to invest in yourself.
You can do this by reading up on different topics, learning new skills, or taking a course.
In either case, the best part about investing in yourself is that it’s completely within your control. You don’t have to be stuck in a job you hate just because you want to look good for the boss. The only person who can determine what level of success you reach is you.
But how does this work exactly? How does investing in yourself make it easier for you to enjoy your job?
Let me explain.
A lot of people make the mistake of thinking that they’re stuck in their current jobs. They think that there’s nothing they can do about their situation at work because they’ve already tried everything else possible. But that’s not true at all.
The truth is that you can always do something to improve your situation at work. And the more you invest in yourself, the more ways you’ll find to make things better at work.
So what kinds of things should you invest in?
Well, there are a ton of things that you can invest in!
The first thing that I’d say is to learn a new skill or two. A lot of people don’t realize this but learning new skills is one of the best ways to make life better at work (and it’s also a great way to make life more interesting!).
But also, you can invest in your health, your relationships, and your personal development.
So, try to figure out what you need to invest in and then do it. If you want things to get better at work, then you need to start investing in yourself.
And once you do that, I guarantee that things will start improving for you.
9) Brainstorm what makes you happy and take steps towards that
A lot of people spend a lot of their time thinking about what they don’t want. They think about what they hate in their lives and their jobs, and this makes them unhappy.
But it doesn’t have to be like this!
Instead, you should be aware of everything that makes you happy and work towards that.
Why am I saying this?
Because the fact that you don’t enjoy your job anymore may be due to the fact that you’ve been doing the same thing for a long time. You may have gotten stuck in a rut and now you’re not happy, but that doesn’t have to be the case.
You can always find something new to work towards and something new to focus on.
For example, if you don’t like your job and you don’t like your boss, then maybe it’s time for you to start looking for a new job!
That may sound scary at first, but it’s really not that bad. And if you do it right, then you’ll find a much better job (and one that makes you happier).
But if you don’t want to change your job, you can be wherever you are, but still, find ways to enjoy your life more.
Remember that you don’t have to be stuck in a job you hate, and there are always things you can do to make things better.
What makes me happy is when I’m able to use my skills in a way that helps people. I love being able to help people with their problems and I love being able to share my knowledge with others. And it’s the same for everyone else too!
So, take out a piece of paper, or open up Word, or whatever you use for writing, and write down everything that makes you happy. Make a list of things that make you feel good, things that make you laugh, things that are worth living for… everything!
Then go over the list again and again until it becomes clear to you why these things make you happy. And then ask yourself if there’s anything on the list that’s missing from your current job or life. Is there anything that you’d like to add? Is there anything that would make your life more enjoyable?
If so, take the first step towards it. Start working towards your goals and dreams today!
This is an easy way to start creating happiness in your life, and the more happiness you create, the better things will be at work.
10) Spend time with people who are positive and encourage you
Sometimes, when you’re stuck in a job that you hate, it’s easy to get negative and feel sorry for yourself.
But did you know that being around negative people can make you feel even worse about yourself?
Actually, that’s not too hard to believe. If you’re around someone who’s always complaining about how bad their life is and how much they hate their job, then it’s not hard to see why you’d feel a bit down as well.
But the good news is that there’s an easy way to avoid this.
And that’s by spending time with positive people who encourage you and make you feel good about yourself!
If you want to start creating a better attitude at work, then one of the best things that you can do is start spending more time around people who make you feel good about yourself.
Spend more time with your friends, family, loved ones… anyone who makes you smile and feel happy. Those are the people that will help you overcome whatever negativity is holding you back.
Remember: it’s much better to spend time with people who are positive and make you feel good about yourself and your life.
Find friends who are happy with their lives and who encourage you to be happy too!
You’ll find that it’s much easier to be positive when you’re around positive people. And this will help make your job more enjoyable as well!
The next time you’re feeling down, go hang out with some friends or family members who will cheer you up and make things seem okay again. You’ll find that this works much better than spending time alone thinking about how miserable your life is!
Final thoughts
All in all, if you’re in a job that you hate and you want to find a way to make things better, then the first thing that you need to do is start taking action!
In a world where people change jobs frequently, it’s important to be mindful of your happiness at work. But sometimes it can feel impossible to find fulfillment in a role — especially if you’re not sure what you want to do next.
Still, there are ways to find happiness again despite your circumstances and make your current position more tolerable.
So, try to take constructive action, and once you do this, then it will be much, much easier for things to improve. And once your attitude at work starts improving, then it’s not difficult at all for everything else in your life to improve as well!
