6 Ways to Love Your Work (even when you don't)

The other day I experienced a beautiful moment of serenity at work, and it felt both reassuring and energizing.  I just love those moments. Then I realized it had been a while since I’d spontaneously had that feeling at work, and it made me very curious:  Why don’t I have access to feelings of serenity at work more often? I love what I do for a living.
 
As it turns out, even when you love your job, this is normal.  There will always be aspects of any role that don’t contribute to your serenity, but that doesn’t always mean your work is negatively impacting your well-being.  There are the parts of all jobs that require focus, concentration and have an element of risk associated with them that increases your stress level.  Like learning something new through making a mistake or having to do something you don’t enjoy (but need to do well, like having a difficult conversation with your boss to keep your work/life boundaries sacred).   
 
It’s very much an 80/20 rule when it comes to work enjoyment; if 80% of the job challenges you (in a good way) and makes you feel achievement and/or contentment, you are doing well.  The other 20%?  That is the “normal” amount of stress and bother you can expect in any job (even your dream job).  
 
Right now, you may feel your job is more than 20% stress and bother, and you may be right.  Looking into what is working in your role today, and what is not, is very important because both you and your job are evolving, which means something that gave you contentment in the past might just be a giant pain in your butt today (and part of the 20%).
 
The 80% is what can lift you out of a spiral of stress and discontentment when you do have a great fit with your work and organization.  And if you know you are not in the right job, or working for the right employer, it’s the part you need to plan for in any future career moves you want to make.
 
Whether your job is 80/20, or more like 40/60 right now, there are some things you can do to enjoy more of what’s there to love, helping you to have more of those moments of serenity at work (or get through today while you look for what’s next).

• Let your work touch you.  Whether you enjoy what you are doing immensely, or not at all, you are likely “in it to win it”, meaning you show up and give it your best.  That also means your work has value. How does your work make a difference?  Even if your boss can’t see it, someone is benefitting from what you do (why else would you be getting paid to do this work?).  Let your work touch you – you both have value.
• Think big picture.  Whether you enjoy what you do today or not, all the expertise and experience you gain in a role, from task-oriented items to growing insight in an industry, supports your career.  What is this work giving you that you can leverage in future roles (either at this organization or the next)?  Take comfort that the time you spend in the workforce is like equity in a home, it grows and is there to use in new and different ways.  
• Invest in you.  Continuing with the “career as home equity” example, just as investing in improvements to your home increases its value, growing your skills through professional development is also a great way to make yourself more marketable and opens new opportunities that bring on career satisfaction.  Whether your employer will support your professional development, or you are paying for it yourself, when it furthers your professional expertise, you’ll see a strong return on your investment (and that lends itself to a lot of serenity).   
• Tweak your environment. Many people make do with their working environment, but it is something that can cause low-grade dissatisfaction each day (you’re there 8-10 hours a day, your desk should be a nice place to spend time). From tidying it up, to getting an ergonomic assessment done to ensure your being kind to your body, there is much here you can do to make sure this environment reminds you how valuable you are.
• Find a work friend, mentor, or a coach.  Work friends, mentors and coaches are very different things, but all can have a positive impact on your working life, providing insight and objectivity that empower you to make the best decisions for your work and career.  Whether you are looking for support to change jobs, or just someone with whom you can spit ball ideas, having professional connections that empower you at work creates a lot more enjoyment throughout the workday.
• Non-toxic gratitude.  Bet you didn’t know there was such a thing as toxic gratitude – it’s when you “should” feel thankful for something, but it only makes you feel like a bad human because you’re not.  Life is hard and there are going to be days when you just don’t have it in you to be grateful for something.  Look for the little things that matter, like the crayoned note from your kids, or the sunlight in the window.  Give yourself permission to enjoy this moment and just breathe.  Put all your cares and worries down for a few minutes and get back in touch with yourself.  Even a few minutes will do more than you know to re-fuel you at work and make being there a better experience (on a good day or a bad one).

 
Serenity is always there as a baseline for you, but only when you can acknowledge the effort you put into your work matters to you.  It’s up to each of us to clear a path to feel more of those serene moments in our work, not all the time, but more consistently.

Trouble letting your work touch you?  I have just what you need so your work gives back more than it takes.

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