It all started great.

Perfect job. Great boss.  Fab colleagues.  Interesting work.

Then, things changed.  Your organization was bought out, or evolved.  Your boss moved up or on.  Valued colleagues drifted off the team.

The only constant is change; here are three strategies to consider when you think it may be time for a change in your career.

1. It’s important to acknowledge what is still working for you at work, and getting crystal clear on what is not. Change is uncomfortable for everyone; what’s important is to check in and see what is there for you and then decide if you want to work with your current employer to address the gaps, or start job shopping.
   
   
2. Be industry and market aware; it helps to be more objective about your current role when you know what different employers and roles in your profession have to offer.  As an example, if many employers in your area are freezing salaries because of economic pressure, leaving your current role because of a salary freeze might be short-sighted. 
   
   
3. Start looking at job postings via LinkedIn or a popular job board. Is there something that looks as if it would be better for your career right now? If so, and you’re qualified, apply and see if the employer responds. If you don't get the response you were hoping for, it can help identify development opportunities for you to work on, giving you time to prepare for a brighter future from the security of the job you have today.

Sometimes, when you talk to others (network contacts, mentors, etc.) about what may seem like better opportunities, you come to the realization you're actually in the best place for you right now.  

Or, you learn about fantastic career options in your area of expertise.

Whatever possibilities await you, go into this with curiosity and discernment.

It’s not healthy working for an organization you don’t believe in, but take the time you need to get professional advice, and make a strong career decision, or you risk ending up some place even less desirable.

There is a very fine line between being comfortable at work (secure in your expertise, wielding it with precision) and being uninspired by the sameness of it all.  

Boredom happens in every job, it’s a product of predictability and repetitiveness, which also happen to be two key things that can make work less stressful – it’s a balancing act.  

So, while you are waiting for that next challenging assignment to come through, or to help you through a slog of mundane work (we’re talking to you, COVID back-log) here are three ways to beat the boredom blues, making your work stand out in all the right ways:

1. Tune-up to tune into focus work.  Music makes a difference, particularly when you have work that requires your undivided attention (but may not be the most exciting assignment in the world).  Create your own playlist, or use one from a service (like Spotify or iTunes).  Worried you’ll tune out?  Most services have an excellent selection of various “focus” playlists offering smooth instrumentals (from classical to new age) so you can find the perfect soundscape to move through your work with accuracy, leaving your wellbeing (and your career) intact.
   
   
2. Segment for success.  While it may be tempting to power through a dreary task just to get it done, that is not the path to success, or accuracy.  Doing work (especially focus work) in 1-hour batches and then taking a movement break (or switching to more engaging work for a while) helps your consistency and precision.  This way the work gets done on-time with intention and quality so you look good (and keeps your head in the game at work).
   
   
3. Dangle a juicy carrot.  Rewards work!  What will you do to celebrate when this piece of work is complete?  Even if it is work you are going to have to do again next quarter (or next month/next week), celebrating when you finish strong can motivate you to keep going and to do so with a supportive attitude that keeps your energy levels stable.  Whether it is an indulgent seasonal beverage, or a copy of your favourite magazine, making this a ritual gives you something to look forward to… you know, after the work is done.
   

While there will always be an aspect of every role that is boring, make sure to keep an open mind and open dialog with your manger so they know what types of work interest and challenge you.  

When your boss knows what types of problems you like to solve, you’ll find more of that work gets on your desk, making you relevant and enriching your career.

When you keep yourself engaged, you show-up at work in positive and noticeable ways, empowering others to trust your work. 

If you've read my story, you'll know early in my career I was a huge fan of hard work. It got me to a lot of places in my career.  That said, it wasn't great for my well-being (as a guiding principle it's not good for anyone's well-being). Hard work has an up-side, you get many things done with a "rush" from accomplishment (whether it is clearing off your "to do" list, or completing a project), but interestingly it is not something that proportionately contributes to being successful.  What I mean by that is, hard work alone will not get you to all the amazing and fulfilling places you could go in your career and life.  

It's not difficult to see how working so hard you cannot enjoy yourself puts you further away from success (however you define it).  Yet, it’s easy to get caught-up in the relentless pursuit of “getting things done” (or maintaining the status-quo), without consideration to what are you trading away in life so you can feel “complete” at work.  Put a different way, music is enjoyable to hear not just because of the notes, but because of the rests in between.  When you cram all your waking hours with work it’s like a toddler incessantly banging piano keys; that is not music. It is an assault on the senses.  How badly do you want to make it stop?  

Perseverance (AKA hard work) is not the same as resilience.  Maya Angelou said “I can be changed by what happens to me.  But I refuse to be reduced by it”.  My wake-up call came when I realized the cost of hard work to my health, well-being, and the many ways un-checked effort reduced me.  I wasn’t living, I was working, and truthfully it was easier to bury myself in work then to become accountable for living to my life’s true potential.  Success is measured not by hard work, but the impact and outcomes of your efforts.  Meaningful contributions. Restorative time for yourself.  Connection to family and friends.

What “music” are you making in your life?