I love my job, but I know to many people work is a real drag. (past blog on Learned Optimism) Some days at work are easier to enjoy than others. Friday morning is usually at least 5 times more enjoyable than Monday morning, for example. Some days, it’s easy for 8 hours to go by and not notice. Other days, each minute ticking by seems to take an hour. There will always be ups and downs at work day by day, week by week, and month by month. But there are some small things we can do to help make the down days not quite so bad.
1. Decide to enjoy work: It may sound cheesy, but a positive attitude can have a huge effect on how much we enjoy our work. If we sit there thinking “I’m bored,” “I hate my job,” or “Is it time to go home yet?” the days will drag by, we’ll be less productive, we’ll go home and continue to complain about work, and we’ll wake up the next morning and go through the same thing all over again. So why not make a mental effort to change our attitude and think positively about our work? With that decision made, we can stop watching the clock, we may have something nice to say when we go home, and we wake up expecting better results in the morning.
2. Challenge yourself: I have news for you, you don’t work for someone else – everyone works for themselves. Most people sit around waiting for someone to tell them what to do but you don’t have to settle for “good enough” in your work. Of course we’ll be bored with just doing enough to get by and not get into trouble with our boss. If we meet just meet our quota, or just make a deadline…sure, we passed. But why not set some higher goals for ourselves? Why not push our abilities and try to do more and do better. Nobody is going to complain if you get a project done ahead of schedule, or do a little extra business. Set up some weekly or monthly goals and push yourself to achieve them; I’d call that exciting, not boring.
3. Be a people person: Some of us are forced to work with people. Some of us avoid people altogether. But people are what make life so interesting. Spend some time getting to know your co workers. You spend a good chunk of time with them, so why not try to get to know them as actual people with real interests? This can give you something to think about and talk about other than work. Who knows, you might make a friend!
4. Have a sense of humor: No matter where we work, there is something to laugh at. Spend some time observing your workplace and the people around you. People do some hilarious things when they think no one is watching. You don’t have to spread rumors or gossip with what you see, just keep it to yourself. Laughter can lighten almost any mood.
5. Make a comfortable work space: This is especially important if you’re sitting at a desk all day. Maybe this would involve actually organizing your workspace (strange concept, I know). Maybe it means getting a new chair with lumbar support so your back doesn’t ache. Maybe take your shoes off (be careful with this one) and relaxing. If you’re outside, maybe try to find some shade in the summer, or a heater in the winter. If your body is uncomfortable, it’s hard to feel positive about work.
6. Have an adventure!: Don’t get stuck in a rut! Try some new things. Don’t go overboard and completely overwhelm yourself, but take it one thing at a time. You might dislike some things, but you may find something you truly enjoy doing. Maybe brainstorm about a project you would really enjoy, take the initiative, and propose the project to your employer. Who knows what could happen?
7. Ask for feedback: A lot of us get reviews during the year, where we are told what we did well and what we need to work on. You don’t have to wait for these dreaded reviews. Actively pursue feedback, especially positive feedback. Ask your employer for a short one on one meeting; positive feedback almost automatically makes us feel better about ourselves and our work.
8. Play Music: If your company allows it, play some music in your workspace. Make sure it’s appropriate and not loud or distracting, but check what your company policies are and go for it. Most of us enjoy some tunes whenever we can get them.
9. Socialize outside of work: Most of us live two separate lives: Work and home. They are completely cut off from one another. If work interferes with home, our families get upset. If home interferes with work, our employer gets upset. Why not bring the two a little bit closer, and ask some coworkers out to dinner some night? If you become friends with those you work with, it can make work a lot more enjoyable. You’ll have someone to go to lunch with be able to talk about something other than work.
10. Have fun!: If you’re comfortable with where you work, and develop relationships with coworkers, work can be a lot more enjoyable. So have fun; inside office jokes, funny (appropriate) stories, just something that isn’t work can really help the way you feel about your work. Why not actually have fun at the place where you spend so much of your time?
DC
