Falling in Love with Your Job Again
Picture this: You get a job you love. You are full of ideas and ready to conquer the world, or at least the workplace. You start strong with some new programs or initiatives, you bring in new people and create new connections, you get recognition for the great things you are doing, and you think “This is the best!”And then one day you look around and think to yourself “What am I even doing?”
Don’t worry! We’ve all been there. It’s so easy to get stuck in that professional rut where things are running smoothly and you are bored, or you’ve given 110% for so long you’ve burned out, or you just don’t know what direction you should go next. But you don’t have to stay there! Reinvigorate your love for your job by trying these 3 things:
List Your Priorities: This may seem simple, but it can be so helpful! So often when we get lost in the day-to-day of our jobs we get so into auto-pilot that our focus shifts from why we are doing this job and why it is important, to simply going through the motions. When that switch happens, it is easy for us to become bored and unhappy with our situation. So take a few minutes and think about why your job is important. What parts of your work are you passionate about? What do YOU want to accomplish in your position? Then evaluate if your day-to-day work is really lining up with your priorities. Am I saying stop doing anything you don’t love? No. Unfortunately, there will always be parts of any job that you don’t love. But consider if there are parts of your job that you can modify! Is your passion for creating involved and relatable programs for teens but you are at capacity and don’t feel you can take on another program? Consider if you can stop a program that isn’t as well attended or may have worn out its welcome in favor of creating that new program you’ve been dreaming up!
Set Some Goals: I know, I know. You probably already have a list of goals for your annual review or as a department, etc. etc. that you are working toward. “I don’t need any more goals, I’ve got that down” you think. But hear me out! Get a post-it note and write down 3 manageable goals you can complete this week. Maybe it’s evaluating your programs to see which one might be ready to be refreshed. Maybe it is finishing the policies you have on your list to review.
It is so common for people to feel disheartened or exasperated when the only goals you are looking at are long-term goals. That exasperation turns into frustration which turns into discontent with your job. So set yourself up for success. Come up with 3 goals you want to work toward and complete in a set period of time, no more than 30 days. Each time you cross out a goal, celebrate a little bit! Eat that piece of chocolate from your desk or stop and get that new book on your way home, you’ve earned it!
Keep this up and stretch yourself little by little. Maybe next month it is 4 goals, then 2 big goals broken down into steps. Whatever you choose to do, keep it manageable. When you can complete and cross off those manageable goals, it keeps you energized and invested working toward the big goals!
Take a Break!: I will stand on a soap box until my dying day advocating for you to take some dedicated time off work to rest and recharge! So many people push themselves and only take those vacation days to rest and recharge when they are burned out and just can’t handle any more. Don’t get to that point! Schedule yourself regular breaks in your calendar. Vacations where you don’t have to go anywhere or do anything but can spend some time detaching from work and resting. Whatever resting looks like to you! Keeping yourself on at the top of your game and out of that professional rut requires taking self-care seriously. So just do it!
Do you have a tried-and-true way for keeping yourself from falling into monotony with your job? Let me know in the comments!
