Love Your Job Again

​Do you remember the exact moment you landed your current job? What a score! It’s generally a moment of victory, pride, and validation. Remember the butterflies of excitement you had on your first day? Everything was new and exciting – and you couldn’t wait to get stuck in and make a difference.

Now think of another moment when you felt a lot less euphoric. You’re feeling a bit stuck or unmotivated – what happened? That job that was once fresh and inspiring is now another stressor in your life. Without really noticing it, your exciting new job has undergone a metamorphosis. Now it feels like an obligation.

Sometimes there is a right time to move on from a job. However, often the biggest difference between the first exciting day of work and the “first day of dread” is your point of view.

To love your job you need to understand why and how you do it in the first place. Think about what exactly you do every day, about the results you achieve. Think about your team and colleagues, and your appreciation for them.

Sometimes, all you need is a small change or reminder to feel enthusiastic about your job again. We have put together four tips that can help you shift your viewpoint and reignite the passion you once had for your job and career.

Learn something new

Sometimes the best way to revive our love of a subject is to expand our learning. If you have been doing the same tasks for the past number of years, it is very possible you are simply bored and uninspired. This boredom may lead to unproductivity and a feeling of insignificance. If you’re at this stage in your career it’s now time to challenge yourself by learning something new and exciting, something that interests you.

Volunteer to take on new responsibilities. Partake in a course to advance your skills. Go to professional development seminars. Have a chat with your manager and ask for a new challenge or more demanding tasks. Just make sure whatever you decide to do, that it’s interesting to you. By mastering and learning new skills, you open yourself up to new career paths and opportunities.

Even if you’re an expert in your industry, there’s always something new to learn. Push yourself into the darkness of uncharted territory to become a beginner again. Take charge of your own development and aspire to have an enjoyable job that you are great at. Boredom will never help you love your job, but being excited about something new will.

Share your wisdom with others

If you’ve been in your job for a while, you have probably gained some specialized skills and knowledge. What you do probably comes easily to you now. So, consider sharing and teaching these skills with a teammate. By doing this, you solidify your knowledge and give yourself a more positive awareness of the work you are currently doing, while helping others enhance their skills.

You could also become a mentor to a new team member or an intern. Being a mentor can be immensely fulfilling and you can help and guide someone with their career goals and ambitions. Your brain will thank you too. Selfless acts like this lead to the production of dopamine, a neurotransmitter that helps control the brain’s reward and pleasure centres – giving you “The Helper's High” or a “Giver's Glow”.

Furthermore, mentoring can also remind you of your accomplishments and provide structure to what you have learned at your current job. So it’s a win, win really.

Communicate

Don’t wait for your exit interview to mention all the things you wish you had been offered in your role – instead, ask for them. Every good manager wants their reports to like their jobs, but they can’t read minds.

Sit down with your manager and chat about your goals, interests, and ambitions. Make your case for change so you can love your job again. Is there a new project team you'd like to join? A new skill to learn? Is there a colleague with whom you would like to collaborate? Are you looking for a more flexible work schedule or a salary increase? Do you need more encouraging feedback? These are all subjects that are more than reasonable to chat to your manager about – particularly if you’re thinking of leaving your role. They’d rather you be upfront and transparent.

Approach your manager if you have any concerns, or present your ideas and suggestions with enthusiasm. Perhaps finding a new project to look forward to will reignite your love of your job. Have these conversations first instead of assuming your only option is to leave your job.

Take a break

Burnout is a real thing. It’s a form of exhaustion caused by constantly feeling swamped. Burnout leads to making more mistakes and the quality of our work decreases. If it gets out of control it will infiltrate every aspect of your life, unless you pay attention and take breaks when you need them.

Include regular breaks in your work-day schedule, take the strain off your eyes and rest your mind for a few minutes. Before moving on to your next task, don’t forget to take a minute to breathe. Go grab a cup of coffee or go for a walk. You will notice an instant rise in productivity, and your mind will also thank you for it.

Better yet, use your holiday days and take some well-earned time off work. Completely disconnect and give yourself time to think about something other than work. Relax and unwind.

Remember, you can never love your job if you feel like you are burnt out all the time. So take the time when you need it, and then you can go back to work full of enthusiasm and passion!

​No chance you’ll love your job again?

If you are to spend a significant part of your life at work, ensure that your role brings you some level of happiness. However, if you feel you have tried everything and you’re still not enjoying your current role, it might be time to look elsewhere. Don’t be afraid to make a change when it’s necessary to do so.

If you are thinking about changing jobs, our recruiters at Mason Alexander would be happy to help you find a job you’ll love!