Does your current career path suit your current workplace? Do you still find satisfaction and meaning in your career despite the harsh realities in some workplaces today? If the answers to these questions are no then there is a need for reconsideration, but if they are yes then you have less to worry about.
Finding meaning and satisfaction at work are very vital, but why is it so important though? Since so much of our time is spent either at work, traveling to and from work, or thinking about work, it unavoidably plays a huge role in our lives. If you feel unsatisfied or bored with how you spend large parts of your day, it can take a serious toll on your mental and physical health. You may feel burned out and frustrated, depressed, anxious, or unable to enjoy time at home knowing that another workday lies ahead. Having to concentrate at work for long periods on tasks you find repetitive, mundane, or unsatisfying can cause high levels of stress. What’s more, if you do not find your work meaningful and satisfying? It then becomes hard to generate the effort and enthusiasm necessary to progress in your job or career. This is why it is so important that we find meaning and satisfaction in our workplace.
So how do you gain meaning and satisfaction in your workplace, more so, how do you find that balance between your career path and the realities of the work place?
Primarily, when it comes to finding balance and satisfaction at work, you have two options:
- You can choose or change careers to something that you love and are passionate about to another workplace
Or:
- You can find purpose and joy in a job that you do not love.
It is however important we state that not everyone would need to change careers or workplace to find that spark, some people can still find meaning and satisfaction in their current jobs despite the harsh realities such jobs presents, it all boils down to understanding what your career needs at the moment.
This article would be incomplete without some practical tips to help you find meaning, satisfaction and rekindle a spark for your career in your workplace.
Here are some tips:
- Try to find some value in your role.
- Find balance in your life.
- Volunteer at work and outside of work.
- Do not limit yourself to just your experience at work.
- Use your accomplishments as a reminder that you can do better but do not dwell on them.
- Brainstorm with trusted friends, colleagues and mentors.
- Take extra courses to broaden your knowledge.
- Pace yourself and do not take on too much at once.
- Consistently research.
- Take time to take care of yourself.
Our career paths do not have to take a downslide simply because of the realities of our workplace, we must constantly remind ourselves that the choice to make or mare our careers remains with us, therefore, its either you are switching things up at your current job or you are changing careers and workplace, you must keep advancing in your chosen path.