Enjoy Work (Yes, it’s Possible!):
Six Tips to a Happier Workday Even if You Don’t Love Your Job by www.Sedona.com More than half of Americans – including over 55 percent of 45- to 54-year-olds and more than 60 percent of those 25 and under – are not satisfied with their jobs, according to a report by the Conference Board. Americans’ unhappiness with their jobs has been growing steadily, in fact, for about two decades, and now most say they are not content with their workload, work/life balance, communication channels and potential for growth, among other things. What’s Causing All This Unhappiness at Work? In 1987, 61 percent of Americans said they were satisfied with their jobs. Was it that work was somehow just better back then, or could it be something else that’s causing the shift? Interestingly, according to Hale Dwoskin, CEO and director of training of Sedona Training Associates, it is always more than just the job that’s contributing to our unhappiness. “If you are holding onto a job that you do not enjoy, it is never just the job. We are always contributing to or creating our own unhappiness,” he says. Perhaps this is partly because going to a job you don’t like may bring up feelings of dread. Or maybe you procrastinate on your work assignments because you don’t enjoy them, leading to unnecessary stress. You may also have a hard time seeing the positive aspects of your job because you are so focused on the negatives. If any of these things apply to you, learning to let go of your negative feelings with The Sedona Method, a simple, do-it-yourself technique, will likely help. Meanwhile, check out the additional tips below to help you enjoy work. How to Enjoy Work More “First and foremost, decide if you would like to keep the job or move on,” Dwoskin says. There are times, such as if you are working in an emotionally hostile environment, when you may be better of looking elsewhere. Just remember to let go of the negative emotions you associate with the old job before you get a new one. “If you decide to leave,” Dwoskin continues, “it is important to let go of wanting to change what you do not like about your current job. If you don’t, you are likely to simply create the same problems again at a new job.” If you decide to stick it out at your current job, however, use the tips below to enjoy work and create a happier life: 1. Stop wanting to change your job. Use The Sedona Method to let go of the feeling that you must change things at your job, and you will find a much more peaceful, relaxed and enjoyable existence 2. Express gratitude for what’s good about your job. Do you get vacation days, a holiday bonus, or flexible hours? Do you like your co-workers? Give thanks for it! 3. Be flexible. Rather than resisting change at your company, embrace new challenges. 4. Share ideas and concerns with your manager to boost your sense of autonomy (and also possibly improve your chances of a promotion). 5. Focus on the big picture. Does your job help people learn? Create beautiful flower arrangements? Develop software to make people’s lives easier? Identify the difference your job is making and keep it in mind as you work. 6. Work with your colleagues. Establishing a sense of camaraderie at work makes the day go by faster and is much more fun! Get to know your co-workers, laugh with them, and work as a team to get things done.
Source
The Conference Board
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