Your Monday blahs are getting worse and worse. You dread going to work. It’s boring. You need more than coffee to keep you energized. You’re downing Red Bulls at 10:30 and 5-Hour energy boosters at 2:30. You’re spending hours surfing the net at work. Your co-workers and even the boss are beginning to notice the signs. You’re not getting enough satisfaction out of your job. Something has to change or you’ll soon find yourself unemployed. What to do? Some suggestions:
Advice from the Mayo Clinic
The Mayo Clinic staff has some pretty good ideas on how to boost your job enthusiasm. Here’s what they recommend:
Take on a challenging project. Start with something small, like organizing your workspace or files. It’s a great way to regain a sense of control and the finished product will boost your confidence and job satisfaction.
Take on a mentor role. If you can do your work blindfolded and it’s becoming boring, mentor a colleague or an intern. You’ll feel less like a drone and more like an expert and realize the importance of what you’re doing.
Take on a new skill. Attend a company training class. You’ll learn something new, and meet new people who may be able to reinvigorate your enthusiasm for the job.
Take on a positive attitude. Don’t let negative thoughts cancel out the good you’re doing for yourself, your company and the fact that you are gainfully employed when so many are jobless.
Take up a hobby. Jobs aren’t perfect. By their very nature, many require a routine, a set of repetitive procedures. Take your breaks and lunch hour to find passions and activities that will light your fire after work. If you have an after work or weekend activity goal, your job will become less tiresome and viewed as a means (paycheck) to an end (your true passion or hobby).
Get a little help from your friends. Being more social can help take the edge off a boring job. A 2007 study by Nattavudh Powdthavee revealed that meeting regularly with friends, relatives and neighbors had the same effect on one’s happiness as a large increase in salary. So make more friends at work. And get together more often with friends and family.
Take a personality test. Another thing to remember is that if you’re a hard worker, your company will want to make sure you’re satisfied in your job. According to Dr. Paul L. Gerhardt's Leadership Lessons Blog, many organizations are so eager to keep good workers that they pay to assess their employees' personalities. These include such personality assessments as DiSC and Myers-Briggs, which can help you understand the jobs that match your personality type. Based on the results of your test, your employer may decide to move you to another group or assign you a different set of tasks.
Bored with your job? Take action to reverse the boredom and move past it to things that you find rewarding.
Image courtesy of David Castillo Dominici/FreeDigitalPhotos.net
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