Love is in the air! Or not. While Valentine’s Day gets a lot of hooplas and gives florists’ profits a healthy boost, it’s not for everyone. And one major reason behind that dissatisfaction is you’re still confused about how to find a job you love or how to love your job. According to Gallup, 85 percent of workers worldwide are unhappy with their jobs. This dissatisfaction with the activity that takes up the bulk of our hours and days, weeks and months, year in and year out takes a toll on our physical health, our productivity, and—not surprisingly—our relationships. (Hello, Singles Awareness Day!)
Does it have to be that way, and do you really have to spend all your time wondering how to find a job you love? While some argue that this workplace unhappiness is the result of old school management practices that haven’t kept pace, and others cite a multitude of reasons, we believe that there are a few ways to light that ignite that spark once again and enjoy your job, even if it’s not a perfect one (and stop thinking how to find a job you love 24/7). Here’s how!
1) Have an Attitude of Gratitude
There’s a saying: “Change the way you look at things and the things you look at will change.” This universal truth applies to every area of our lives, from our personal relationships to our jobs. Find reasons to be grateful for your job, and you might enjoy it more. What’s good about your job? What do you enjoy? If that doesn’t work, try having an attitude of gratitude for the paycheck you receive that enables you to have a roof over your head and food on the table.
2) Find a Mentor
Sometimes you’re unhappy at work because you’re stuck in a rut. If you’re not able to figure out how to find a job you love, then find a mentor and see if that helps. A mentor can help you understand the bigger picture of an organization so your job makes more sense to you, or give you career advice, or simply encourage you. One study found mentoring increased job satisfaction rates for nurse practitioners. Perhaps it can help your job satisfaction rate too!
3) Get Involved in a Professional Organization
Speaking of being in a rut, sometimes a change in environment can help you fall in love with your job again. Joining a professional organization is a way to get out of the workplace, meet other people, attend events, and even learn from industry experts brought in as speakers. To get more out of the experience, try volunteering.
4) Set Goals
If you don’t know where you’re going, how will you get there? Or know when you’ve arrived? Setting goals will help re-engage you with your job and your career - and probably end the ‘how to find a job you love’ pertinent question. Goals give you a focus and allow you to measure progress. They can pull your attention away from the negative and get you working toward the positive instead. Goals can be as simple as earning a certification or as lofty as getting a promotion. It matters less what the goal is and more that you set some. However, do make sure they’re attainable. Consider setting SMART goals, meaning goals that are Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant and Time-Bound, to increase your chances of succeeding.
5) Keep Learning New Skills
Here’s a solid answer to ‘how to find a job you love’ - try learning new skills. Maybe your company hasn’t kept up with technology and you’re doing tasks the same old way, but learning a brand new way will re-invigorate you—and impress your boss. Think about it: If work seems like drudgery, learning a new way to go about your tasks will make it seem like a new job. Or maybe learning new skills will show your boss you’re more engaged and therefore able to take on new responsibilities, or be considered for a promotion.
6) Take Care of Yourself
Sometimes our attitude about work is not caused by the job, but by overall poor health—and that can make everything seem bleak and hopeless, not just work. When you’re getting enough sleep, exercising regularly, and eating a healthy diet, your energy level will go up and your attitude will improve. This could be all it takes to fall in love with your job again or find a job you love!
Signs You Need to Quit Your Current Job
Despite all the advice above, however, sometimes a job—like a relationship—is simply going nowhere and it’s time to move on. Signs it’s time to quit your job include:
- procrastinating and not working
- you can’t speak up at work
- a negative company culture
- no opportunities to advance
- your friends are tired of hearing you complain about work
- or you dread getting out of bed in the morning and facing yet one more day
If that’s the case, there’s no reason to fall in love with your job again, and that’s when you really need to focus on how to find a job you love and switch immediately.
So Here’s How to Find a Job You Love
We spend one-third of our lives at work. Do we really want to spend all that time in a job we abhor? Or can we learn to love our jobs again? Relationships go through ups and downs, and the couple weather those storms to come out stronger in the end. So too can your job or career seem to have highs and lows, and learning how to get through those lows can help you enjoy your work more. Take some time to think about all the tips above, free your mind, learn new skills, and get started on the mission on how to find a job you love or fall in love with your current job!
