How to be happier and more satisfied with your job?

No matter how much you like your job, there will be times when you wake up in the morning and don’t feel like going to work. As an overthinker, you might struggle with overthinking before, after or even during work hours. Is this really what I want to do, aren’t there any better jobs out there, what if I miss out on prospects by working here? In this article, I will advise how you can be happier and more satisfied with your current job and deal with overthinking.

Tip 1: Focus on quick wins

On a day-to-day basis, you might feel like you can’t see the forest for the trees. There is so much to think of these days regarding career building, ranging from LinkedIn, salary negotiations and job hopping for the fastest career growth. You might feel overwhelmed by all the possibilities and things you “have” to do, to prevent stagnation and your skills ageing out of the workforce. 

The current job you have is also important to pay attention to. When you log in on Monday morning, try not to focus on how this job is just a stepping stone to your dream job, or think of how many courses you need to complete or certifications to pass before you are eligible for a promotion. Try to focus on the quick wins. How can you do your work the best you can, today? The odds are considerable that you won’t work at your current job anymore in three years. And keep in mind, for any future job it’s also important to leave a good impression at your previous workplaces.

Tip 2: Plan things to look forward to

There’s more in life than just work, and it’s important to always have plans in your spare time. Make sure you have time for your hobbies [internal link], plan vacations or a spontaneous weekend away sometimes. Stay in touch with friends and family and try to take time off work. 

Especially if you start working full-time for the first time, it can feel like the majority of your time is swallowed by work. There are only two possible solutions for that: either work less or make the most of the time you spend not working. How can you do the latter? Here are some essential tips:

• Sleep well. Don’t underestimate the importance of a good night’s sleep. If you have difficulty falling asleep early, try to work out or do something active late in the afternoon or early in the evening. Don’t be too active late in the evening, it might also complicate falling asleep.
• Take your time with dinner. It may sound counterproductive, especially if you have worked a long day and you get home tired. Cooking healthy meals is healthy and helps your body stay fit in the long run, but the act of cooking can also help focus your mind on something else. Don’t rush dinner time or spend it behind the television or your laptop screen, but try to take the moment to discuss your day with your partner or someone else. If you live alone, you can try to pay more attention to your food and its taste and enjoy it a bit more than usual. 
• Make time for your hobbies or other activities you like to do. I know how you might feel like sleeping in all weekend, only scrolling on your phone or watching mindless tv shows. Still, it’s better to get out of bed and do the things you enjoy, and even better if you have to leave the house to do them. If you’re very tired, try to sleep on time in the evenings (try not to stray too far from your usual bedtime) and set an alarm to prevent oversleeping. 

Tip 3: Blow off some steam by venting

After a long workday, it can be beneficial for your stress levels to vent a little to someone. If you live alone, and especially if you work from home a lot, you may feel the need to talk to someone about what’s bothering you. It could also be something positive, such as wanting to discuss your latest achievements and progress with someone other than a colleague, who might perceive it as bragging. 

Just remember that it’s important to blow off some steam once in a while, but don’t try to let the conversation slide into an hour-long vent session or a therapy session. For example, if you live with your partner, you can both talk about your work for fifteen minutes, then it’s the other person’s turn and after that, no more talking about work. 

Tip 4: Keep your long-term goals in mind

When working a job you aren’t thrilled about, it can be tempting to let your mind wander and think about searching for another job, starting over. Although there are some situations in which that is the best course of action, other times it’s not that easy or smart to quit your job on a whim. If your current job doesn’t make you that enthusiastic, it might be a good idea to think of your long-term goals. 

The odds are small that you’ll stay with this job forever, so try to think what about doing this kind of work or working at this company, will be beneficial in the future. If it’s hard to think of something, you can also try to think of ideas on how to improve that. Are there maybe some new skills you can try to teach yourself, learning objectives based on the feedback you’ve received from colleagues, or maybe even official courses or certifications you can work on? Try to think creatively! 

When you do all that, also try to visualize the image you want to achieve. Where do you want to be in five years or ten years? What kind of job do you imagine yourself doing, in what kind of position, working on which projects? And then, how are you going to get there? What things do you need to improve on, what are you already good at, what hard skills and soft skills can you develop more?

Tip 5: Choose yourself

In the end, work is just work. If a job makes you miserable, you should try to look for another opportunity. Of course, that’s easier said than done, but if you come up with a good plan and think wisely about finances and other practical aspects, you’ll be fine. 

Some people base their entire (or large part of their) personality, self-worth or identity on the work they do. I advise you not to. Even if you work at a small office, where everyone addresses each other by first name, it’s still just work. If the company goes through bad times, you might be fired, no matter how much people like you, no matter how many hours of hard work you put in, no matter how many weekends you sacrificed. 

Yes, it’s important to take pride in your work, to care for quality, and dedication, and to improve yourself. And still, there are more things in life. Remember, no one is irreplaceable. Your workplace will survive if you leave for another job. They may not thank you for it, but they will move on. 

Featured image by bruce mars on Unsplash