Most adults spend a significant part of their lives at work. Our jobs become what we give most of our time and energy to and are not just ways to earn money but also to find fulfillment and leave a mark in the world. This means that it’s essential for us to be mostly satisfied with the work we do or we are likely to spend a lot of time feeling miserable.
Here are a few tips to be satisfied with your work.
1. Complete your tasks on time
Unless you are being severely overworked, you should be able to complete your work on time. This can help you feel greater satisfaction. While procrastination can be tempting, by doing your work on time, you get more opportunities to do the things that matter to you.
When our work takes over our lives, we tend to get irritable, and adherence to deadlines can allow us to find more time to do things beyond our work tasks.
2. Connect with your colleagues in a positive way
You don’t have to be friends with all your coworkers, but it’s good to have a few who are friends or, at least, friendly. If you can manage to connect and improve your relationships with your colleagues, it’s likely to make your day-to-day more pleasant and make your tasks easier to manage.
Take steps to be a good coworker and maintain a friendly disposition to create stronger connections with other people at work.
3. Allow yourself time for your passion
Your passion might be your work. In that case, you’re golden. However, for many people, their passion lies beyond the boundaries of their office or workplace. However, it’s very important to discover what your passion is and give it the time it requires to flourish. Take the time to dedicate to the things that truly matter to you and allow this passion to become part of your life.
As for work, you can see it as that which makes your passion possible, by giving you the sustenance or independence you need. In this manner, your work can become more meaningful and more satisfying.
4. Look for the positive
Work is not always fun. Indeed, it often features boring or unpleasant tasks. A way to be satisfied with this aspect of work as well is to look for the positives and connect strongly to the meaning that this job plays in your life.
Does it help you stay healthy and financially stable? Does it provide money? Does it bring you closer to an opportunity or a career you want? By being clear with yourself about the positive things that work brings into your life, you can find greater satisfaction in every task.
5. Be present in the moment
It is well-known that if we allow ourselves to be present in each moment, it is easier to be satisfied. Even difficult or boring situations become more rewarding when our minds are fully engaging with them, not when they are wandering.
Practice being present and engaged in work. Ask yourself what are you feeling, experiencing, and thinking at the moment. Let yourself experience each thing as fully as you can, without drifting too far from the present.
6. Remember that you’re making a choice
We might feel dissatisfied with work if we feel forced to do it, somehow. Reclaiming our autonomy and remembering that we are here by choice can make a big difference in our mindset and day-to-day attitude. If you applied for a job and got it and remain there, you made a series of choices and are currently living with them.
If you are permanently dissatisfied and unhappy, no matter what, you also have the freedom to start looking and move on to another profession or another workplace.
7. Savor the little things
Each job will have things that we like and those we don’t like. Some will have great colleagues or a fun series of tasks or cool little perks that keep us engaged. Learn to identify the best things about each job and commit to enjoying them every day. Take your time to savor them – to truly experience each and recognize the pleasure that they bring.
If you love your office, take a moment to acknowledge this and time to feel satisfied that you are here, in this space. Whatever you like about work, make room to enjoy it while being fully present. It can make a big difference in regard to your work satisfaction.
