Every Monday morning, you finish your week’s worth of work by 10:47 a.m., and you spend the rest of the week trying to look busy and important, when in reality, you feel like you are going half mad with boredom. Or perhaps you have the opposite problem. You are so busy at work every day that you barely have time to sit, eat, or use the restroom, and you can’t remember the last time that you left the office on time. Maybe just the thought of going back to work again on Monday morning gives you hives. Whatever the problem is, you are not alone. There are many people who are unhappy in their jobs. Does your low job satisfaction mean that it is time to start searching for a new job? Not necessarily.
A recent Harvard Business Review blog post emphasizes one of the most important characteristics of job satisfaction, and that is feeling like your job has meaning to you. But even if your job doesn’t feel purposeful or fulfilling at the moment, that doesn’t mean that you can’t get there. In many cases, you can make more changes to your job than you think you can, if you’re willing to put yourself out there and give it a try.
5 Tips to Amp Up Your Job Satisfaction
1. Take stock of what fulfills you in your job and what drains your energy. Talk to your supervisor about shifting your responsibilities to include more fulfilling projects that more fully utilize your own unique talents and interests.
2. Make a list of your current responsibilities at home and at work. Figure out how to streamline your days in order to improve your work-life balance and give yourself more room to breathe and time to reflect and relax.
3. Pay attention to your mood. What keeps you upbeat during the workday? What drags you down? What changes can you make to maximize your mood? Do you need to avoid the breakroom at certain times of day, when the negativity of others is overpowering? Do you need to spend more time developing your skills for the exciting new project on the horizon?
4. Think about who your role models are. Take time to develop a relationship with mentors in your organization who might help you guide your careeer development as your job evolves into something that better fits you.
5. Take an online personality test to help you determine your strengths and weaknesses, and talk to your supervisor about molding your job accordingly.
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