It's happened to the best of us. We start a new job feeling excited and motivated, but after a while, the excitement wears off and we start to feel bored, uninspired, or even downright unhappy. If you're finding yourself in this situation, don't worry, you can fall in love again!
There are plenty of things you can do to fall back in love with the relationship you spend one third of your life in:
Remember why you fell in love in the first place. What was it about your job that made you excited to start? Was it the chance to use your skills and talents? The opportunity to make a difference in the world? The challenge of solving problems? Write down what initially drew you to this position. Once you know what attracted you to your job in the first place, you can start to focus on those things again.
Make a gratitude list. Fixating on the unpleasant aspect of work can dim our appreciation for the parts that once brought us satisfaction. We can get caught up in the things we don’t like about our job and stop seeing the things that we do like. Write down the things you do like about your job and what you are thankful for. By actively trying to find the positives you may find ones you’ve missed.
Set new goals for yourself. If you've been doing the same thing at work for a while, it's no wonder you're feeling bored. Set some new goals for yourself, both personal and professional. This could mean learning a new skill, taking on a new project, or even starting your own business. Try setting a goal that seems fun to you. Having something to strive for can help you stay motivated and engaged in your work.
Find connection with a mentor or work best friend. One of the best ways to fall back in love with your work is to find a mentor who can inspire you and help you grow. A mentor can offer guidance, support, and feedback, and they can help you see your work in a new light. You may even make someone’s day by asking them to mentor you. Research shows that people feel happier when they have a work best friend. Having someone to joke around with, share in the difficulties, or lean on when you are stressed at work can help in increasing enjoyment and add value to a workday.
Take some time off for yourself. Did you know that not everyone takes their full vacation time off? It’s important to take time off to reset. This could be a vacation, going on a retreat, or simply spending time on things you enjoy. Some people do better with multiple short vacations, long weekends here and there, whereas others need a full one to two weeks off to fully decompress. Taking a step away can unstick our thinking and provide the clarity we need to excel in our jobs.
Change your environment. If you're feeling stuck in a rut, it might be time to change your environment. This could mean moving to a new desk, adding new décor to your work environment, working from home, or even changing jobs. A change of scenery can help you see your work in a new light and spark your creativity.
Seek outside support. Eliciting a life coach in your field can help you navigate the areas you feel stuck in and will provide suggestions on how to move past those difficulties. They can give ideas on how to navigate hierarchies, deal with employees or coworkers, or provide ways to get past specific problems related to your role. Licensed therapists can help you move from problem focused thinking to solution focused thinking to manage work stresses, identify underlying connections to your past that may be affecting your present, and help you cope with anxiety or depression symptoms that may be contributing to your feelings around your work and outside life.
Falling back in love with your work takes time and effort, but the rewards make it worth it due to how much of our time we spend working. By following these tips, you can start to feel more excited and engaged in your work again. Remember, falling back in love with your work is a journey, not a destination. There will be ups and downs along the way just like in any relationship, but if you keep working at it, you'll eventually find your way back to the passion and excitement you felt when you first started.