How to Love Your Job

Sometimes it’s easy to love your job. Other times, not so much. After 28 years in a corporate environment, I learned a few things about how to make the best of the whole work experience by focusing on the things I could control. Here are my tips:

A PLEASANT COMMUTE: The work day starts when you leave your home. Enhance your commute by keeping your car clean, choosing a scenic route, playing music or listening to a radio show, and enjoying a morning beverage. (If you commute via public transportation, I recommend an iPod or a Kindle to help transport you to your Happy Place.)

PERSONALIZE YOUR SPACE: Whether you have a cube or an office, you probably have some options to put your mark on your work space. Make it a comfortable place to spend your time by adding meaningful personal touches, like art, a special coffee mug, and family photos. The neater you can keep your space, the more serene you will feel.

KEEP LEARNING: Work feels less like a rat race if you are learning something new and interesting every day. Cultivate an open and inquiring mind. Take advantage of any training opportunities your company provides. Seek a relationship with a mentor who is willing to share their wisdom.

ACCENTUATE THE POSITIVE: Your position description specifies your responsibilities, but in reality there may be some wiggle-room in regard to where you spend the bulk of your time and effort. Try making small adjustments so that you can focus more time on the work you really enjoy. (Caution: You must still be productive and meet your goals, and can’t avoid work that is your primary responsibility.)

MAKE QUICK WORK OF ONEROUS ACTIVITIES: You can’t escape everything you dislike doing. Instead, grab those tasks by the horns and get them wrestled to the ground quickly and efficiently. Completion will give you a sense of relief, and allow you to get on with more interesting and fun work.

WALLOW IN YOUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS: You deserve to enjoy your successes. Communicate them to your boss, being sure to tell him/her what you learned in the process, what you are proud of, and what you really enjoyed about the effort. This upward feedback may positively influence the projects and responsibilities you are assigned in the future.

CULTIVATE RELATIONSHIPS: You spend a lot of time at work, and will be happier if you enjoy the company of the people around you. Some co-workers will become trusted friends. Others you can appreciate and respect in a professional light. Work hard at having an honest and open relationship with your boss. You don’t need the stress that mistrusting and disliking co-workers creates.

Happy Valentine’s Day! Love your job. It’s better than the alternatives.