3 steps to loving your job

Did you know the average person spends the equivalent of 13 years and 2 months of their lives working?

That’s a lot of time to spend working.

So it stands to reason you should enjoy your job, right?

Yet, when asked, only 17% of workers in the U.S. said they were passionate about their jobs.

But, of that small percentage that was passionate, over 80% experienced increased productivity, feelings of fulfillment, and happiness outside of the workplace as well as during work hours.

If you want to be a part of that 17% that love their jobs, you just have to follow a few easy steps.

1. Be engaged

Many people believe that the opposite of happiness is sadness. But, according to author, worldwide traveler, and millionaire Timothy Ferriss, the opposite of happiness is boredom.

He claims this because the antithesis of something, by definition, is the lack of that thing. If you take away happiness, you aren’t automatically left with sadness.

You are, however, left feeling empty.

Feelings of emptiness, though they may start as simple boredom, can lead to exhaustion, insomnia, and even depression.

So the solution? Be engaged with your work. Don’t procrastinate. Even if you are ahead, find something to do. If you have to be at work from 9 to 5, you should at least feel accomplished when you head home at the end of the day.

Studies show that accomplishing a task, particularly one with a positive outcome, fires off neurons that have a similar effect to the release of endorphins after working out.

After all, who doesn’t like to succeed?

2. Make your workplace comfortable

We are taught that comfort and productivity don’t mix.

In school, we had to sit in hard plastic chairs for hours on end. At work, we are traditionally told to wear suits, skirts, jackets, stockings, and a whole manner of uncomfortable clothes.

But discomfort doesn’t equal productivity. In fact, it’s been proven that discomfort is just a distraction. Employees who reported feeling comfortable at work were recorded with 20% higher productivity rates.

So ask your boss about casual dress if you don’t have it already. Make sure your desk has personal touches to it—pictures of loved ones, maybe a poster or sticker for your favorite band or movie, and maybe a stress ball if your get antsy during the day.

Don’t be afraid to get up and stretch your legs, and take the time to get to know your coworkers so that conversation in the workplace is comfortable.

By doing this, I promise the workplace will feel much less sterile, and much more like a space where you can work without discomfort and distraction.

3. Look on the bright side

Try writing down at least three positive things about work each day.

Maybe it’s something as small as a coworker complimenting your choice of shoes, or something as big as a promotion. If you can’t think of three things to write, then it may be time to reassess your job choice.

But I bet, once you start looking for it, you’ll realize there’s more good than bad in your workday.

Once you’re in this habit, start exercising talking about it. When with friends or relatives, talk about the bright side of your job.

Don’t fall back on complaining about work just to have something to talk about—make everyone jealous of your amazing job!

If you follow these three easy steps, I guarantee that you will have a whole new perspective on your job within a few weeks!

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