Find your passion.
A person spends, on average, 35% of their waking hours at work. Given that the average work period is 50 years, that is a significant amount of time to spend, especially if you’re doing something that doesn’t fulfil you.
Finding passion and fulfilment at work doesn’t necessarily mean you’re working your dream job — not all of us can be astronauts or professional ice-cream testers.
Finding your passion in work is about mindset, making choices that will help you grow, and committing to finding fulfilment in everything you do.
Steps to Finding Passion in WorK
We’ve put together a few essential steps to take if you seek to find passion for your work. Whether you’re looking for a new job or you want to renew your love for work in an old appointment, these steps can do wonders for finding fulfilment from work.
Seek a Career that Interests You
Often, we will pursue a career that we know will pay well, has many opportunities where we live, or is something those around us are pressuring us to pursue. Although these can have merit in decision making, it is essential to follow a path you are interested in. You don’t have to be excited by 100% of the field or industry, but there must be some things that make you excited to work. This can be easier if you’re looking for a job, as you only need to apply for positions that you find interesting. If you’re already in a situation and aren’t ready or willing to move elsewhere, try making a list of the most exciting parts of your job. Ask your family and friends what they find interesting about what you do and look for the positives of your work.
Keep a Notebook of Your Daily Highlights
It’s easy to become incredibly negative about our jobs. One bad meeting with a client or argument with a coworker and the entire workplace feels like torture. To find renewed passion for your work, jot down every positive highlight from your day. Whether you had a great conversation at lunch, you received feedback for a job well done, or you hit no red lights on your commute to work, write it all down to make sure you see the positive in your day. If you find yourself getting down, reread your past highlights and come up with something new to add to get yourself out of the negative headspace.
Examine Your Strengths and Capitalise on Them
Think about what you’re good at, make a list of all your strengths that contribute to a great workplace environment. If some of your talents aren’t being used, find ways to use them. You can talk with managers about taking on different and additional tasks, offering to help your coworkers if they need it, or even planning extracurricular activities or growth opportunities in the workplace.
Help Others Advance
A great way to reignite your passion for work is to take on a role of mentorship. If you find yourself feeling stagnate, helping others grow can bring a new kind of fulfilment to your professional life and positively impact your mentee. Supporting the next generation to grow and learn will not only allow you to find fulfilment as a teacher, but you may also learn new techniques and ideas!
Remove the Noise
If you find yourself overwhelmed and unfulfilled in work, sometimes removing the noise (whether that’s literal, verbal distractions or other items in life that are causing stress) can do wonders to help you find more passion for work. Declutter your desk and office space and make a point of ensuring you feel comfortable where you work. Throw away everything that has no value to you, unsubscribe from annoying vendor lists, get yourself to a zero inbox, find a way to create a safe and comfortable space that you will feel productive in. These steps can help you feel more fulfilled.
Do Not Fear Change
If you are ready for a career change, be open to it. Whether you need to move to a different position in the same company or find a completely different industry, allow yourself to be available to change without fear. Very few individuals stay in the same career their entire lives, and younger generations are changing jobs more and more. If you’re thinking about a new career and pursuing other passions to bring fulfilment to your life, allow yourself to do so without fear.
Why is a Passion for Work Important?
It’s important to feel passionate about what you do for many different reasons. Most importantly, being passionate about your work is good for your mental health. Not only does it help you feel more fulfilled during the workday, but enjoying your career provides you with more energy and excitement for things outside of work. People who hate their jobs are less likely to have fulfilling hobbies or goals than those who enjoy their work. Dissatisfaction with work also puts you at more risk for ill health, troubles in the home, and general dissatisfaction with life.
If you feel unfulfilled in your career, try your best to change your mindset and renew your passion.