By: Alexis Gomez
Many Americans have a complicated relationship with their job. It is not uncommon to feel like something is off, especially when you find your job bleeding into your personal life. It may seem like your boss or other employees are the most obvious culprits for your dissatisfaction and frustration at work. While they definitely contribute to how you experience your work, the one person with the most power over your work experience is you. Gaining back control over your work experience takes effort, and keeping these tips in mind can help get you one step closer.
Prioritize a Healthy Work-Life Balance
- This is arguably one of the most important things to consider when trying to improve your work experience. According to Forbes, approximately two-thirds of Americans report that they do not have work-life balance. It may be easy to blame your boss and co-workers for this lack of balance but doing that negates the power you have to establish necessary boundaries. If you find that your co-workers or boss are always adding tasks to your already overfilled plate, and you keep saying “yes” to their requests, experimenting with saying “no” or negotiating tasks and timelines can make a huge difference. It may be out of your comfort zone, but growth can only happen when you actively face that discomfort. You might be surprised to see that others are more likely to respect your time and are very much capable of completing their work on their own.
Clear Your Mind of Obsessive Thoughts
- When you continue to ruminate about your job when you’re away from it, you don’t allow yourself time needed to detach and replenish your mind. Being upset when something bad happens at work is one thing but replaying the situation over and over again in your mind, and obsessing over what you could have done differently, is a recipe for being perpetually unsatisfied. Plus, when you leave so much space in your mind for frustration, anger, or scenarios that are unrealistic, this can affect your work-life balance. If you keep thinking about your job even after you’ve clocked out, you aren’t allowing yourself space in your mind for other things worth appreciating in your personal life.
Surround Yourself More with Positive and Uplifting Co-Workers
- Seeking out those people at work who make you feel more energized and happier can make a positive difference in your work experience. Connecting with individuals at your company/work who seem to be moving forward in their careers can even expose you to new, exciting opportunities. For example, in an article for Fast Company, executive coach Alisa Cohn describes a transformational experience for one of her clients who learned from her co-workers who seemed to get the best job assignments. Cohn’s client observed that these co-workers were the ones who seemed to have great rapport with senior leaders. So, she began to ask for meetings with executives she didn’t know and made an effort to talk to them more whenever they crossed paths. She showed a personal interest in their endeavors and strengthened her connections. To her surprise, one executive called her out of the blue and offered her a month-long project in Hong-Kong, because she had mentioned being interested in international travel! This example goes to show that seeking out connections with co-workers and individuals who uplift you can make all the difference in transforming your work experience.