Improving the Margins of Your Work Day
Many of us desire a certain level of fulfillment in our careers. We hope that more often than not we’ll feel true value in the work that we do. If we’re lucky, maybe some days work won’t even feel like work at all.
But what about when work does feel like just that—work? I think about this question a lot, not because I’m unhappy in my own work, but I know that ultimately it’s a privilege to be in a position where work is enjoyable and fulfilling most of the time.
If this seems dire, it’s not meant to be. There are certainly ways we can derive more fulfillment from our work day. Asking for more responsibility, time to spend on the tasks we enjoy, or even changing the way we relate to the people we work with, are all ways we can take steps forward in this direction. But no matter how satisfied we feel in our work today, if we look at our 9-to-5 as the source and summit of our fulfillment, I think we’re bound to be let down.
That’s why in addition to looking at incremental ways we can improve our job satisfaction, we might also try and change the way we think about our work and career, generally. Too often we lose sight of the fact that we occupy important life roles—and sources of fulfillment—outside of our job and paycheck.
Some of us, either now or at a later date, may not have the opportunity to hold out for our “dream job.” Knowing ourselves, what our strengths are, and setting realistic professional goals are all good actions to take. But other important arenas in our life, such as growing and maintaining a family, serving a religious or civic organization, or simply indulging a treasured hobby, are often untapped sources of joy and fulfillment when we allow ourselves to become preoccupied with professional triumphs and trials.
People of all ages and stages in their career can be susceptible to this over-evaluation of work and job happiness, but young professionals are especially susceptible. Many newly minted graduates facing significant loan debt, and often with postponed plans for marriage, are tempted to view a successful career as their singular path toward present and future happiness.
A recent graduate’s decision to prioritize their career should hardly be criticized (those loans, after all), but there are countless ways young professionals can find balance and fulfillment in their lives even as they get started in a new career. Finding a mentor, joining a book club, or starting a new exercise routine are a few examples.
With this broadened perspective, it’s easier to concentrate on making value-based decisions to improve how we feel about our workday. A commitment to make more intentional use out of your commute to the office might be one decision you make.
Maybe listening to your favorite music, or just having some quiet time to reflect, is exactly what you need in the morning, but you might also consider books or podcasts as ways to make constructive use of your time on public transit or behind the wheel (make it an audiobook in this case).
I’ve become a devoted podcast listener and similar to how I choose what books to read, I like to have a rotation of two or three podcasts I listen to: one “fun” podcast that follows a favorite TV show or sports team, and one or two “learning” podcasts that explore a new topic (ie. foreign language, economics, history, etc.).
Don’t punish yourself. The idea is to make your commute more enjoyable, but also to augment the comedy podcast, or the book you’re reading for pleasure, with something substantive that you can discuss with a coworker or your partner at home. You might even discover podcasts that help you develop knowledge you can use in your job or during your next interview. Small improvements at the margins of your work day, while continuing to work toward larger goals in life and career, just might be the help you need to find a little more satisfaction in the here and now.
The Life Values Inventory (LVI) can be a great resource to get you thinking about different life roles and where you may want to invest more of yourself and if you’re looking for a few podcast recommendations (I always am), I can offer a few that I’ve enjoyed in recent weeks:
The Bill Simmons Podcast (sports & pop culture)
The Moth (storytelling podcast)
Revisionist History (misconceptions about past events)
Higher Ed Happy Hour (higher ed discussion, over drinks)
The Americans Podcast (episode-by-episode review of the FX show)
What podcasts should I listen to next? Any other suggestions for how we can add value to the work day, on or off the clock?
