We all like to complain about our day jobs but at the end of the day most of us are lucky just to have one. It’s easy to get too comfortable in our work and find ourselves stuck in a job rut with no clear way out.
It’s important to pay attention to the signs you could be stuck in a job rut. These signs include a lack of motivation, lack of challenge, and decreased productivity.
Motivation
Motivation is key for job success. If you dread going to work and find yourself more focused on social interactions and personal related tasks, it’s a sign your motivation is waning.
Challenge
Challenging yourself is always crucial for career development. Facing and overcoming challenges helps you build new skills necessary for career growth. If your work tasks are feeling monotonous and mundane it’s likely you’re not being challenged enough.
Productivity
Productivity is important when aiming to please your employer and customers. If the passion and motivation that once fueled you has faded, it’s an indicator that your productivity and accomplishments might be fading as well. Consider taking a time management course to learn new techniques and tricks – this will help you to become more productive and work towards your objectives a lot more efficiently.
How to Get Out of Your Day Job Rut
Take Action
Take control of your situation by taking an action step. This could mean talking with your current employer about different opportunities or seeking new employment elsewhere. When you take action you build confidence and open yourself up to new opportunities.
Take a Risk
It’s normal to have fear when contemplating a change. However, when you allow fear to hold you hostage from change you take the largest risk of all; missing out on new opportunities. The more you take action against fear, the easier it will be to take new risks and chances. Expose yourself to new and different challenges such as going back to school or starting a side business.
Make a Plan
When you decide to make a change it’s important to make a plan. Develop short-term and long-term goals and chart out a path to accomplish them. If you want to change careers, your plan should involve furthering your education immediately. Likewise, those who want to move up within their current industry might have to go back to school for a masters in social work as well, as the more training you have, the more attractive you become to those doing the hiring. Assign deadlines to each of your goals to help you stay on track. When earning your Master of Science in Nursing, for example, all you would have to do is take one course every eight weeks to complete this degree within two years. If two years does not work for you, come up with a different plan. Taking your courses online opens you up to a number of different options. Share your plan with others who can provide support and encouragement.
Visualize
Visualization is an extremely beneficial tool in creating change. Since the mind isn’t able to tell the difference between an imaginary and real event, the event you imagine will cause your body to have a similar physiological reaction as it would if it were a real event. Spend a few minutes visualizing a job in which you feel fulfilled.
Motivation and a sense of challenge is essential for career fulfillment. If you’ve found yourself stuck in a job rut, remember that it’s possible to find a way out. It will take action, risk, and planning. However, before you know it, your vision will become a reality.
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Romeo Jeremiah says
I agree with all of the above. In my research, I found that most people don’t have fulfilling jobs because they are stuck in the existing ones. When they don’t save enough money to prepare for a comfortably job transition, they can’t take the leap of faith, despite their desires. This is why I’m glad a site like this exist and that I’ve written a book to address this very issue. Great article. I shared it as well.
Romeo Jeremiah recently posted…Find a Job You Love and You Never Work Again
Mr. 4HWD says
Thanks, Romeo!
Simon E. says
The problem with most folks is that we complain about our jobs, our awful bosses and the other folks we have to deal with at work but don’t do anything about it. You provide excellent tips…one has to see themselves in that new and fulfilling job and then make that dream and vision a reality.
Simon E. recently posted…Travelocity Rewards American Express Card Review
Mr. 4HWD says
Absolutely! You have to help yourself!