Written by: Mikaela Contreras, Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
When we are unhappy at work, it’s natural to want to jump ship. Go somewhere else, somewhere different, somewhere better. But sometimes changing jobs might not be your best move. Perhaps you’re just in a temporary rut. Perhaps you haven’t figured out what you want in your next job yet. Perhaps you need to stay put while applying for a mortgage.
Whatever your reason is, you can still make changes that will make you happier in your current situation while staying where you are.
When you are happy in your present, you will attract more opportunities in your future.
Here’s what you can do now:
Cultivate your growth mindset. "Just because you haven’t found your talent yet, doesn’t mean that you don’t have one." I know; there’s so much talk about mindset at the moment. But there’s a reason for that. Your mindset can change your whole outlook on something. It can influence every single part of your life. Carol Dweck’s research within Growth vs. Fixed mindset showcase that if we approach new challenges with the view that we can learn and develop any skill, we will ultimately achieve more. What if you embraced the challenging project that your boss has dumped on you as a way to develop instead of feeling annoyed and anxious? What if you didn’t see your mistake as a failure but instead as a learning opportunity? What if you didn’t see your hard work as fruitless but as a way to mastery? What if you didn’t see your successful colleague as competition but as someone to model and learn from? Imagine how different your day would be.
Challenge status quo. “It’s not enough to be busy. We need to ask: what are we busy about?” It’s easy to get sucked into the hamster wheel and accept the pain points in your every day – even become blind to them. But what if you would adapt the newbie perspective? Walk into work like it’s your first day and really think about what can be approved? A step in the process? Ways of collaboration? How are meetings held? A new template? Think of all the positive changes you can do to improve your day-to-day, not just for yourself but your colleagues as well.
Seek the flow. “The happiest people are not the ones that achieve the most. They are the ones who spend more time in a state of flow”. Flow state is when you are so engrossed in a task that you lose track of time and space. To achieve a flow state, the tasks are normally within the sweet spot of being interesting enough, challenging but not too difficult, and speaking to your strength. If you can identify those tasks and spend more time on them, it will give you a higher satisfaction at work.
Lean into learning. “Happiness is learning something new.” When we are stuck in the same job, we can sometimes struggle to identify learning opportunities. But there are ways to develop your skills without changing roles or having a big learning budget. Use the network around you. Identify a colleague or someone in your personal network who is skilled in something you want to learn, and ask that person to be your mentor. They wouldn’t have to invest a huge amount of time, and they will also learn from mentoring you – win, win situation. You can also explore new projects coming up in your company and ask to get involved. It will not only expand your skillset but your cross-functional network.
Prioritize pleasure in your life. “The more pleasure we take in, the more wind we have in our sails to move towards our desires.” When we are stressed, unhappy, and overwhelmed, the last thing we think about is making time for pleasure. However, it’s the time we need it the most. Do whatever feeds wind to your sails. An hour in the bath? A walk in nature? A glass of wine on the balcony? And incorporate small pleasures in your every day. 5 min mediation in the car? Smell the flowers outside your home on your way out? A kiss from a loved one? Don’t forget to bring more pleasure into your life.
Ask for help. “Asking for help is a sign of strength.” We are normally very good at giving but not so good at receiving. And asking for help does not come naturally to many. But it’s amazing what it can do for your day to receive a bit of help. Instead of worrying about work in silence – ask your friend or colleague for advice. Instead of feeling anxious about a confrontation at work – speak to someone about it. Instead of spending hours trying to figuring something out – ask for someone to explain it to you or teach you how to do it. Don’t be afraid of asking for help. You do not have to solve your world’s problems alone.
You have more power and influence over your career happiness than you think — even when changing your job might not be an option at the moment. Embrace your inner power, your ability to create, innovate and change what’s in front of you.
If you seek guidance to find more joy, purpose, and clarity on your career journey, please feel free to book a free chat with me here.
Mikaela Contreras, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine
Mikaela is a career development and leadership coach who works with women who are living the international life. Mikaela is Swedish, has lived and worked in 5 countries herself, and is currently based in Abu Dhabi. She is using her 10 years of experience in Talent Acquisition and Talent Development to help women in international environments to explore their true vision, purpose, and desires and to overcome any internal and external blockers to pursue them. Her mission is simple: For every woman to feel purpose and joy in her professional life!
