How do you feel about your job and career? Do you like what you do each day, or are you stuck in a career rut? The last 2 years has been a rollercoaster for everyone. People are evaluating their lives and how and where they invest their energy This also means working for an employer that supports the lifestyle they aspire to. People want a good job and a life well-lived.
Research by Gallup lists five elements of wellbeing that lead to a thriving life: Career, Social, Financial, Physical and Community. Of those five, career wellbeing is the most significant. It is the foundation for thriving in all 5 elements of your well-being. People with career wellbeing are more than twice as likely to be thriving in their lives overall.
What is Career Well-Being?
Your career wellbeing is how you feel about your job today, your career prospects tomorrow and how your work is helping you achieve what you want in life. It is finding your work enjoyable and using your strengths on a daily basis. People that have good career wellbeing are interested in their work and answer yes to the question, “Do you like what you do each day?”
A high career wellbeing is where most of us are aiming. Unfortunately, many of us get stuck in a low career wellbeing trap. Our career wellbeing is bigger than what we do each day. We can put up with a lot if it is moving us towards where we want to get to. Most human beings don’t like change. A job that provides safe and simple routine, is often the one we stay with. Even when it is not providing us with career wellbeing. Liking your job can also be replaced with “comfortable” and “safe”.
How to Balance It all
Getting the balance right is crucial. You can like what you do but be incredibly burnt out and overwhelmed with work. Think about occupations such as a nurse or a doctor. Or maybe you don’t currently like what you do, but you know it is a stepping stone to where you want to get to. It’s important to then understand, that short-term discomfort may be worth the long-term gain. You can really ‘like’ elements of your job and not ‘like’ other parts of it.
To evaluate your own career well-being consider the following 3 steps :
Step 1 – Are you Stuck in a Career Rut?
Many clients tell me they feel stuck in a career rut. Resenting their job and wondering where it’s all heading. Whether their work serves any real purpose in the bigger scheme of their life. Research shows that low career wellbeing impacts our productivity and performance. When a client is in that headspace it is tough to get themselves out of that rut. It’s human nature to have phases in our career like this, but it isn’t healthy for your overall well-being, if this becomes prolonged. Being aware of our career wellbeing, and understanding how important it is, can help you to recognise when you may not be at your best.
I’m sure there are times when you have fallen into the low career wellbeing trap. I know I certainly have! Maybe you felt:
- Misunderstood by your boss or colleagues
- Fearful of losing your job in an organisation that is restructuring
- Frustrated that you were getting overlooked for promotion.
- Bored by the work you are doing.
Step 2 – When Did You Enjoy your Job & Why?
Think back to when you have really enjoyed work. When were you happy in your job. You might see a pattern. It could have included things such as:
- Surrounded by people you enjoy working with and trusted and respected
- Understanding what was important to you and why.
- Clear goals that your job was helping you to achieve.
- Used your strengths and really enjoyed being challenged.
- Understood the practical reality of getting things done in the organisation.
- Feeling valued within your organisation and understanding where you fitted in
Step 3 – Talk to People you Respect and Trust.
- Connection is critical to our mental health and wellbeing, make sure you are regularly connecting with people you like.
- Reach out to people you respect and trust, whether that is in your organisation or outside. Ask for their advice and ideas.
- Try not to spend the time complaining to your network. Approach the conversation in a constructive manner. It is easier for people to help you if they know what you want.
Finally
One of the best ways to end up in the kind of career that earns you respect; recognition and happiness is to do more of what you’re good at. Think back to step 2, what you enjoy and why. According to research by Gallup, those who get to do what they do best every day are six times as likely to be engaged in their jobs. They are also three times as likely to report having an excellent quality of life.
Being unhappy at work is not a healthy way to live and can be damaging to your mental health.
If your career well being is low, then create a career plan and make a change. You only get one life, make it a happy one, including a job you are happy in.
Next time someone asks you the question, “do you like what you do each day?” make sure you can say “yes” and truly mean it!
