I have a full time job. I just want to say that before anything else. I have a full time job and, while it doesn’t pay a whole lot, it’s enough to live on and lets me have time for blogging.
I should be grateful. I am grateful, but sometimes I have to remind myself.
Has this happened to you? You’re complaining, maybe even just in your own head, about your job:
- My co-workers are annoying
- My boss is unreasonable
- My commute is too long
- The work isn’t interesting enough
None of these things is good, and you may be looking for a new job or a new career…
By the way, if you need help with that, take a look at these posts: Are You Ready for a Job Search? The Absolute Basics on the Resume and Cover Letter
But really, and I’ll go back to my own situation, I have a job, a place to live, food on the table and heat in the winter. All told, that’s a lot to be thankful for. Sure, I might be working toward something better, but I don’t want to forget that I have an awful lot for which I should be very grateful.
If you’d like to remind yourself to be grateful, in a pretty format, download TEN FREE GRATITUDE AFFIRMTATIONS FOR WORK right here:
If you’re like me, you might have a fantasy of just walking away from your job. Sometimes, in order to get the quit-right-now script from repeating in my head, I imagine what would happen if I actually did that.
Granted, the very first thing that would happen is that I would FEEL GREAT!
But how long would that last? For me, it probably wouldn’t even be five minutes. Because all of a sudden, I would realize that I am at risk for losing my home, food on the table, heat in the winter, all the things I just said I was grateful to have. Sure, I’ll get another job, but how long will that take?
I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to have that sinking feeling five minutes after I live out my fantasy of walking away from my job.
So, I need a better plan for enduring the parts of my job that I don’t like, either until I find a new job or marry a rich person (and I’m fond of my not-rich husband of 30+ years, so that’s out).
For me, spending a little time each day reminding myself what I’m grateful for has been helpful. It’s not just the material things I’ve already mentioned. There are actually parts of my job that I do like. Maybe your job affords you a flexible schedule, or interesting colleagues, or autonomy, or any other positive qualities.
Thinking about the positive parts of your job is good and may be enough to get you through difficult times at work. For some people, it’s helpful to keep a Gratitude Journal, making this practice of gratitude more official.
There are several things you can do to get the most out of your journaling. Below are some simple ways to receive the maximum benefits from your journaling practice. We’re talking about work here but, of course, Gratitude is important in all aspects of our lives.
Try Different Formats
When most people think of journaling, they think of writing letters to themselves or simply writing sentences about their feelings. This is absolutely fine, but there are other ways to journal as well.
Consider changing up your journaling format, or better yet, employing more than one format in your journaling.
You could write a list of things you’re grateful for…
Or a paragraph about what went well during the workday…
Maybe a chart containing the names of your colleagues and the things you appreciate about them…
If you’re better with graphics than with words, draw a picture of the best parts of your day…
Write Yourself Compliments
In addition to expressing gratitude for things and other people, you could also to write a few things you like about yourself each day. Write about what you accomplished, problems you solved, compliments you got or gave. This can be especially rewarding as you read over what you wrote in the future.
Don’t Forget The Lessons
We often have opportunities to learn at work. Did you make a mistake and then find a solution? Did one of your co-workers have a great idea that saved time or improved quality? Write it down.
And speaking of your colleagues…
Writing about or concentrating on people and things we appreciate is an excellent practice. Showing gratitude for others is also a great way to improve the atmosphere at work (or anywhere else).
There are multiple ways to show gratitude for our colleagues:
Listen
Nothing makes a person feel more appreciated than just being listened to. Maybe someone is having a hard day (you’re not the only one who has things they don’t like about the job) or just needs to vent. Maybe they have some good ideas that no one else is hearing. The best advice is to do for your colleague what you would want done for you in the same situation. For me, that would often be, Just listen, even though I know we’re not going to fix everything right now.
Offer to help, but only if asked
Sometimes, people just complain because they need to let loose some pent-up emotions. Other times, they’re looking for a solution and would really appreciate your input. When in doubt, ask.
