“The cure for boredom is curiosity.
“There is no cure for curiosity.”
– Dorothy Parker
Are you bored at work? Stuck in a rut? Unengaged?
According to ABC employment expert Tory Johnson, “Worker dissatisfaction ranges from feeling overqualified with no sign of advancement opportunity to feeling underappreciated by bosses who treat underlings as though they are lucky to be employed.”
Whatever the reason, most of us get down on our jobs at one point or another. But it doesn’t have to be that way. Here are five quick ways to bring instant improvement to your workday:
- Create your own challenge.
Many times we’re bored because we don’t have a challenge–things are too easy or routine. So don’t wait for someone to create a challenge for you, go do it yourself. How? Set a new goal at work, pursue new projects, or ask for fresh assignments. A new challenge is exciting. Push yourself. Stepping outside of your usual day-to-day will give you a new challenge and broaden your horizons. - Get some fresh air.
Even if you only take a short 10 minute walk around the block during lunch, those 10 minutes can help clear your mind and give you a fresh perspective on the rest of the day. - Improve your work relationships.
Work on improving your relationship with your boss and co-workers. Go to lunch or find time to talk about non-work related topics. - Clear your desk–clear your mind.
On some level or another, clutter makes us anxious. Take 15 minutes to clean and de-clutter your workspace. You will instantly feel better about your day. - Talk it out.
If something is bugging you, everything else will suffer. Find out what you can do to address any issues and come up with a plan to solve them. Talking with your boss or mentor is a step in the right direction to improving your work life.