{"id":4589,"date":"2015-05-28T06:29:58","date_gmt":"2015-05-28T10:29:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/kerryhannon.com\/?p=4589"},"modified":"2015-05-28T07:44:52","modified_gmt":"2015-05-28T11:44:52","slug":"can-you-really-love-your-job","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kerryhannon.com\/?p=4589","title":{"rendered":"Can You Really \u201cLove Your Job?\u201d"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"images<\/a>Kerry Hannon<\/a>\u2019s new book, \u201cLove Your Job: The New Rules for Career Happiness,\u201d<\/a> is centered around the phrase, \u201cLife\u2019s too short to be unhappy.\u201d The Pittsburgh native writes about satisfying solutions and precise techniques to enhance your job \u2014 things that will lead to bigger and better things, regardless of age or career stage. We asked The New York Times columnist and career expert three pertinent questions on becoming your best self. \u2014 Andrea Bosco<\/i><\/p>\n

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Christine Tumpson: How do you make \u201cwork\u201d something that makes you feel like you are contributing to society in a meaningful way?<\/i><\/strong>
\nKerry Hannon:<\/strong> For many people, at the heart of loving work is purpose. People want to do something they\u2019re proud of. They want to create something. They want to feel like they\u2019re helping other people and contributing to the community.<\/p>\n

One great way to make your work meaningful is to volunteer.<\/strong> Helping out at a nonprofit gets you out of your own head and that swamp of negativity, and lets you gain perspective on others\u2019 needs.\u00a0When the volunteer effort is initiated by your employer, it builds relationships with co-workers (and perhaps your boss), as you work side-by-side to make a difference.<\/p>\n

Alternatively, if your interests are more physical, join or organize a company team sport \u2014 say, softball, kickball, or bowling. These kinds of activities may not change the world, but they do bring a sense of community, human connection, and togetherness.<\/p>\n

READ ARTICLE on WHIRL MAGAZINE<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

CT: What does it mean to \u201cLove\u00a0Your Job\u201d?<\/i><\/strong>
\nKH:<\/strong> When you get right down to it, the reason most people are miserable at work is because they\u2019re bored. They don\u2019t call it that, but that\u2019s the root of it. Finding ways to love your work entails taking ownership of your life. No one is going to wave a magic wand for you. In essence, you need to constantly ask yourself, \u2018What can I do to improve myself on the job and to make my work more rewarding?\u2019 not \u2018What can my boss do for me?\u2019<\/p>\n

I believe you really can learn to love your job<\/strong>. I do. I\u2019m a romantic that way. Love is a complicated thing. It can be fleeting; you have to give it to get it; and, at times, it takes effort to hold on to it. At the heart of it, a job, like romance, is never utterly full of bliss and joy. The key is to find a stable core that you can hold on to through the swings.<\/p>\n

CT: What is the best advice you have for someone who is looking to make a positive lifestyle\/workstyle change?<\/i><\/strong>
\nKH:<\/strong> So much of loving your work is your attitude.<\/em> It takes an internal shift, and it\u2019s one you can control. Some of these are big\u2010picture moves \u2014 say, asking for new responsibilities or a promotion, or transferring departments. Start by keeping a gratitude list of things that you like about your job \u2014 there are things, trust me. And each day, make note of one or two things that were positive \u2014 even if it\u2019s a co-worker\u2019s success. To love what you do each day, you need to be physically, spiritually, and financially fit.<\/p>\n

Financial fitness is key.<\/strong> Debt is the biggest dream killer. This takes time, but do a budget and start whittling away at credit card debt. When you aren\u2019t working strictly for the paycheck, you\u2019re more nimble to accept a job or a position that\u2019s meaningful to you and not just a means to an end.<\/p>\n

And developing a spiritual center via a meditation practice, such as yoga or tai chi, can give you a calming place to escape work pressures and hit the reset\/renew button. How many times have you felt that you are running so fast that you barely have time to think? How often do you actually allow yourself to pause and listen to what your body, your heart, and your mind are telling you? Start by doing one small thing that matters. Clean up your office \u2014 decluttering is liberating and empowering. Look into telecommuting.<\/p>\n

Laugh more<\/strong>. Find a positive image to inspire you. The very action of directing your attention away from your work opens up the door in your day for a respite, a restart, and a new view. It\u2019s reviving and centering at the same time.<\/p>\n

><\/em> \u201cLove Your Job: The New Rules for Career Happiness\u201d is available at amazon.com<\/a><\/em>.<\/h6>\n<\/div>\n
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