Deliberately carve out time to do things that you enjoy. Share on XConsider the following story as it relates to this week’s topic.
As an academic counselor, I get to spend my time with students and see them take the next steps toward their futures. As much as I love my job, it’s also extremely draining. Sometimes when I get home, the only thing I do is plop down on the couch and watch shows until I inevitably fall asleep! Well, a couple of weeks ago, I found my old knitting kit while cleaning out my closet and decided to take it for a spin. It was great! It’s obviously a low-effort activity that lets me rest my brain after a long day at work, but it keeps me busy and completely entertained! On top of that, I believe that doing something I so enjoy at home lets me perform even better with my students!
It’s hard to imagine waking up in the morning and instantly thinking to yourself, “I really can’t wait to go to the job I hate and do the duties that drive me crazy!” After all, many of us would much prefer doing activities or taking care of responsibilities that give us a sense of accomplishment while being enjoyable and stimulating. The same can be said for a simple, leisurely activity like the one we mentioned in our vignette above.
What can you do to ensure that you’ll be spending time doing an activity you love? Our psychologists in Tampa invite you to read on below to find out!
Naturally Busy, Often Unhappy
Imagine the positive feelings you’d experience if you performed your job or activity passionately. Share on XAccording to a 2015 CNN article, Americans work an average of 34.4 hours a week. Now, while that number may seem low, it’s considerably higher than the world’s other large economies. For example, people in the Netherlands work an average of 26.6 hours a week, while the Swiss average at 31.1 hours. The CNN report additionally revealed that nearly four in 10 employees log more than 50 hours at work. But what does this mean for the general American sense of happiness?
In 2000, management consulting company Gallup began polling millions of workers from across the globe regarding their job satisfaction. In 2017, their World Poll found that in the United States, about 70% of people aren’t engaged at work. In other words, they aren’t enjoying what they do.
The Benefits of Enjoyment
Refresh your body and invigorate your mind with a lifestyle full of exercise and great diets. Share on XWhen you love what you do, whether it’s your job or a leisure activity, you open the doors to a healthier outlook and close them to crippling stress, anxiety and even depression. Loving what you do lets you focus on your tasks, whether they be responsibilities at work or a leisurely activity while being passionate about them. Enjoying said activity can also result in you exceeding your expectations in accomplishing them.
Keep learning about your job to ensure that you keep improving. Share on XBut know that it can sometimes take a while before you truly enjoy whatever it is you’re doing. For example, if you take up rock-climbing, don’t expect to zip up that vertical wall without any effort on your first try. It can take several weeks before you reach the top, but it’ll be worth it because all of that hard work and determination truly paid off. And even better, you’ll want to do it again!
Deliberately carve out time to do things that you enjoy. And if you’re suffering from the increasing common plight of “lack of passion”, then perhaps the following can help:
- Imagine the positive feelings you’d experience if you performed your job or activity passionately.
- Refresh your body and invigorate your mind with a lifestyle full of exercise and great diets.
- Keep learning about your job to ensure that you keep improving.
- Take a break. Doing so can give you the clarity you need to decide what your next step should be.
Find the Best Answer
If you can’t remember the last time you enjoyed doing anything, it may be time to visit Rice Psychology Group in Tampa. Your well-being is our passion! We’re here to support you and your loved ones at your own pace and with both compassion and professionalism. Contact our psychologists in Tampa today to schedule your appointment.
