8 Strategies to Increase Your Job Satisfaction & Feel More Fulfilled in Your Current Job

1. Treat yourself for achieving goals. You probably find yourself dragging through the drudgery of day-to-day tasks. As they come up, you groan and unwillingly start to tackle them. But how different would it be if you start to treat yourself for completing tasks? Much different for sure! As you move through one task at a time, take a few moments of downtime for yourself. That may mean walking away from your desk or chatting for a moment with a coworker. Whatever it is, treat yourself to something you like.

2. Choose to be positive. Human beings are the only creatures with the power of choice. If you use that power to encourage positive thinking, your job can seem more bearable. Each morning, express thanks for waking up to a new day. Truly be grateful for that opportunity and recognize it as a blessing. Focus on that blessing throughout your day at work. Remember, even an unpleasant task at work has some positive element to it. Consider the fact that each task you do gives you more work experience. Later on, you can use that experience to land the job of your dreams!

3. Focus on success. Just like many other things in life, time is best spent focusing on where you want to go. For everything you do at work, your aim is to complete it, and do it well. Try the approach of focusing on the successful end result instead of the journey. Consider how well your next evaluation will go if you are successful in everything you do. The thought of positive recognition is enough to give you some amount of joy. Forget the fact that it’s not your dream job. Make it the job that you knocked out the park. Make it the stepping-stone to a job more aligned with your professional desires.

4. Become a mentor. Sometimes experiencing work blues is worth it when you impart knowledge to someone else. Is there an intern at your office? Or do you know someone else in need of professional guidance? Why not become their mentor? Helping someone else succeed can bring you satisfaction. What you’re gaining through daily experience can make a positive change in someone else’s life. Knowing that is victory in itself!

5. Find ways to make the work you do more engaging. Create contests for yourself to see if you can deliver better performance. Or, partner with a coworker to have a friendly (“friendly” is the key) competition related to work performance. It is okay to have fun.

6. Reorganize your time. Are there tasks that just aren’t drawing on your strengths? Tasks that you really wish would disappear from your daily to-do list? Explore if there is a way for you to delegate them. If not, maybe you can come up with a solution that will make them more enjoyable and efficient to complete.

7. Socialize more. Don’t let it hurt your performance, but if you feel more connected to your coworkers, you are likely to feel more engaged and happier during your workday. Attend office events and meetings and get to know the people you work with.

8. Pursue every new learning opportunity. Does your employer offer special training opportunities? Seize on them. Do you have the opportunity to learn a new job responsibility? Go for it. Enthusiastically take on new assignments. Increasing your knowledge and skills won’t just help you now, they’ll help you pursue your dream job in the future.