How do you feel about the work you do? Does it ignite a sense of motivation within you? Are you eager to start each workday? Beyond the financial rewards, does your job offer other fulfilling benefits? And, if you find yourself less than enthusiastic about your work—how can you transition to a state of inspiration and purpose without turning your life upside down?
For many individuals, an absence of meaning is often a significant barrier to achieving personal and professional fulfillment. Meaning arises from the significance we attach to our actions, experiences, or life circumstances. Finding meaning at work involves aligning our professional endeavors with our core values and creating a sense of purpose and contribution that resonates beyond the office walls into our personal lives.
When we engage in work that feels meaningful, we often experience heightened motivation, increased job satisfaction, and a profound sense of well-being. Conversely, the absence of meaning can lead to detrimental outcomes, such as burnout, low productivity, and a sense of stagnation.
Avoiding Apathy and Finding Satisfaction Through Your Work
A common reaction to feeling uninspired by our work is to point fingers at the job, our colleagues, or other external factors. This approach can divert us from addressing the real root of the problem. The actual key to understanding our feelings about work lies within our inner world.
The process starts with introspection, prompting us to ask ourselves some crucial questions. Initially, we must reflect on whether our current job or career genuinely resonates with our innermost aspirations and fundamental values. Inquiring, "Is this truly what I wish to be doing?" "Does this work hold personal significance for me?" and "Am I contributing positively?" are critical steps in this introspective journey. 1 These questions and others like them not only address our potential apathy at work but also guide us in protecting our well-being during challenging times.
To deepen this exploration, the Berkeley Greater Good Science Center recommends the PERK framework. This model consists of four essential constructs to cultivate a more fulfilling work life.
Purpose
Feeling that your work aligns with core values and meaningfully contributes to something beyond yourself. One way to find your purpose is through asking the question why as explored in our article “Why is the Magic Question.”
Engagement
Feeling curious, interested, and inspired; experiencing flow; and being dedicated to making progress at work.
Resilience
Being able to handle setbacks and difficulties in ways that foster learning and growth at work. Resilience can be fostered by practicing mindfulness, compartmentalizing tasks, taking breaks to reset energy levels, cultivating mental agility, and practicing compassion.
Kindness
A trusting, friendly, and genuinely supportive social work environment. It involves practicing prosocial states such as empathy, compassion, and gratitude. 2
Individuals can significantly enhance their work experience and overall life satisfaction by focusing on these four areas.
“Our best attempts at a good life are found in bursts of passion.”
~ Dacher Keltner, Professor of Psychology, UC Berkeley | Co-Director of the Greater Good Science Center
Tactics for Cultivating Happiness and Greater Work/Life Balance
The notion of satisfaction at work often includes the elusive concept of happiness. But what exactly does happiness entail, particularly in the context of our profession? Emiliana Simon-Thomas from the Berkeley Greater Good Science Center defines it as “an overarching sense of enjoyment, feeling connected, and the awareness that our actions contribute to something larger than ourselves.” 3 While we've discussed the significance of purpose and other vital elements of job satisfaction, how can we further nurture the sense of enjoyment and connection that Simon-Thomas highlights?
Below are some strategies that can significantly enhance our happiness and overall satisfaction in the workplace.
Practice Awareness
Awareness is key in detecting when something feels off, such as an imbalance in our work-life dynamic. It also helps us pinpoint the necessary adjustments. Enhancing our awareness can be achieved through mindfulness practices and conducting personal and professional self-assessments. For a comprehensive guide to some of the most effective self-assessment tools, refer to our article, 'Harnessing Your Inner Compass.’
Develop Your Emotional Intelligence
Developing emotional intelligence (EQ) skills is vital for effectively managing stress, communicating proficiently, and empathizing with others. These skills play a significant role in fostering a healthier work environment and enriching our personal lives.
Perform Habit-Shifting Exercises
Negative mental habits can profoundly affect our experiences. Engaging in habit-shifting exercises, like concentrating on positive aspects, cultivating gratitude, practicing self-compassion, and ensuring our daily activities reflect our values, can facilitate a transition from negative to more positive mental patterns.
Engage in Outside Interests
Actively pursuing personal hobbies and interests outside of work is essential for nurturing a well-rounded and fulfilling life. These activities not only provide a necessary break from professional responsibilities but also enrich our lives with joy, creativity, and a sense of accomplishment. They help maintain a healthy work-life balance, contributing to our overall well-being and personal growth.
Enhance Your Productivity
A crucial component of attaining a healthy work-life balance lies in improving our efficiency and productivity, which allows us to accomplish more in a shorter period. This doesn't require exerting more effort but rather adopting a smarter approach to work. Effective techniques include prioritizing tasks, reducing distractions, and streamlining workflows. UC Berkeley Neuroscientist and Lecturer, Dr. Safar Yousef, offers a wealth of insights on work efficiency in her article, 'Hack Your Productivity.' 4
Harness Your Energy
Recognizing and capitalizing on the times of day when we are most productive or creative can enhance the engagement and reward we derive from our work. As Dr. Yousef points out, these peak periods vary from person to person.5 Therefore, it's beneficial to explore and understand your own unique energy patterns to maximize your potential.
By combining these tactics, individuals can create a more balanced, productive, and creatively fulfilling work and personal life.
The Importance of Mindset
Our mindset plays a pivotal role in our capacity to discover and relish joy and satisfaction in our work, particularly during periods of uncertainty. Although it's common for uncertainty to induce a narrow, short-term focus, it can also act as a potent impetus for realigning with our core values. Such times of change offer a valuable chance to re-evaluate our priorities, values, and objectives, guiding us towards more meaningful and fulfilling paths in our personal and professional lives.
Cultivating specific mindsets, such as a growth mindset, encourages adaptability and resilience, viewing challenges as opportunities to learn and evolve rather than insurmountable obstacles that zap our positive energy and deplete us.
Furthermore, embracing lifelong learning, as exemplified by the Berkeley Haas Defining Leadership Principles, particularly the principle of being students always, plays a crucial role in combating stagnation and building a sense of joy and optimism around our work.
Coupling the importance of self-care and maintaining a positive outlook on the future is essential for mental and emotional well-being.
Final Thoughts
Finding meaning at work and achieving a work-life balance is essential for personal fulfillment and professional success. From introspection and aligning with core values to adopting effective productivity strategies and embracing a growth mindset, these approaches collectively contribute to a more satisfying work experience.
For more insights and resources, the Greater Good Science Center offers a wealth of information to guide you on this journey. By integrating these principles, individuals can navigate their careers with resilience, purpose, and a deep sense of fulfillment.
References
- Simon-Thomas, E. (2018). The four keys to happiness at work. [PDF]. www.humean.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/the-four-keys-to-happiness-at…;
4 Keys to Happiness at Work - Simon-Thomas, E; Newman, K (2019, July). How happy are people at work. Greater Good Magazine. https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/how_happy_are_people_at_w…;
How Happy Are People at Work - Simon-Thomas, E. (2019). Happiness at Work: Insights from Science for Leading Change and inspiring Excellence [PDF]. SRA International Annual Meeting. chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://higherlogicdownload.s3.amazonaws.com/SRAINTERNATIONAL/47435d22-…
- Yousef, S. (n.d.). Neuroscientist Dr. Sahar Yousef: How to hack your productivity. Adobe Creative Cloud Discover. https://creativecloud.adobe.com/discover/article/neuroscientist-dr-sahar-yousef-how-to-hack-your-productivity?locale=en
- Yousef, S. (2020, March 9). What's the most creative time of day? It's Nice That. https://www.itsnicethat.com/news/sahar-yousef-most-creative-time-of-day-opinion-090320
- Kray, L. (n.d.). Science meets practice: Women's leadership in the time of coronavirus [Video]. Berkeley Executive Education. https://executive.berkeley.edu/thought-leadership/video/science-meets-practice-womens-leadership-time-coronavirus
- Why is the Magic Question. (n.d.). Berkeley Executive Education. https://executive.berkeley.edu/thought-leadership/blog/why-magic-question
- Orenstein, N. (2017, July 26). Dacher Keltner pursues happiness in all things at Greater Good Science Center. Berkeleyside. https://www.berkeleyside.org/2017/07/26/dacher-keltner-pursues-happiness-things-greater-good-science-center
- Fernandez, R. (2016, June). Building resilience: 5 ways to build your personal resilience at work. Harvard Business Review. https://hbr.org/2016/06/627-building-resilience-ic-5-ways-to-build-your…
