LIFE/WORK

If your job scores low on your scale of satisfaction then you need to make some changes. This might be improving the job you’re in, changing direction a little, changing careers entirely, or getting a better balance between your life and your work.

IMPROVING YOUR JOB
If you enjoy the environment you work in but feel bored or unappreciated, then it’s time to improve things. Start by evaluating yourself. Write down your unique qualities, your strengths, work style and expertise. Ask yourself where you’re under utilised in your job. Then see if there are ways you can improve in certain areas. Perhaps you could do a computer course or something similar to improve your skills, or learn another language. Gain extra experience by voluntary work or part-time work at weekends. Do some extra studies. Perhaps you have ideas on how your work could be made more interesting. Once you are clear about how your job could be improved approach the person in charge. People are surprisingly ready to listen if you tell them you want to do more or do extra, especially if you’re already a valued employee.

BRANCHING OUT
Sometimes it’s impossible to move forwards or sideways in a job and you may have come to the end of the road in that particular environment. Alternatively you may not get on with your boss or colleagues, even though you like what you do. Remember there are other jobs doing the same sort of thing, or you might even decide to become self-employed. Go out and start looking. Do your research carefully.

Find out what other jobs in your field are available. Are many of them advertised or do you need to network to find them? What qualifications are they asking for and do you have them? Is the pay better or worse? If necessary update or upgrade your skills. Get well prepared before seeking out another position. Get help writing your cv and covering letter if you’re not confident about doing it yourself. Plan answers to questions for interviews. Have a clear idea of what you want and why. Once you’re completely ready, go out there and apply. Don’t give up, even if it takes a while to find the right job.

If self-employment appeals to you then find out everything you can about the competition, about marketing, about costs. Do your research thoroughly. Seek expert advice if necessary. Do you want to work alone or with a partner? Think about whether or not you have the right personality. You’ll need to be organised, motivated and dedicated and, above all, confident in your service or product.

A COMPLETE CHANGE
Many of us find ourselves trapped in a career we’ve realised doesn’t suit us. This is often because we’ve gone into that field when very young not realising quite what it entailed, or because there have been changes over a period of time, in us or the work environment, that have made us feel differently about the job .

Whatever the reason, there’s no point staying there if you’re dissatisfied or depressed. It is possible to make a complete career change at any time in your life. Of course, the most important thing is to identify what you really want to be doing and sometimes this is the hardest part. If you already know exactly what you want to do then miss out the next paragraph!

Okay, you need to do a bit of brainstorming. We all have themes that run through our lives. List all the things you’ve done where you’ve achieved well, won prizes, been praised. These may be sports, school subjects or hobbies. Try to identify what has given you the most satisfaction in your life now and in the past. Don’t think about jobs you can do, but about what you enjoy. What do other people come to you for? Are you a leader, a follower, an advisor, an organiser, an innovator? What can you bring from past jobs into a new career?

Once you have some idea of what kind of career would suit you, you need to research. Arrange to meet and talk to anyone working in that field. Find out everything you can about it on the internet. Do you need extra qualifications? If so, where can you study and can you do it in your spare time? Is there any way you can get some experience in the meantime? Give yourself a period of time to get ready. This may be one year or three years or just a few months. Set yourself a goal and go all out to achieve it. It’s never too late to make a change.

LIFE/WORK BALANCE
This is the most common problem people have with their jobs. Somewhere along the line work has taken over your life and this leads to stress and ill-health. Work invades our personal lives mainly when we are working longer hours than we should. This may happen because we’re self-employed and daren’t or can’t switch off, or because we have the technology to work anywhere at any time, or because we want to climb the career ladder or earn more money so we put in overtime.

Remind yourself that you’ll be able to do none of these things if you’re ill. To remain healthy you need a balance in your life. There’s no point reaching the top of your profession if you’re too ill to maintain it, or earning lots of money if you’re too ill to enjoy it. Life is more than work and it’s important that you make time for other things in your life.

Try to manage your time better. Start by making a log of your activities, both in and outside work, for a week. This will give you a clearer idea of where your time goes and how you could make some changes. Is it possible to rearrange some schedules at work so that you’re able to spend less time there? Could you arrange to work late two days a week in return for finishing early once a week, or something similar? Can you organise your household more efficiently, getting support or help if necessary from cleaners, nannies, gardeners, family and friends? Try to organise your weekdays so that you can fit a few chores in, freeing up more time on your day off.

Learn to let go of what’s not important. Does it really matter if your home isn’t spotlessly clean at all times? Is it more important to spend time with your children or clean out the garage? Try not to be perfectionist about every aspect of your life.

Nurture yourself. Make sure you spend at least half an hour a day doing something for yourself, even if it’s during your lunch time: read a book, listen to music, go for a walk or to the gym, meditate or play games on the computer. Set aside one evening a week to do something you enjoy, either alone or with family and friends. Go out to eat, watch a film, write, paint, go canoeing or swimming or play golf. Ensure you have a day off once a week and don’t use it all to do your chores.

Remember that you don’t have to do everything. Decide what your priorities are and what you can and can’t do. Don’t feel guilty if you can’t do it all. Set yourself boundaries and stick to them so that you have a healthier and happier lifestyle.