We spend so much of our lives at work, and yet sadly, so many of us are so unhappy.  Many of us feel trapped.  We may believe that we have few choices available to us about what work we do.  The need to pay the mortgage, and the responsibilities of having children, aged parents and partners may tie us to particular places or jobs.  Given these constraints, 

• What did you dream you'd be doing when you were younger?
• Do you look forward to going to work?
• Are you earning what you're worth?
• Is your current job the one you want to be doing right up to retirement?

These are the sorts of questions that a life coach would ask you, but you don't need a coach to get the process going.  Take time to imagine what your dream job is.  What holds you back from getting it?  What can you do about it?

It may be that you cannot consider changing jobs at the moment.  If you can't, there are some simple steps you can take to get more out of your working life.  It's important that you feel you are developing.  Use internal training courses and any appraisal system there may be to stretch yourself.  Set yourself targets and strive for them.  You should also make an effort to connect with other people.  Look up and out from time-to-time.

Bitching about our work is part and parcel of many people's lives.  You may feel that it is a release to have a good moan, but moaning drains our energy and disempowers us.  Try to be positive about where you are.  Work on changing the things you can change.  Avoid putting too much effort into fretting about what you can't change.

Don't fritter your life away moaning.  Most of us spend a lot of our lives at work.  Now is the time to make it a more worthwhile experience.  As Michael Gerber says:

"The work we do is a reflection of who we are.   If we're sloppy at it, it's because we're sloppy inside. If we're late at it, it's because we're late inside. If we're bored by it, it's because we're bored inside, with ourselves, not with the work.   The work can be a piece of art when done by an artist. So the job here is not outside of ourselves, but inside of ourselves.

"How we do our work becomes a mirror of how we are inside. In the process, the work you do becomes you. And you become the force that breathes life into the idea behind the work. You become the creator of the work you do."

If you would like to receive my tips on using your time more effectively, please use the form below.

My mailing list is confidential.  I will not pass your details on to third parties.