Watching the world go back to work after the holiday break on my Instagram feed was like watching crying kids go home after staying at Disney world for a week.
I had never seen so many comic GIFs of people screaming and crying. I, on the other hand, worked almost every day through the holiday break, and even though I missed my alarm and woke up at 7:49 a.m. to rush out of my apartment so I wouldn't miss a meeting, I still didn't feel any of those Monday blues.
I think many other entrepreneurs would agree with me when I say coming to work every day gives me a kind of joy nothing else can replace. Feeling like I have an impact and can change someone's way of living through TranQool lets me work longer hours and not regret a single day of it.
I was what you would call a typical engineering student at school. I studied hard, was constantly worried about my marks and never missed deadlines. After grad school, I started working at an amazing Fortune 500 company where I had the chance to travel and learn a lot.
However, when Sunday afternoons come around, I still kinda wished I didn't have to wake up and go to work. It's not because I had a bad job or that it was boring, I just didn't feel like I was making the impact I wanted to have in this world.
Starting your own business requires a lot of courage and determination. The courage to leave a stable life and the determination to do whatever it takes to make it work.
I was lucky, I started my first business with friends who were just as passionate to start a business that helps everyday people like ourselves live happier lives. Enjoying work doesn't really require you to start your own business, it just requires motivation and drive to come in to work everyday.
Here are four things that can make your work more enjoyable no matter what you're doing:
1) Feeling Like You're Always Growing:
We've been growing all of our lives; mentally, physically and emotionally. Having development opportunities at work is just another way to encourage growth. Learning new things and conquering unfamiliar challenges motivates you and gives you confidence. Human nature has a hunger for growth, feed it.
2) Knowing the Why of Your Work:
Knowing why you're doing something gives it purpose, and can motivate and excite you. Why are you doing this? Is it aligned with your long-term career goals, do you love your team, or is it your passion that keeps you up at night? It can also be because you need the money. If you are working here just because you need the money, though, what do you need the money for? That could be your why.
3) Having a Side Activity or Project:
A side-activity or a habit that satisfies your hunger and the need for learning is a great complement to work days. Picking up a new language, starting a reading club, or taking kickboxing classes -- anything that you have always wanted to try, go out and try it. It's never been so affordable and easy to start a side activity, start with YouTube. You can even try one of those wine and paint classes that are so popular now.
4) Finding Friends at Work:
This might not be the case for everyone but as an extrovert, I get energized from communicating with others and bouncing ideas off of them. Team dynamic and your work environment can boost your productivity and drive to go in every morning. Even an introvert would be more likely to feel comfortable with their work if their coworkers were friendly and understanding of their working style.
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