The average person spends eight hours a day at work. Add to this the time it takes to commute to and from the office, and working overtime, this equates to around a third of your entire life spent working.

Now if you love your job and are passionate about what you do, you may think this isn;t a problem. But what if you don’t? Life is short. Far too short to waste it on things that don’t bring you any fulfilment or satisfaction.

If you are unhappy with your current career, you need to make a change before it is too late. So many people spend their entire lives working backbreaking or monotonous jobs that they detest. This leads to resentment, unhappiness, stress and mental health issues. You owe it to yourself to improve your quality of life.

But how can you increase your job satisfaction? These five tips will help you to make positive changes in your working life, and take steps towards achieving the career of your dreams.

Set goals

If you are serious about changing your life, the most important first step is to set goals. What does job satisfaction look like to you? Where do you see yourself in five years from now, a decade, and beyond? Do you want to stay in your current company or will you need to move? Working out what you want from your life is essential if you are ever going to get there.

Take some time to chart out your ideal life plan and only then can you figure out the steps you need to take. Once you have articulated your goals and written them down, you can use these to check in on your progress and keep you motivated once you start to make changes. 

Talk to your boss

It might only take a few small changes to boost your job satisfaction, and talking with your employer is one of the best ways to achieve this. Schedule a meeting with your boss to talk about your career and where you would like it to go. Perhaps you would prefer more responsibility so you can feel like you are making a valuable contribution to the company. Or maybe it would help to be clued in on the company’s profits and goals, so you can see where you fit into the big picture. Whatever changes you feel are necessary, your boss is the person who has the power to instigate them, so it’s important you get on their side.

Create a positive environment

Work is not just about getting the job done. The social element is also important, so if you don’t get on with your colleagues then you are missing out on a key part of job satisfaction. Some offices are incredibly social places, full of bubbly coworkers who all get along together. But others are places of drudgery and boredom where people rarely chat other than about essential tasks.

If you are not feeling socially fulfilled at work, there is no reason why you can’t create a more positive atmosphere. Start chatting to your coworkers more, asking about their weekends and their home lives. If you are the kind of person to eat lunch at your desk, take the time instead to sit with others and spark some conversation. Make friends with Karen from HR or Tim from IT support. Take it upon yourself to become the social secretary in your office, organising work nights out and other fun events.

Find value elsewhere

Although you may spend five days a week in the office, this leaves an additional two days, plus holidays, to use as you wish. It’s important for your own health and wellbeing that your career doesn’t take over your life. Find other activities and hobbies to bring meaning to your existence and keep you motivated while you sit at your desk throughout the week. Perhaps you could take up a sport such as joining a soccer team or training for a marathon. If you’re not the sporty type you could start writing a novel, or start a DIY project in your garage. 

Whatever you choose, this should be something you enjoy, that brings meaning and happiness into your life. Once you have found your calling, your days at work will feel more enjoyable knowing that you have something else to look forward to when you leave the office.

Change your career

So many people find jobs straight out of school or college, then stick with them for the rest of their lives, never experiencing anything else. But you only get one shot at life, so you shouldn’t settle. It’s a good idea to try new things and discover what is out there before you choose your life path. Take a good look at your life and ask yourself honestly whether you are in the career of your dreams. And if not, what could you do to get there? It is never too late in life to make a career change. It might be hard and it might take a lot of time and money, but if you are really committed to it, you will get there in the end. 

Maybe you want to be a novelist. If so, use your leisure time to get working on your masterpiece and don’t stop until it’s completed. Or maybe you’ve long harboured dreams of being a lawyer. If so, enroll in an online law degree and start cracking the books. The number one obstacle to realising your career goals is your own mind. If you believe you can do it, then you can. And once you find your ideal job, you will be happier, healthier, and more fulfilled in all areas of your life. 

Your ideal job should also have a great workplace culture, with good communication and respect between employees. Look for job opportunities that prioritize work-life balance; after all, it’s not just about the money! Make sure there is ample opportunity for growth within the company and a suitable salary and benefits package. For example, sales jobs are a great way to ensure work-life balance and receive competitive salaries and commissions. Finding your ideal job is a process that takes time, research, and dedication. You will have to make some tough choices along the way and remain focused on your goals.

In conclusion, there are so many ways to increase your job satisfaction in 2022. You can start by making small changes to your responsibilities and your work environment, but if this isn;t enough then you can go all out and change your job entirely. Just be patient and stick with it, and your hard work will pay off in the end.