There isn't a single one of us who at some point in their working lives hasn't fantasised about running away to a tropical island, never to see another spreadsheet again. It's become culturally acceptable to actively dislike your job, to view it as something to get out of the way before getting back to your life - but this attitude isn't sustainable, and doesn't make us happy in the short and long term. Learning how to appreciate your job and all it offers is a great way to become present in the workplace, and increase day to day satisfaction as you do.
Appreciate Your Contributions
The most common thought pattern that gets people down is a sense of purposelessness, and when we're doing the same thing day in day out, it can be easy to lose sight of why we do what we do. Whether this is your very first job or if you've been doing it for decades, switching out of autopilot and taking a moment to think about who your work helps and how can provide an immediate boost to our outlook. Actively recognising how you add value to a company, to your manager, and to your colleagues can increase morale and remind you of exactly why you were excited to get the job in the first place.
Appreciate Growth
Just as you can appreciate what you add to the business, so too you can appreciate how the business has helped you develop professionally. Whether it's learning how to use new software, improving teamwork and leadership skills, or being pushed out of your comfort zone and into areas that challenge you - thinking about how much your career has added value to your skillset can help you appreciate why it's so important.
Appreciate Your Colleagues
It could be a great boss, a best friend in the office, or your building's receptionist, but appreciating the people you get to meet and socialise with every day is no small thing. Having a person to spend lunch with, a shoulder to cry on, or someone to learn from can all be found in the workplace, and being grateful for this treasure trove of social interaction is worth remembering on your down days.
Appreciate Choice
We all have a choice to be at work or not, and recognising what a privilege it is to be employed, have a job, and the stability of a steady income can make those day-to-day niggles fade away. Appreciating that we have the choice to change our situation, whether that means asking for a promotion, finding a new job, or switching to a more suitable career path is worth being grateful for every single day.
Appreciate Freedom
We all need a break from work, and we have the benefit of being able to book time off, take breaks, and many workplaces are beginning to offer flexible working hours. Being able to make work fit around our schedules - not the other way around - is no small thing, and we often forget how lucky we are to be able to claim paid time off, sick pay, and something as small as the freedom to take our lunch.
Final Note
Our attitude towards work has everything to do with our perspective, which is something we have absolute control over. Whether you need to start focusing on what you love rather than what bothers you, or if it's a matter of searching for a career that's a better fit, our attitude towards work is entirely ours to shape.