Change Your Mind Not Your Job: How to Find Meaning in Any Career, According to Psychologists

If your day job has become dreary, these tips can help you find that spark again.

It’s 9 am and you clock in with a single “click.” The minutes — no wait, seconds — are long and drawn out. You stare at your computer screen blankly, trying to will yourself to work but your mind wanders. You’re disengaged, disenchanted and ready to call it a day.

When devoid of meaning, work is exactly that: work. It’s mundane and the hours drag by. Luckily, that’s not how it has to be. When you find meaning in your work, you’ll start to feel like you’re contributing something that matters. You’ll care about what you do and that can make all the difference to your motivation, wellbeing and happiness. 

The good news is, any job can be meaningful when you have the right mindset. Here’s how to get started.

What gives meaning to your professional life?

“People often find fulfillment in their professional lives by pursuing work that is meaningful to them, whether it be a career they view as important or something that brings joy into their lives,” explains Jamila Jones, Licensed Clinical Therapist and Owner of Reclaiming Minds Therapy and Wellness.

That nugget of “joy” isn’t as elusive as you might first imagine. “It could be something as ordinary as finding satisfaction in doing a job well and feeling appreciated for the work that one puts forth, or something more unique like being enthusiastic about one's profession due to an inner drive toward self-growth and development,” says Jones.

In other words, there’s no one-size-fits-all approach here. We each have individual drivers. Dean Harrison, Director Counseling Psychologist at iFlow Psychology adds that meaning can be derived from people “feeling a sense of purpose or fulfillment in their work, making a positive impact on others, or a sense of belonging within their organization or industry.”

Is it normal to doubt your career?

If there’s a voice in the back of your mind telling you to call it quits, don’t panic. Doubting your career choice is completely normal and you’re not alone. Some 32% of Americans are “not content” with their current job, which is an all-time low. Many are thinking about career-hopping as a way to raise their job satisfaction.

When you consider the impact that our jobs have on our lives and lifestyles, it’s no wonder we have doubts at times. “We spend the majority of our week at work so it’s natural to question — in the humdrum and the high stress — whether it’s what you want to spend all of your time doing,” says Hannah Brents, LICSW, Private Practice Owner at Self Talk Therapy.

Having doubts about your day job doesn’t always mean you should leave it, however. It’s not a foregone conclusion that a new job will be better or more fulfilling than your current role.  

Before you throw in the figurative towel, it’s worth looking at ways that you can find meaning in your current role and get more out of it. Here are five strategies to help you do just that.

1. Redefine your central job purpose

Maybe your mindset is the problem. Can you switch up your inner narrative when it comes to your career path? Yale researchers discovered that around one-third of hospital custodians were able to change their view of their job by finding the human element in it.

For example, rather than focusing on the functionality of the role, i.e. humdrum cleaning tasks, they moved their attention to how their duties helped provide comfort and healing to the hospital patients. This small-yet-significant tweak had a huge impact on how the janitors viewed themselves and the job they did each day.

It’s all about accentuating your job’s value. “Work can sometimes become a monotonous set of tasks to be completed,” says Jones. “Highlighting the significance of the work you do on a daily basis can serve as a reminder of your purpose for being there.”

2. Find your workplace community

Community counts for everything, especially in the workplace. When you head to work each day, do you engage with the people around you or do you prefer to keep yourself to yourself? “Look for the people whom you connect with who make coming to work fun, or at least as fun as it can be,” suggests Brents. “Having a strong connection with others in your proximity can provide a sense of 'we’re all in this together'.”

No matter what your job role is, you’re not an island. To gain a sense of true satisfaction from your job, you need to reach out to the people around you and find common ground with the people in your team. Do you share career goals, values or even a sense of humor? “Feeling like a part of something special by working in a company or organization they can relate to and connect with can contribute to feelings of positive fulfillment,” adds Jones.

3. Embrace tasks that align with your values

Your values guide each aspect of your lifestyle. While you may not be working for a mission-led charity or nonprofit, there may be elements of your role that speak to your ethics. If that sounds familiar, perhaps you should focus more of your energy and attention on them.

“Maslow's concept of self-transcendence is the highest level of his hierarchy of needs,” explains Harrison. “It refers to the idea that individuals have a natural inclination to go beyond their self-interests and seek a connection to something greater than themselves.”

To infuse your work with meaning, keep your eyes peeled for ways you can make your job align with your personal values. “The concept of self-transcendence can help individuals find meaning and engagement in their work by encouraging them to seek out opportunities that align with their values and to make a difference in the lives of others,” he explains.

4. Learn how to get into a state of “flow”

Have you ever completely lost yourself in your work? If so, you might have experienced a phenomenon known as “flow.” Developed by psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, this is the name given to a deep level of focus and engagement in whatever you’re doing. And it might just be the secret to finding happiness in your day job.

“When in a state of flow, an individual is fully absorbed in the task at hand, and loses track of time and self-awareness,” explains Harrison. “They are completely focused on the task and their actions are guided by a sense of effortless mastery. It is considered an important concept for finding meaning and engagement in work because it is associated with a high level of satisfaction and enjoyment.”

The caveat is that you shouldn’t expect quick results. If getting into this supreme state were easy, we’d all be doing it all of the time. And yet, we are not. Like most things in life worth learning, mastering the flow state takes practice and commitment. To get started, try to eliminate distractions when engaging in work tasks and find that interesting point that captures your attention.

As Harrison explains, choosing the right activity also plays a role. “To achieve flow, it is important that the task is challenging but not too difficult, and that the individual has the necessary skills and abilities to complete it. It is also important that the task is engaging and provides a sense of purpose or meaning,” he adds.

5. Schedule some time for reflection

If you’re scrambling to meet deadlines, answer emails and take meetings, you might lose sight of the real impact your work has. In a society that values productivity over all else, you may never get a moment to stop and take stock of what you have done thus far.

“Regularly taking the time to reflect on your work can help you to gain a deeper understanding of what you find meaningful and important in your job,” says Harrison. When you get the opportunity, focus on “your successes, failures and the lessons you've learned.” As he explains, this can help you “to identify areas of growth and improvement.”

This approach can also keep you on track. Whether you tend to set New Year’s resolutions, long-term plans, or more freeform career goals, it pays dividends to check in with yourself now and then. “Remember and revisit goals that you set at the beginning of your career path,” says Jones. “This helps you to stay excited for work.” 

When should you quit your job?

While it may be tempting to jump ship at the first sign of career boredom, this is a choice that shouldn’t be taken lightly. In most cases, you can unlock meaning in your current job and increase your satisfaction levels. 

However, that’s not always possible. If you notice any of the following red flags, you might want to start drafting your resignation letter.

●     You’re stagnating professionally

It’s human nature to crave development and progression. Are you getting what you need here? “If you have been in your current role for an extended period and have reached a plateau in your growth or advancement, it might be time to consider a change,” says Harrison. “Sometimes, staying too long in a job can lead to feeling stuck or stagnant in your career, and not having opportunities to grow or advance.”

●     It’s affecting your mental state

Do you end up stressing about work when you’re not even there? That’s a bad sign. “If you find that you are constantly unhappy or unfulfilled in your job, it may be a sign that it is not the right fit for you,” adds Harrison. “This can be caused by a lack of alignment with your values, a lack of challenge or growth opportunities, or a poor work-life balance.”

●     Your physical health is suffering

Your health is worth more than any salary. “If your job is causing stress, anxiety or other negative effects on your mental or physical health, it may be time to consider leaving,” says Harrison. There are plenty of ways in which your job can impact your health. You may be working long hours, experience high stress or have a physically demanding role.

Regardless of the cause, should you find that your job is taking too much of a toll on you physically, it may be time to call it quits. While you don’t want to slam the door behind you without a game plan, it’s wise to start looking into other employment options out there.

Conclusion

Searching for meaning — in any sense of the word — is a straightforward way to increase your everyday happiness at work. In this guide, we have covered some of the expert and research-backed strategies you may choose to employ. Adopting any or all of them may help you to feel more engaged with your role and gain more from it each day.