georgia’sfeet

It comes with the territory: you get into a routine, you do the same thing over and over, you get comfortable with what you do, then after complacency, in comes boredom.  It happens to everybody in every profession that sooner or later there will be a rut in which one is stuck. 

Then the day will come when you do not know why you’re at work and why you’re doing what you’re doing. You suddenly realize that  you either do not know what is going on  or that that much time has passed.  You suddenly are flooded by the sense of wanting to recapture that time that has gone by and then are smacked with the helplessness of reality that you cannot, after all, turn back time.  You also realize that you had achieved absolutely nothing of what you set out to do, or have not accomplished the first stage of a project you promised yourself you would start. 

Frustration sets in, which then leads to you not wanting to go into work and wondering why you ever found this job interesting in the first place.  You start looking at ‘options’ but realize that you are not qualified for the other positions you’re looking at, or are not really THAT interested, or you need this job to get qualified for the one you wanted in the first place.

Everyone has passed this inevitable stage in their career (and for those who haven’t, then you’re either really lucky, or about to get smacked with it in the face; sorry about that).  In getting past it, one will be able to discern how exactly to avoid these pockets of drought in inspiration, creativity, productiveness or all three in the future.  This has happened to the best people, to bosses, CEOs, and presidents.  This is just our subconscious telling us that we need a change of scenery, to put it metaphorically. 

First step is really to figure out what kind of job your present one is to you, and what options there are in continuing on.  If, for example, you took a sales job just to pay the bills and what you really want to do is teach for a living, then you have to really weigh your options —and limited as they may be, be thankful that you still have options. 

Next is the plan of action on  you want to do about this situation, and to stick to it.  This will  help you through the rough times; and if indeed this will help you to get to where you really want, then you can sacrifice a little bit more.

Now, there is also the flipside wherein you find yourself at a job that you do want to do, but you just cannot figure out why you have no interest in it, even though you should.  Be creative and change your routine….interact more with your co-workers. 

These are the three easiest ways to get yourself out of that rut.

Being Creative: this does not mean you have to paint a mural on the MRT walls or write a sonata.  This means that you should approach the way you do your work differently.  For example, if encoding something makes up the majority of your job description, then maybe one way of being creative is color-coding categories or sections of your work.  It will not only help you reorganize, but it will get you just that little bit more interested enough in your job to get it done, and get it done well.

Change your routine: it is more or less the same as being creative, but it does not restrict you to the office.  Changing your routine can mean  the route you take to get to the office from your house.  This can mean taking the stairs to your floor (if you’re on lower floors, do not go out to kill yourself).  This can even mean changing your style of clothing in the office, for example instead of wearing jeans to “Casual Friday”, you can wear a nice dress that can also spill over to your gimmick that night.  That will generate, at the very least, interest and consciousness again back to yourself and will inevitably spill excitement and enthusiasm on to your work.  

Interacting with your Co-workers: these are the people who are your family for most of your day.  A healthy rapport with your co-workers is important if you want to get out of that rut. Going up to a telesales lady  in another department and complimenting her on her shoes in the pantry will spark small talk—and really, that may be all you need.  You can even be frank and explain that you’re stuck in a rut.  And you may be pleasantly surprised to find that her advice may  be just the thing to help you get better at your job.

These tips should make it easier for you at work the next time you feel like you are on a road to nowhere.  The most important thing to remember is that all must come, as always, from your own initiative and power.  You have to move those feet to get anywhere, be it being better at your job, or getting out of it. 

[Jayjay Viray is the Country Manager of JobsDB Phils, Inc. For more job opportunities, log on to www.jobsdb.com.ph.  For comments, email feedback@jobsdb.com.ph.]