Losing Joy in Work
Sometimes we all lose the joy in our work. Some call it a loss of motivation, some call it a lack of discipline. Whatever the reason, there is a way to improve it.
Sometimes we all lose the joy in our work. Some call it a loss of motivation, some call it a lack of discipline. Whatever the reason, there is a way to improve it.
People typically lose the joy in their work when the work changes constantly, preventing them from ever benefiting from accumulated learning. They find themselves stuck in a continuous learning loop.
Another reason is when everything becomes too routine, leaving no room for exploration.
And another is when results become more important than the process itself, leaving no space to enjoy the act of making. People begin to worry constantly about what comes next — the next big shiny goal.
What This Writing Is About
This writing is not about solving the problems above. If you had solved them, you probably wouldn’t be reading this.
This post is about something that works regardless of those problems.
The solution presented here transcends them.
Perhaps you cannot change how your company expects results from you, but there are a few things you can do in how you work that will increase satisfaction and enjoyment, and in turn, improve your overall motivation.
The Foundation: Simple, Worldly Wisdom
Before I say what it is, there’s one thing that is absolutely critical.
As Charlie Munger, the late Vice Chairman of Berkshire Hathaway, said many times, most people can succeed with elementary worldly wisdom.
We don’t need complicated or novel solutions to succeed in life.
In fact, the simplest solutions are often the best, because they are easier to understand, remember, and apply.
If you appreciate the mindset of adopting elementary worldly wisdom, we can move to the next step — the solution.
The Solution: Intense Focus
What I have tried many times, and what has consistently improved my satisfaction with any work I’ve done, is doing it with intense focus.
That’s it. That’s the solution.
Now, you might wonder what exactly I mean by intense focus.
It means doing your work — whatever it is — with the mindset that it’s the most important work you’ll ever do.
You don’t have to apply this mindset to everything, but whenever you need an extra boost of morale and motivation, this tool is in your pocket.
How to Practice Intense Focus
When something is the most important work, ask yourself how you would do it. You would do it with intense focus.
Focus on what exactly? On whatever you’re doing.
For example, if you’re typing some boring code in your editor, become aware of your keyboard, the keys you press, the letters and words appearing on the screen.
Slow down. Don’t rush. Feel curious about your tools.
When you need to think about the code that seems boring, grab a pen and paper. Reflect on the meaning of class names, variable names, and the relationships in the execution path. Notice the ink flowing from your pen.
If you don’t get the tactile feedback you need, change your tools — use a mechanical keyboard, a better pen, or higher-quality paper.
Cheap tools are cheap for a reason: they kill the feeling you get from using them.
Be curious about areas outside your direct job requirements. Develop an appreciation for the system’s complexity and how existing problems have been solved.
Think about how you would explain these to someone else.
Perhaps stop using a ToDo app, but starting writing them on sticky notes. Making things tactile prompts different parts of your brain, which sometimes result in more focus and longer flow state.
All these examples are to give you ideas to start thinking out of the box about your work.
You can’t enjoy work you don’t care about.
You won’t care unless you find it exciting.
Find ways to make it exciting.
Sometimes, doing the same work with different tools or mediums can lift your excitement a notch.
Join meetings where the future of the project is discussed. Force yourself to be more interested.
Final Reminder
This doesn’t have to make sense. You just need to try it to see its benefits.
Remember this: we cannot always find exciting work.
Sometimes we have to make the work exciting — and that’s not as hard as most people think.