7 TIPS FOR STAYING PASSIONATE ABOUT YOUR WORK

1. UNDERSTAND YOUR IMPACT.

If you’re feeling like you’d like to be more passionate about your job, it might help to understand the larger positive impact your work is having. Think about how what you do positively impacts the community, or even society at large. It helps to connect with the purpose of what you do and to see the difference that you’re making. Try to keep these ideas at the forefront of your mind.

2. EMBRACE THE ADVENTURE AND DON’T BE AFRAID TO TAKE RISKS.

“I had a couple of realizations in my late twenties: One is that if I wait until I feel ready to do something, it will be too late. The second is that it’s actually very easy to lead an extraordinary life — you just need to be willing to do the things that others are not. The things that are a little too hard, take a little too long, or are a little too uncertain,” wrote Yingzhao Liu at LinkedIn, per Entrepreneur.

“Professionally and personally, I took more risks, did things without worrying about how I might be perceived and started down paths without knowing where they would lead,” she continued. “Thus began a life of adventure, passion and empowerment. As Helen Keller said, ‘Your life is a grand adventure, or it is nothing!’ Take her advice.”

3. KEEP PASSIONATE COMPANY.

If you’re the kind of person who values feeling passionate about your work, you should make an effort to be around the sort of people who feel the same way. Negative people can drag anyone down. It’s probably best to keep your distance. Instead, surround yourself with people, both in and out of the office, who enjoy what they do. You’ll help keep each other going.

4. DON’T LABEL YOURSELF AN EXPERT — KEEP LEARNING.

You can still learn new things about your line of work, no matter how much experience you have on the job. Make an effort to stay current and to engage with the latest information pertaining to your field. It’s tough to feel excited when you feel like you know everything there is to know. Instead, remain inquisitive and open to learning new ideas throughout every stage of your career.

5. ALWAYS HAVE INTEGRITY.

Sometimes we have to do the right thing first and let the inspiration hit us second. Regardless of how you’re feeling about your work, never lose an ounce of integrity. Keep doing your best. Starting to back down won’t make you feel any better.

“Doing what you love and feeling passionate about your work only goes so far. Back up that passion with characteristics that will get you farther,” said consultant Kathy Foltner. “Integrity is everything. If you commit to something, follow through on that promise. Protecting your accountability is a keystone to prolonged success.”

6. RELINQUISH PERFECTIONISM.

It’s really not a good thing to be a perfectionist. They definitely aren’t having more fun at work. Pursuing excellence is different than suffering for it. Instead of taking yourself to task for every misstep or imperfection try to simply learn from mistakes and move forward. Learn to take pleasure in doing your best rather than agonizing over work or outcomes that are never quite good enough.

7. CHANGE THINGS UP.

A change of pace often goes a long way toward reviving excitement and enthusiasm. So, if you’re feeling like you might benefit from a change, try asking for one. It’s perfectly alright to tell a boss or manager that you feel comfortable with that you want to stay passionate about your work. Explain that you think a little shift will get you there. Maybe working with a new team would help. Or, you might want to try being assigned to a different project for a time. The change doesn’t have to be major to give you a fresh perspective and a little mood boost.

SOURCE:.payscale.com