4 Ways To Fall Back In Love With Your Job Before Looking Elsewhere

Remember how nervous and excited you were when you started your job?

Remember those butterflies in your stomach when walking into work on your first day?

Remember how energized you felt by that nervousness and excitement, and how silly it seems now when you look back at it?

But didn't it feel great to be excited about something new?

The problem is, just like it does in relationships, that excitement wears off.

You get comfortable. You get used to it.

The excitement you once had turns to boredom.

Pretty soon, the job you once were so excited about ends up being your chief complaint each week.

It's natural for that initial feeling to wear off, just as it is natural in relationships.

The problem is, rather than fix it, most people just move on to something else.

Sound familiar?

You have to work at keeping your relationship with your job interesting just as much as you have to work at keeping any other relationship interesting.

So rather than go searching for the next job that will excite you, here are some ways to rekindle the flame of the one you already have:

1. Ask for new tasks.

Too many people get complacent in their lives, be it with their spouses, jobs, hobbies (or lack thereof), etc.

This breeds boredom and resentment.

The solution for boredom and resentment is growth.

If you have been on Instagram and Facebook lately, you know all of the inspirational memes that tell us growth comes from trying something new.

So how do you accomplish this at your job?

You have to break out of your shell and be willing to try new things.

This means asking for either something different or something new to try.

You might worry if you ask your boss for more or different work, he or she will fire you or you will get more work without a pay raise.

Don't be scared to speak up about needing something new to do, though.

What you think might get you canned can actually boost the level of respect your boss has for you.

First of all, if you are honest with your boss and let him or her know you need a change of pace, chances are he or she has already noticed your complacency and will be happy you are looking for a resolution rather than a new job.

It is very easy to tell when employees are getting bored.

It shows on their faces, the quality of their work and how they communicate in general.

Your body language tells way more than you think.

As far as having more work, if you are doing the exact same thing over and over again every single day, you will eventually lose interest.

So if you aren't actively looking for a promotion or another job, you need to consider switching up whatever tasks you can within the position you already have.

It doesn't have to be massive amounts of extra work you take on.

Just one new thing to learn can give your motivation a huge boost.

It's just like exercise. If you aren't constantly changing your fitness routine, you will plateau.

Same goes for your job.

Ask to learn a new task, or if it's not possible to do that, ask what you need to do to be promoted and start working toward that.

Don't be afraid to be honest about needing a change of pace. It is only natural.

Remember: If you aren't growing, then you aren't living.

And we grow by learning, adapting and evolving. So get out there and tackle something new.

2. Start working on personal development.

You would be surprised at how much it can affect your mojo to simply read a book.

Don't get me wrong; I love fiction, but I absolutely love the juice I get from personal development.

I had a hard time switching from fiction to non-fiction, so I know it can be tough.

Start off with a topic that interests you.

If you are into politics, start reading about your favorite politician.

Hearing about other peoples' roads to success can sometimes drive us to start down our own paths.

Love tech gadgets?

Read the biography of Steve Jobs or Bill Gates.

Curious about the way the human mind works?

Try "The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business" by Charles Duhigg.

Stats geek?

Try "Outliers" by Malcolm Gladwell.

For you ladies out there, I wrote a great one for women. It's a very short read, and it's very motivational.

There are a million topics to choose from.

You don't have to read some boring business book straight out of the gate.

Go for something that will interest you.

Don't want to give up your great fiction novels?

That's perfectly fine. Start listening to podcasts in the car or while you are getting ready for work.

My commute to work is about 10 to 15 minutes, depending on traffic, so that means I can squeeze in a 30-minute podcast each day.

It's great for my energy level at work.

If you want to get motivated, start listening to some podcasts in the personal development genre, or start reading in that genre.

Give yourself 30 minutes of personal development a day, and I guarantee you'll see a difference in your energy and happiness levels.

3. Change your workspace.

You know how good it feels to rearrange a room in your house or redecorate?

The same applies to your workspace.

Ask to change areas within the office, switch desks with a coworker, put up some decorations and do whatever it takes.

I just recently painted my office from a dreary blue to a bright yellow to perk it up, and it's completely boosted my mojo.

If painting it isn't an option, try revamping it with some new organizational gadgets, or get a really nice print of your family made.

Jazz it up with colored cork boards or a poster of your favorite animal or sports team.

Figure out a way to spruce it up so that you enjoy being in it again.

You spend the majority of your week in this space, so make sure it's something you look forward to spending time in.

If it's boring, you will get bored.

4. Plan activities with your coworkers.

This can either be a team-building activity (which you can probably get your company to sponsor), or you can host something on your own.

Friendships between coworkers is always a good idea.

Research has shown that when you have a feeling of camaraderie with your teammates, the more productive you'll be.

If you feel more comfortable asking for help, you are less awkward in day-to-day situations and don't feel stressed about fitting in.

Some ideas for this are to have everyone read a book and discuss it (self-development books are always best for this), to all go do some sort of activity together (like a lock-out or a scavenger hunt) or to have everyone do a personality test and discuss the results to better understand each other.

I use these with my team every quarter to bring us together and help us to congeal a little more.

It always gives morale a boost, and it makes everyone a little more happy at work afterward.

The bottom line is, you don't have to quit your job to be happy at it.

Maybe you just need a boost.

And if you do all of these things and you are still miserable, it might be time to move on.

I've known plenty of people who leave higher-paying jobs to work for a company because they have built a culture that makes people happy.

You can't put a price on happiness.

If you really are that miserable, it's time to decide if it's really worth the misery.

You know the saying, "If you can't be with the one you love, then love the one your with?"

Well it's the same way with your work. If you can't do what you love, then love what you do.

Guess what?

If you truly start to love your job, you will be more productive and happier, which means you will be more eligible for raises and promotions.

So do whatever it takes to be happier on the job.

What have you got to lose?

This article was originally published on Coacheeka.com.