Years ago, my teammate said something that stopped me in my tracks: “Jenn, you working in this job is like a princess working on Wall Street. It just doesn’t fit.” 

I stopped because—even though I was GOOD at my job—I knew they were right.

I often put myself in uncomfortable situations. I jumped from one 8-to-5 to the next. I relocated multiple times, always in search of something better, but never finding it.

All I got for my trouble was an ever-depleting lack of energy. On paper, I had everything I ever wanted. But deep down, this was not what I wanted. Not at all. I knew it was time for a change.

If you’ve been singing, “Everybody’s working for the weekend…”

I mean, I love 80s rock as much as the next person, but I think far too many people are on auto-pilot…working for the weekend.

Then what happens when we get to the weekend? Often it involves a pretty serious case of the Sunday scaries. We let stress about the next work week ruin the weekend we’ve worked so hard for. And the vicious cycle continues.

But imagine feeling light and free as you navigate your work day.

You lose track of time because you love what you’re doing—and because you know you’re making an impact. It’s as though someone put you in a slingshot and launched you into the land of possibilities. THIS is what work should feel like for you.

So if you’re feeling run down and exhausted by your career, here’s your guide for reinvigorating your career search, so you can find an energy-boosting job and start feeling excited for Monday mornings again (or for the first time!).

Energy-Boosting Careers: Why Finding One Matters

In our lifetime, we’ll likely spend close to 90,000 hours working. (That’s about a third of your life, if you’re counting!) When they hear that statistic, a lot of people think: “Well, if I could just manage my time better…”

But it’s not our time we need to manage. It’s our energy.

Tony Schwartz and Catherine McCarthy wrote a whole article on this topic for The Harvard Business Review.

They posit that the problem with working hours is that time is a finite resource. Energy, on the other hand, is not. They argue that organizations must make a shift—from getting more out of their people to investing more in them and their capacity for energy.

And there are multiple types of energy:

• Physical—from prioritizing your health (getting enough sleep, eating balanced meals, taking breaks, etc.).
• Emotions—from finding ways to lower stress, get out of fight-or-flight mode, and practice breathwork.
• Mind—from committing to less multitasking and more to periods of deep work free from distractions.
• Spirit—from feeling a sense of meaning and purpose in work.

The last one is a big one. Because accessing the energy of the human spirit is the one that can help us achieve a greater sense of alignment, satisfaction, and well-being in our careers and our overall lives.

 To energize our spirit in our careers, we must be able to: 

• Do what we do best and enjoy most in our work
• Consciously allocate time and energy to the areas of our lives we deem most important
• Live out our core values in our daily work.

Because a third of your life shouldn’t be wasted. Your career should be spent doing what you love, what you’re good at, and alongside people who truly get you. 

How to Reinvigorate Your Career Search

When you’re looking to make a career change, it’s easy to think of it as running AWAY from something. Difficult bosses, a draining work environment, feeling overworked and underappreciated…

But to truly reinvigorate your job search, you must reframe your thinking.

You’re running TOWARD something. Your passions, the people that inspire you, a life that excites you, a love of Monday mornings, a new role that generates your energy, an industry where you can make an impact…

And once you know you’re running toward all that, it’s easy to pick up the pace.

Because once you know what you want to do next, you can:

• Cultivate relationships and network in a way that feels comfortable for you.
• Grow confidence through strategic conversations.
• Land an exciting new job and plan for a graceful transition.

What to Do in The Meantime: 4 Daily Practices That Cultivate Your Energy

Do something good for YOU (body, mind, and spirit) every day.

Read a chapter in a book. Start a hobby. Open the blinds and let the natural light pour in. Turn on some music and dance in your kitchen. It’s not just for you right now. It’s for future you, too. The healthier and more well-rounded you are, the better you’ll come across to contacts and potential employers. 

Start a daily gratitude journal.

Write down a few things you’re grateful for every morning. Try to make it something new every day. Feel the boost in your spirit as you begin looking for the good in every day so you’ll know what to write the following morning.

Get outside in nature.

Numerous studies have linked spending time outdoors with increased energy and feelings of happiness. Other studies suggest that time spent in nature actually helps ward off feelings of exhaustion.

 Take 5 deep belly breaths.

Our day-to-day breaths are pretty shallow—mainly coming from the chest. In fact, studies show that 50% of adults are chest breathers. Taking a few moments each day for belly breaths can drastically boost your energy. The slow, deep breaths fill every part of your lungs with oxygen, ramping up blood flow and creating more energy.

Grab this FREEBIE: Get a Boost of Energy Right Now with a Mindful Moment

When my teammate said I was like Cinderella on Wall Street, I remember thinking, “I just have to get through this day, week, month…” I was simply wishing all my days away. You may still think this way right now, but it doesn’t have to be this way forever.

The late, great Muhammad Ali said it best: “Don’t count the days; make the days count.” Available for free below are 8 gentle ways to reset, reflect, and make THIS day count.

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Flourish Careers is a career coaching and consulting business dedicated to helping individuals find their unique path to flourishing professional success. Learn more about how we can help you here.