10 Tips to Reignite Your Passion & Fall Back Into Love with Your Job This Valentine’s Season

2. plan for success

It’s difficult to feel the love when you’re overly stressed. A great way to combat the negativity is to get organized and plan for your own success. 

Spend time reviewing your schedule and finding better ways to allocate your time for maximum effectiveness. Keep track of every deadline, meeting, and reminder by writing them down in a physical planner or adding them to your digital calendar.

Prioritize your tasks based on due date and importance. Create a color-coding system or to-do list system that helps you track what’s coming next. Block out time chunks on your calendar each day to check off items on your list. It’s amazing how much you can accomplish with dedicated time for your to-do list items.

Don’t let little tasks pile up. If the task takes five minutes or less, don’t put it off for later; do the little tasks now to free up your calendar for more important high-priority tasks later. 

3. celebrate small victories

Big goals aren’t accomplished overnight, so it’s important to take time to recognize and celebrate small accomplishments along the way. Acknowledging that you’re making progress towards a goal helps you stay motivated and focused. Reflect on your journey every step of the way and you’ll feel excited for the future and thankful for the progress you’ve made.

4. network with others in your field

Professional networking is a fantastic way to reignite your passion for an industry. You can join local and national professional organizations dedicated to your craft and/or attend conferences tailored to your job responsibilities and career goals.

Meeting with inspirational, accomplished, and like-minded individuals provides you with opportunities to discuss challenges, opportunities, industry trends, and more. The professional relationships you build today can have lasting impacts on your tomorrow.

If you work in communications or public affairs and want to attend a conference designed to share diverse viewpoints in an environment that fosters engagement, inspiration, and information, consider StratCommWorld at the National Press Club in Wasington, D.C. in June. StratCommWorld is your connection to networking with globally-minded experts and learning communication strategies that challenge the status quo. StratCommWorld is a small conference by design for people with big ideas who share a love for strategic communication.

5. make a “bliss list”

If you’re feeling down or not as motivated as usual, try making a “bliss list” to capture what brings you joy. It’s easy to get bogged down in a cloud of stress, competing demands, and work-life balance. Making a list of what truly makes you happy is a great way to focus on the positives instead of the negatives.

To make a “bliss list,” jot down as many things as possible that bring you joy. The list items might include activities like reading a book or physical items like your treasured sportscar. Challenge yourself to brainstorm 50 things/experiences/people/etc. that bring you joy. Keep this list somewhere that can be referenced often and read through it whenever you’re having a particularly tough day. Spark joy by reminding yourself about the bigger, brighter picture.

6. Declutter

Physical, mental, and digital clutter distract you and can make you feel disorganized and helpless. Here are a few suggestions for decluttering your life and performing to your fullest.

• Physical Clutter:
  • Clear off your desk
  • Organize your papers
  • Clean your house, car, workspace
  • Create new organizational systems to help you feel ready to take on any challenge
• Mental Clutter:
  • Dedicate time in your day to engage in mindful meditation to clear your mind
  • Identify people who most impact your moods and identify if the relationship is toxic and should be eliminated from your life
  • Try exercising to release endorphins
  • Make lists to capture all of your disorganized thoughts
• Digital Clutter:
  • Organize your inbox by creating folders, using a color-coding system, and setting a “priority” scale for yourself to categorize your emails and feel more prepared
  • Limit your social media consumption and hide posts/sources that trigger negativity
  • Create a folder system for your digital files and thoughtfully name your files so they’re easy to find later
  • Use a digital calendar to help track your obligations

7. take breaks

Taking breaks during the day, decompressing on the days you’re off work and taking vacation time are important ways to prevent you from burning out. Incorporate fun activities that bring you joy on your “off days” and plan engaging adventures for your vacation time. If an expensive vacation isn’t in the budget, have a staycation where you try new restaurants, activities, and places closer to home. No matter how you spend your free time, it’s important to have something to look forward to on tough weeks. 

When you’re away from the office, allow yourself to take time to engage in activities you love and spend time with those who matter most. Though it’s tempting to check emails constantly while away from the office, I’m challenging you to limit the number of times you refresh your inbox to allow you to take an actual break from work.

8. find your tribe

A support system is an invaluable resource to help you live your best life. Support systems can help you have a higher sense of self-worth, improved coping skills, and decrease stress in your life. Creating a system of family, friends, and colleagues who are there for your highs and lows is an important way to lead a healthy and rewarding life.

9. smile more & laugh often

“Every time you smile at someone, it is an action of love, a gift to that person, a beautiful thing.”
– Mother Teresa

Find reasons to smile and laugh daily to improve your mood and enjoy a happier, healthier life. You’ll find that the more you smile, the happier those around you will also be as a smile and laugh can be contagious.

Laughter really is the best medicine sometimes as it can help relax your body, relieve stress, boost your immune system, and even burn calories. Find fun outlets that bring you joy, share jokes with others, and surround yourself with things that make you smile like photos, pets, and beautiful scenery.

10. say yes to new opportunities

“Say yes and you’ll figure it out afterwards.”
–  Tina Fey

You never know when an opportunity will come knocking, so be prepared to answer. The new opportunity might be challenging, but that’s a great opportunity for you to try something unexpected, explore your creativity, and develop new skills. You can’t grow without taking chances and agreeing to new opportunities, so be prepared to jump! 

I hope these 10 tips will help you to re-engage with your career and love every day.

 Happy Valentine’s season!