4 Ways to Bring More Life to Your Work
We often talk about work/life balance, but what about bringing more life to your work?
Correct me if I am wrong, but I think a lot of business professionals and entrepreneurs feel overwhelmed, me included. It’s that feeling that the “to do” list is never done. The sense of drowning in responsibilities and never-ending tasks.
Enter my new favorite word: inspirit. I found this word when looking up antonyms of “overwhelm.”
Inspirit [ in-spir-it ] (verb) to infuse spirit or life into; enliven, to fill with vigor; inspire
Who doesn’t want to add a little more life to their work? As long as we spend our time working, it may as well be enjoyable!
Below are four ways to add more life to your work.
1) Work for values not achievements.
Why do you go to work every day? If your main goal is working to store up wealth for wealth's sake, you will find your work meaningless in the end.
Remembering why you go to work every day can bring more life to your work. Are you working to:
- Provide for your household
- Create jobs that support your employees
- Offer a product or service that makes people’s lives better
- Invest in your children’s education
- Care for an aging parent
- Give generously
Focusing on growing your business to support your values brings more life to your work than achieving a revenue target or gaining a specific title at work.
2) Take joy in the work itself, not just the results.
It is really easy to fall into the trap of only celebrating big wins at work. What if we celebrated work itself?
“I perceived that there is nothing better for them than to be joyful and to do good as long as they live; also that everyone should eat and drink and take pleasure in all his toil—this is God's gift to man.” Ecclesiastes 3:13
We are all blessed with unique gifts and abilities. Using those gifts each day is a joy in itself.
Are you a CEO? You are in your element when you are engaging in strategic planning and vision casting.
Are you a CPA? Your critical thinking and technical proficiencies are a marvel.
Are you a marketer? Your mind is at its best when you are being creative.
3) Know when to cease.
Even if you enjoy your work, it is good to know when to cease. If you never have a break from work, it becomes toil, something someone reminded me of the other day.
“Do not toil to acquire wealth; be discerning enough to desist.” Proverbs 23:4
4) Remember to celebrate the little things.
Work can be a lot of doom and gloom if we don’t stop to celebrate wins along the way.
Celebrating small successes…
- Boosts your mental health
- Builds your confidence
- Makes you more optimistic
- Relieves stress
- Increases resilience
- Makes you realize you are enough
May this inspirit your work today! Whatever you do today, be unstoppable.
Esaltare Designs® (ĭ-zhul-tär-āy) creates career jewelry for executives and entrepreneurs who want to celebrate their business accomplishments and uplift others along the way. Esaltare means “to, extol, exalt or celebrate” in Italian, but it can be translated as “uplift” in English. Each jewelry collection celebrates specific career milestones and successes. Shop the collections today.