Career Coaching Questions: What If I Don’t Feel Like Working?
Career Coaching Solves Big Problems
Especially job dissatisfaction.
We’ve all had days where we don’t have the energy or motivation to get up and go to work. Of course, there can be many factors driving this – lack of sleep, beautiful weather distracting us from wanting to be stuck inside all day… and, of course, job dissatisfaction.
It’s no secret that job dissatisfaction has been on the rise in recent years. Sometimes it’s that we don’t feel like working, but often it’s that we need to make a career move and switch careers. According to a workplace study conducted by Léger for Hamster, “Canadian workers’ satisfaction is down 3% and their commitment to work has dropped 6% since 2021.” The reasons for a lack of job satisfaction may vary, but the result is the same.
So, what can we do when we just don’t feel like working anymore?
Try A Career Coaching Trick – Use A Vision Board
As a career coach and executive coach, I love passing along tips and tricks that help my clients overcome obstacles. In career coaching we use visualization often. It’s a great way to encourage people to see the results they’d like to manifest in their careers.
A vision board can be a great way to remind yourself of your goals and objectives. If you’ve started to lose interest in your current role or job, it can be helpful to have a visual reference. When you need to reflect on your reasons for taking the job you’ve got, it’s the easiest way to see your vision.
“There are only two ways to influence human behavior: you can manipulate it or you can inspire it. Very few people or companies can clearly articulate WHY they do WHAT they do. By WHY I mean your purpose, cause, or belief – WHY does your company exist? WHY do you get out of bed every morning?” – Simon Sinek
As author and motivational speaker, Simon Sinek says, you need to start with “why” and define your purpose, cause, or belief. Everything you do to succeed in your career – will stem from your why.
Use A Purpose-Driven Solution
If you don’t know what your ‘why’ is, you’ve probably lost touch with your purpose. A lack of purpose could be the reason you are struggling to get out of bed and go to work in the morning. Allowing your purpose to lead means accepting and trusting the process as you move towards advancement in your career.
Every good company out there has a clear purpose and vision that they use to inspire and motivate their clients and employees. You should have a clearly defined personal vision that inspires and motivates you too. We love purpose-driven solutions in the career coaching world.
My retreat, Chateau Lachute, has a motto: relax, reflect, and reform. I truly believe in reflecting on our “whys”. Reflection can give insight if you find yourself questioning your chosen path.
Career Coaching Reality – It Could Be the Money
Naturally, money can play a factor too. We may settle in on a chosen career trajectory, only to face adversity or life changes that require us to look for ways to increase our income. We can become dissatisfied with our jobs if we aren’t making ends meet. It’s easy to dream about greener grass when we aren’t getting what we need where we are.
I get it. I’ve had many conversations with clients about money and how to get more of it. We need to earn enough to pay our bills, support ourselves and our families. We hope to earn enough to take vacations and squirrel some of it away for our retirement too.
Depending on how much of a factor your paycheque is, you may have options. You may have a choice to stick it out a little longer if it serves a greater purpose.
Ask yourself these questions about why you chose this job in the first place:
Did I choose to work here for the money?
Am I here because I need this experience right now?
Am I here because I like the location?
Is this role going to help me get the job I really want?
Did I come here to gain expertise and build relationships with the people here?
Did I come here to work with my boss specifically, is this a good mentorship for me?
Is this role serving my purpose, causes, or beliefs?
Have I learned and achieved everything I intended here?
When you don’t feel like working anymore, try to remember what made you decide to take your job in the first place. If your job is serving a greater purpose, this perspective might inspire you to get back to work.
Dig Deeper – Do the Inner Work
Beyond re-discovering your why, there are many other important self-reflection exercises you can implement to pull yourself out of a rut. Getting unstuck often means digging deeper. If your aversion to work is strong, especially if it’s stronger than your purpose – there must be reasons.
Do the inner work. Reflect on yourself, your career, life in general, and how you feel about pretty much everything happening (or not happening) in your life. Inner work can lead to career coaching or even counselling in other areas if needed.
Let your emotional and mental wellbeing drive the bus on this one. If you need help to get past your roadblocks, get the help – it’s worth it.
Career Coaching Secret Hack – It’s All About Self-Care
Getting out of bed in the morning can be difficult for many reasons. You don’t have to dislike your job to want to pull the covers over your face and stay home.
Self-care is important so why is it a “secret” career coaching hack? Because it isn’t the first thing most people think about when they google “find a career coach near me.” Our work-life balance can shift very easily if we neglect important aspects of our wellness.
Here’s a tip you should never forget. Our professional life and personal lives are different. When we shift the balance between them, we risk maintaining our happiness in both. To be happy at work is to be happy at home and vice versa.
Getting enough sleep, exercising, eating healthy food, reducing stress, and maintaining a healthy work-life balance can go a long way. Balance should restore your enthusiasm and make you happier about going to work each day.
If you still don’t feel like working and you’ve tried everything you can think of, career coaching may be your next step. You may be in a position where a career change is in the cards, let’s chat.
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