It’s a sad truth but the average person spends more time at work than they do with their nearest and dearest so being satisfied in your job is fundamentally important if you’re to live a happy life. 

Job satisfaction can be derived from many different sources - anything from receiving a good wage to being entrusted with a role of responsibility or just the social aspect of seeing and socializing with friends at work. 

We’re all different but whatever it is that gives you contentment in your work role will, ultimately, make you a better employee and also make the workday shorter. If you find you struggle to get up in the mornings or have a feeling of dread going to work, below are some ideas that might make your work life happier. 

We live in very uncertain times and there’s nothing worse than going to a job with a sense of uncertainty hanging over you. We all need money to live and have recurring outgoings like rent and food, so finding a job that offers good security and changes of longevity will allow you to plan for the future while also giving you peace of mind in your employment. 

If you currently work in a fringe discipline or one that seems under threat from the ongoing digitization of business, why not consider retraining in a role that’s more in demand. For example, cloud computing is now one of the fastest-growing sectors of the entire IT and tech industry so studying a relevant course could potentially open doors and opportunities. Best of all, many modern cloud courses can be done online at a time that suits you - for example, an AWS cloud certification, which could see you skilled in working with Amazon’s cloud products and increase your chances of future work. 

Having a clear idea of what you want from work will give you a better idea of what role is best for you. It will also allow you to speak directly with bosses about any aspirations you might have in your current job. 

There are aspects to every job that are less enjoyable than others but you should still have a clear idea of your overall aims from working e.g. promotion, more responsibility, higher wages, etc. 

All work and no play never did anyone any good so remember to treat yourself once in a while - particularly if you did something notable at work. As for recognition, this largely depends on the team around you and your boss but, if you don’t feel your superiors notice the hard work you do, try to find ways to make your contribution stand out more. 

Never underestimate the power of a positive outlook and try to keep a handle on any negative feelings you might have. Negativity tends to breed yet more negative emotions so always try to look on the bright side. 

Over our lifetimes, chances are good we’ll change jobs multiple times and perform many different roles in equally diverse sectors. Indeed, employment analysts recommend changing jobs every three to five years to keep your skills relevant and have the best chances of continued employment - so don’t be afraid to leave if you can’t find ways to improve your work situation.