Work Smart & Live Gratefully

Even in a challenging economy and work environment, overachieves can use these three simple tactics to experience more joy, satisfaction and contentment. 

According to Gallup’s recent study, 52% of North American workers are quiet quitting. 

Before you gloss over that, consider this. The study also says that this withdrawal costs the global economy $8.8 trillion (which is roughly a full 9% of global GDP).1 

“These employees are filling a seat and watching the clock. They put in the minimum effort required, and they are psychologically disconnected from their employer. Although they are minimally productive, they are more likely to be stressed and burnt out than engaged workers because they feel lost and disconnected from their workplace.” - Gallup 2023

Engagement and contentment are two different things. However, can you be engaged if you’re not content? 

Could it be that work was never meant to be the antidote or happiness-fix-all that it’s advertised to be? 

“Happiness evolved for a reason: to lure us toward those things and activities that improve our chances of survival. If we always felt satiated, we would have little motivation to move forward. Sometimes dissatisfaction, not happiness itself, is what drives us. Yet, even though many of us understand this conceptually, the quest for happiness remains universal. Just as sisyphus mindlessly rolled his boulder uphill only to watch it tumble back down, we struggle endlessly with the effort of becoming and then staying happy without ever questioning the value of the effort itself.” - the fun habit, Mike Rucker, PhD

It’s time to change our perspective on success. 

“When we are caught on the treadmill rushing toward more, we barrel right past “enough” as if it were nothing more than an inconvenient speed bump.” - Lynne Twist , The Soul of Money

While mass organization-wide change might not be within your control, here are some simple tactics you can employ to shift your mindset from the “daily drudgery” to unlock the joy and satisfaction that is waiting for you. 

Recognize the lie. 

We’ve taught ourselves that the only way to be successful is to keep outworking everyone else. This idea was handed down to us by well-meaning family, teachers and/or colleagues, who learned it from their well-meaning family, teachers, and/or colleagues. 

Our perception is this:

Our reality, however, is this: 

You have a choice. 

You can keep doing it the way you were taught, which will probably lead to a ton of cultural success (money, recognition, acquisitions), but very little happiness or satisfaction. 

Or, you can adjust the way you define success. 

You’ll find it impossible to make any meaningful progress and feel satisfied with your efforts until you make this paradigm shift. 

Repeat after me: 

Success is the extent to which I use my unique abilities, build meaningful relationships, and enjoy the journey. 

Change your language.

We all overlook what’s going right. It’s easy to feel that we “have to” go to the grocery, meet with the finance team, plan our vacation, etc. 

How you think about something shapes how you think about it. 

If you’re finding a task or person continually triggering your stress or anxiety, change the language you use when you think about that task or person. 

For example, sometimes people refer to “sales meetings” as “customer development” or “customer creation.” It’s not just a turn of phrase or spin tactic to manipulate yourself into liking something. It’s reframing how you think about something and shifting the energy you bring to each task. 

My friend Kristi Nelson has a great tip for this one. Change the phrase “I have to” to “I get to.” And, for the things that are especially hard to carry out, add “because I can,” to the end. 

“Contentment is a blessing begging for our recognition, but we are unaccustomed to pausing long enough to see how much it offers. To maintain awareness of what is already extraordinary and abundant in our lives is a satisfaction that cannot be taken away.” Wake Up Grateful by Kristi Nelson

Escape.

People use all sorts of ways to “escape” - scrolling social, binging Netflix, overeating, spending too much money on another gadget you don’t need. Escapes like that are more harmful than helpful. 

Take an escape that allows your body and mind to reset. This doesn’t have to be an all-inclusive getaway with a direct flight to Maui (although, if you can do it, go for it). This can be as simple as an afternoon at a park, a dinner someplace new, a day at a lake, or a weekend hiking the hills of a national park. 

No matter what it is, here are some pro-tips for escaping to return rested and recharged. 

• For longer ‘escapes’ (vacations), only check your email once a day (or, if you can do it, not at all). 
• Balance scheduled away time with spontaneity. For those of us who like schedules, you might need to hack a bit here. Plan 3 hours for an activity that would normally take 1 hour and commit not to do anything else to fill the time.  
• Have a screen-free day where you commit to leaving your phone on airplane mode (or not taking it at all… if you dare). 

Discussion Questions

1. If you decide to change small habits to reduce stress and anxiety, who stands to gain a more present you? What is the impact on their lives? 
2. What are some extraordinary aspects of your life as it is that you tend to overlook? How could you be more aware of them?3

–CJ 

Speaker | Advisor | Recovering Overachiever