How to get satisfaction from an unfulfilling job

"If you're in an unfulfilling job or are dissatisfied with your work, it's possible to get a fresh start no matter what the season. In fact, there are a few strategies that can help you find meaning and enhance your experience even as you slog forward. A lack of fulfillment in your job can have intense effects. It can derail your motivation, your energy, and even your performance."

"For many people, it's hard to find meaning at work. In fact, half of workers in the U.S. reported that they lacked satisfaction in their work, and 38% said their job was just a way to get by, according to the Pew Research Center. In addition, half of people globally say their job fails to give them a sense of meaning, based on a survey by PwC."

Many people lack meaningful work, with half of U.S. workers reporting dissatisfaction and 38% calling their job merely a way to get by; half globally report no sense of meaning. Lack of fulfillment can undermine motivation, energy, and performance, which in turn harms happiness both at work and outside it. Approaching work with optimism, dedication, and focus increases productivity and engagement, producing an upward spiral. Persisting in dedicated behaviors—performing well, participating, showing up on time, and following through—helps those actions become habitual. Habitual dedication signals that the work matters and reinforces a sense that the worker matters.

Read at Fast Company