#2013alive: Set new work goals

In this week’s 12 Months of Wellness challenge, we’re reviewing our work goals and setting new ones. Many of us may feel a vague (or very real) sense of dread when the weekend draws to a close, and we have to return to the old work grind on Monday mornings.

Take this job and …

Job dissatisfaction can gnaw away at us, and if we don’t do something about it, we start to feel powerless and stuck. We spend so much of our time on the job that it doesn’t make sense to spend the majority of our precious time doing something that doesn’t make us happy or that doesn’t bring meaning to our lives.

The tough questions

So here’s a little homework for you this week, and try to think of it as fun, not more work! Create some quiet time for yourself, make a cup of herbal tea, and sit down with a pen and paper (or other recording device), and ask yourself some tough questions:

•  What are my workplace values? Do my values align with my employer’s values?
• What have I achieved at my present job? Do I want to achieve more? Can I do that where I am, or have I hit a ceiling?
• If I could do anything I wanted and money didn’t matter, what would I like to do?
• Where do I see myself career-wise in five, 10, or 15 years?

Write down your answers. It may take all week to come up with the answers, but that’s okay. The important thing is to evaluate your job, where you are, and where you want to be in as honest a manner as possible.

If you get stuck

There are life coaches, career coaches, and counsellors who can help you, as well as many online resources to help you build a more effective resumé, search for a job, or learn about new careers. On Wednesday we’ll share some stories from our alive staff about how they’ve broken out of their career ruts and forged new paths.

We’re here for you

Let us know how your week of work reflection is going. Share your comments on our Facebook page or via Twitter using the hashtag #2013alive. Use our September goal tracking sheet to monitor your progress.