How to Be Passionate and Satisfied With Your Job

Singapore has been dealing with the burnout problem for quite some time now. It landed the number two spot for most overworked cities in 2019 and fourth in 2022. These results have been attributed to Singaporeans' nature of excellence in creating one of the most intense workplaces in the world, compounded by the industries' shift to work-from-home schemes.

(Read more: Does Singapore Have a Burnout Work Culture? )

With the work-from-home system, employees scrambled to adjust to online calls and the lack of a physical office, causing a toll on their work disposition and satisfaction with their job. Did you know workers who reported feeling unhappy increased by five times in 2020?

It pays to be more attentive to your satisfaction and wellbeing in these times, even as the country takes strides regarding the overwork situation.

What Does Satisfaction with Your Job Entail?

Simply put, job satisfaction is how content you are with your work and employer. Employees are satisfied when they get what they want from their jobs, which shows through a positive emotional response, such as being happy or motivated.

The following are the components of job satisfaction:

• Evaluative: This refers to how you feel about work in general: do you like, dislike, or have mixed feelings about it?
• Cognitive: Under this component are your perception, opinion, and expectations of the company.
• Affective: Affective satisfaction refers to the emotional response to your job situation.
• Behavioural: Some sources believe there's a behavioural component to job satisfaction or a worker's intention to engage with the job situation, such as being productive, absenteeism, or turnover.

What are the Factors Affecting Job Satisfaction?

Different factors can make you satisfied or dissatisfied with your work.

Work

Understandably, what you do is one factor that affects job satisfaction, including its challenges, autonomy, variety, and scope, collectively known as intrinsic characteristics. Another component is the work outcome and the effort and attention you give to achieve the desired result.

Job Conditions

What kind of environment are you working in? Job condition also consists of your colleagues and supervisor and how well you work and communicate with them. Another element under this factor is the tools and training you receive and utilise. Were you provided with help to be good at your work and learn more from it?

Pay

It's no surprise that salary brings satisfaction to workers. But more than the amount, it is pay's perceived equity and fairness that has been found relative to job satisfaction – as long as the pay is fair, satisfaction remains high.

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)

What does the company do to improve society? Employees prefer working for an employer that gives back. When the CSR resonates with their values or cause, employees feel highly satisfied.

Individual Factors

These characteristics make up the employees themselves, such as their personality, emotion, and psychological wellbeing. Other factors mentioned in this list may be influenced by each employee's individual characteristics.

7 Tips to Be Happy at Work

Sit down, ask yourself if you're still content with your job, and find the root of your unhappiness. Whatever the reasons for your dissatisfaction, you can take measures to help improve your situation. These will allow you to cope in the workplace even better and hopefully give you a happier ending.

Ready to conquer your career? Here are some helpful tips on how to be happy with work and in your workplace.

Find opportunities to develop and advance your career.

Have a plan to advance your career and pursue it. Invest in your personal and professional development. Employees who feel they are improving and growing at work are more likely to feel satisfied.

In this regard, having a meaningful relationship with your manager may be helpful. They can serve as your mentor from whom you can learn things and ask for feedback to know what you're doing well and what else you need to improve on. They can also help you achieve career milestones by giving you projects which you can apply your knowledge or learn more from.

Make friends at work.

If there's anyone who can relate to your wins and struggles at work, it would be your colleagues. Having a coworker you can rely on for help or vent to if you're feeling frustrated can increase your job satisfaction—in some cases, it can even lead to friendships outside of work.

Thus, spark a friendship with your colleagues and, if possible, other employees in your company. Employees with strong friendships are more likely to be happy and motivated at work. Foster a positive work experience by spending and enjoying time with your friends, even in a casual setting. If meeting up for after-hour drinks is not possible, schedule a video call and play games to strengthen the bond further.

Don’t let personal problems affect work.

Sometimes, it is difficult not to get distracted at work when facing personal troubles. We understand. That said, try to keep personal and professional lives as disparate as possible. Taking your mind off these personal problems might even give you a different perspective when you go back to it after your work is done. If issues at home are affecting your productivity, consider taking leave

Set your work-life boundaries and be adamant about it.

Sometimes, the key to feeling happy at work is knowing when work starts and ends. This is essential: prioritise and maintain a simple structure. Start with a to-do list, and list tasks according to their order of urgency, so you have a better idea of which ones to do first.

While the above advice can help you maintain optimum productivity, it is also essential that you put yourself and your household first the moment you clock out. Do not forget that you are efficient, productive, and fulfilled when you learn to care for yourself physically and mentally.

Take a breather.

Everyone tries to avoid burnout, but sometimes you can't help but feel tired and frustrated at work. When assignments and deadlines overwhelm you, take a minute to breathe.

Move around to stretch out your body after long hours hunched over and sitting down. Physical movement can often trigger a change in perspective, providing you with renewed focus to work with the same momentum. If needed, feel free to take some time off. Use up those holiday leaves. Go somewhere relaxing to unwind and recharge.

Stay organised.

It may be an old trick in the book for getting work done efficiently, but planning your day and staying organised does help accomplish your tasks to keep you happy. Know which tasks you need to do at the start of the day. Break the big project goals into manageable pieces and take note of when they must be completed. Ticking off your list before logging off gives that feeling of accomplishment that can keep you motivated until the next workday.

Reward yourself.

Work schedules and tasks aren’t the only things you should be planning. You should also plan how to reward yourself after work. Whether it's going out to dinner with your significant other, getting a massage after being hunched over the computer, or doing some sweet retail therapy, find the time to reward yourself after you've completed a project or just to celebrate your small wins at the end of a fruitful day.

Achieve Your Satisfaction

As they say, happiness is a choice — and it doesn't hurt to act on it and chase happiness, especially when it comes to your career.

That said, if it is time to part ways with your company, you can#SEEKBetteropportunities out there and update your JobStreet profile. For more expert advice on happiness in the workplace and getting hired, visit our Career Resources page.