Of Liking What You Do And Working Effortlessly!

Not in doing what you like, but in liking what you do is the secret of happiness. - J.M.Barrie

The days follow one after another, and we find ourselves meandering through them, doing our routine work and chores, which, after a while, bring in a sense of stagnation and boredom. Everybody has to work and toil, and as the saying goes, there are no free lunches! Some people are blessed with the knowledge of the path they want to take, right from a young age and they set out on it. Their work becomes their passion and they not only do what they love, but they love what they do! This is not the case with most people, however. For some, work soon becomes a mundane routine, something they 'have' to do at any cost, whether it excites them or not. 

I came across this beautiful quote that reads so - 'Not in doing what you like, but in liking what you do is the secret of happiness.' How true is this! When it is inevitable that we work, why not do it with enthusiasm?

The secret is to find ways to make your work interesting and challenging. Here are some tips that will ensure that your work doesn't feel like a 'chore' and that you enjoy it.

Plan in advance:

Plan for your work at least two days in advance. Most importantly, write down your plan. The written word has great power and has more chances of manifestation than a mental thought. Write down what work you would like to deal with, on which day, and accordingly set the schedule. When you have a plan, you feel more confident. Planning is like an armour, giving you a solid ground to face the day!

Find ways to make your work interesting:

Try to make your work interesting by adding some fun to it. May be you could play some music in the background to blend in with the atmosphere. Decide to give yourself little breaks during your work. These could be coffee-breaks or walk-around-the-campus breaks or simply spend-some-time-with-Nature breaks. Return back to your work feeling invigorated and refreshed!

Add your hobby to the day:

In the hustle-bustle of daily life, do not forget to spare some time for your hobby. Reserve an hour to pursue your hobby. If possible, keep this hour at the end of the day, so that you will have something interesting to look forward to while you are working!

Practice mindfulness while working:

Mindfulness is a wonderful practice of taking up only one task at a time and focusing entirely on it. When you do this, you will find that you attain a meditative state wherein every tiny detail of your work is clearly visible to you. Your mind will calm down and develop a rhythm of its own, which will show in your work. Work with mindfulness and meditation!

Create a community-feeling around you:

If you are working in an office, you can create a community-like culture by being friendly with the people around you, remembering details about them, wishing them on special days and generally being jovial and easy-going around everyone. The atmosphere in which you work plays an important role in enhancing your creativity. Rigid, strict and too-formal workplaces can bring in a sense of stiffness and boredom among people. Places where people are cordial, jolly and maintain a good relationship are more conducive to yielding better results in the work. If you are someone who works from home, you can take some time off and meet the people living nearby and form a circle of well-wishers and good friends. The more you age, the more you will realise the importance of having a close-knit circle of friends!

Remember the idiom of the Gita - Work for work's sake!

Work, not just to get that promotion or to receive any accolades. Work only for work's sake and do full justice to whatever task you undertake. Deliver it to perfection, effortlessly and meticulously. And then leave the results to the Divine. No good deed goes un-noticed in the Universe! Have faith in yourself, and in the good work you did, and relax knowing that you gave your all to the job.

Work will cease to be a chore when we do it with an easy and clear mind. Like what you do, do not fret about the results and do not forget to relax at the end of the day by surrendering the fruits of your work to the Divine!