This past week, during a particularly stressful day, I did what I always do when I want to complain to someone I know will listen: I called my dad. I’m lucky that our relationship is such that I can vent about work or daily living in New York City, and he’ll listen attentively and offer fatherly pearls of wisdom or tales of his time in his 20s and how he figured it all out, without (too much) judgement.
We like to say that people should "find their passion" to experience success in their careers and therefore, in their lives. If you really love something, it will feel easy and right. Right? That may actually be the worst possible way to approach new ventures.
Getting into a routine and building rituals for yourself is good for you, but if you want inspiration for personal growth, challenging yourself to always be a rookie at something -- whether it's a new hobby, a skill, a language or academic subject -- is a great place to start.
There's a big difference between being busy and actually being productive. Oddly enough, being busy often feels good because it's familiar and it makes us feel productive. Productivity may feel good, but sometimes making true progress means giving up that feeling.
You've been doing the same tasks for as long as you can remember. New skills? New responsibilities? Can't really name any off the top of your head. In fact, you're starting to feel like things are a little stalled. It's time to pay attention to how your job is affecting your career as a whole.
