This article was originally published on riskology.co.
I get emails almost every day from people that want to know the secret to having an awesome job. The simple answer, of course, is to love what you do, but I realize that isn't always so helpful, so I decided to collect my thoughts on what's helped me to love the work that I do because I honestly do feel like I'm on vacation nearly every day and I want to help others feel that way, too.
This advice comes with a warning, though.
If you really don't enjoy what you do at all, you're going to have to make some tough choices about what you want your life and work to actually look like. These kinds of problems don't tend to just fix themselves.
That said, I hope you find something here that helps you on your own road to a lifelong vacation at work. And don't be discouraged when things are still difficult. Vacations aren't always easy.
Find the meaning behind it all.
Just like you'd carefully plan a vacation, carefully plan your work so that you're involving yourself in things that are actually important to you.
That doesn't mean you shouldn't let go and try something new just to try it like you would a spur of the moment getaway, but I've found that if I want to really enjoy my work for the long term, I need to have a pretty clear vision of where it's going and exactly why I'm doing it.
Really engage with your work.
It can be fun to sit around the pool and drink piña coladas all day and I recommend you try it, but a vacation devoid of engaging action can quickly grow tired and boring. So it is with your work as well.
To enjoy a lifelong vacation at work, shape your tasks so that they really engage your mind and your body. Your work should take you on adventures and leave you pondering it even once you've set it down for the day.
Disengage regularly.
Of course, even if your work takes you on a lifelong vacation, it's important to regularly disengage so that your mind can restore itself and prepare for another round of strenuous but meaningful problem solving. Just like you'd take a day off between adventures on a real vacation, set your mind aside as well. Even when work feels like a vacation, it's important to take, you know, a vacation.
No matter how busy I am, I try to find five minutes every day to meditate and clear my mind of the busy work so I can see exactly where I'm headed. This has been one of the most important things I've done for myself.
Bend your work to your will.
I think people who find work to be a chore usually feel that way because something about it doesn't match the picture of life that they dream in their mind. Anyone can fix this, but few people do.
If your office is too far away and you hate your co-workers, then you need to figure out how to work from home or find a new job. If you hate the work itself, you have to either find the parts you can enjoy and maximize them or find something more meaningful to do. I chose to become a writer because I value independence and the freedom to work whenever and wherever I want.
I look for ways to work my life goals into my work because that's what's important to me. What's important to you?
Quit playing the money game.
Don't get me wrong, money is important and having a lot of it can be nice, but just as some of the best vacations are had for next to nothing, so are some of the best careers. There are a million ways to get paid, and money is only one of them. Respect, reach, impact, and influence are a few others.
What do you need besides money to be happy in your career?
Work with inspiring people.
When you're an entrepreneur, you get to pick and choose who you work with, which is an amazing benefit. But, even as an employee, you can exert some control over who you associate with.
Form alliances with people in different departments if there's no one around you that's inspiring. Spend plenty of time outside of work connecting with people who make you want to be a better person. Soon enough, you'll be convinced its time to move on.
Do something new every day.
I'm an adventurer and I like my life and my work to be varied and a little spontaneous, like a a good, active vacation. They say to be successful in business you should pick one thing and do it very, very well. I agree with that, but I'm more interested in picking one thing and finding 100 different ways to do it very, very well.
Any work, no matter how exciting it starts off, can grow dull if it's repeated over and over again. If you want yours to feel like a vacation, make time every single day to explore new concepts in your work, new ways to do it, and meet new people passionate about what you do.
Take more risks.
When risk feels like something to be avoided, a lot of energy is wasted by trying to avoid it. Can you think of a time you went on vacation and did something you don't normally wouldn't? That was fun, wasn't it?
Every day can feel like that if you're willing to stick your neck out a little bit. In fact, if you're not taking risks with your work, you're taking a huge risk you probably don't even realize - the risk that your work will never solve any real problems.
Create lasting value.
What legacy are you leaving with your work? When you take a great vacation, you create a memory for yourself that will last a lifetime. Focusing on work that leaves a legacy is kind of like that, only instead of creating a memory for yourself, you're creating one for everyone else.
The impact that your legacy work has on others is what drives me every day to keep doing it with a smile on my face. I recommend giving it a try.
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All in all, it's not actually that hard to transform your career into a lifelong vacation, it just takes a lot of conscious work.
When things start feeling tough, remember that success largely depends on the attitude that you choose to have towards your work. Vacations aren't inherently "stress free" and your work won't be either.
If you run into something you don't like, change it.
Tyler Tervooren founded Riskology.co, where he shares research and insights about mastering your psychology by taking smarter risks. For more, join his Smart Riskologist Newsletter.