First things first – why does meaning matter? Log on to Instagram and you will notice a shift from popular happiness hashtags #soobsessed and #happy to ones like #liveyourpurpose and #maketodaycount. It certainly appears to be a more realistic goal than the permanent state of happiness we have been taught to strive for.

As scientist Paul Dolan discusses in his book Happiness By Design, it’s more the balance of pleasure and purpose, citing parenthood as a prime example. babies, as it turns out are seriously damaging to our pleasure resources. Think less money, less spontaneity, more wearing stuff the colour of puke. But because of the purpose they give (keeping another human being alive) they enrich life with meaning – and thus happiness.

Now apply that to your job. Nobody expects your job to be fun all the time. But if you feel that you are doing something worthwhile, the downtimes won’t be so soul-destroying. Not all of us are of the altruistic mindset – we are not all built to care for the sick and the needy. But the fact is that “meaning” is a far-reaching concept that we have traditionally entertained. Even the most dark-hearted among us can find meaning in what we do, but we have to accept that different people find meaning in different things. We have to work our lives around our own goals, values and passions and not strive to live up to others expectations

Create more meaning for the job you do. Author of The Power of Meaning, Emily Esfahani Smith relates how when President Kennedy asked a janitor at NASA during his visit there in 1962 what his job was. The janitor replied, “I am working to put a a man on the moon.” He obviously felt he was a part of something bigger – and that will have affected the meaning he derived from his work.

Technically people who rate their jobs most meaningful are those in the service industry: doctors, teachers, nurses… But even those who do not work in such industries can benefit. It’s all about figuring out how your job contributes to the lives of others. Emily talks about a study on Mexican women working in a factory processing coupons – one that clearly did not scream “meaning”! But the women spoke about the sense of satisfaction they get from being able to support their families; their job had a strong sense of giving back. It could be anything from supporting family to mentoring an inexperienced colleague.

New research from the Universities of Zurich and Leipzig shows that burnout can also be caused by a mismatch between a person’s subconscious needs and job opportunities. If you’re an introvert in a leadership role, or in a desk-bound job when you crave social interaction, it’s hardly surprising that you find your job unfulfilling. Look at your tasks and abilities and identify those that give you joy and meaning and expand on those, says Professor Stephen Joseph, author of Authentic. Has your managerial position taken you away from your passion of talking to customer’s vow to spend 15 minutes each day on the shop floor. Is organisation your thing? Get involved with putting systems in place that can improve the day-to-day workings of your department. Most bosses would be supportive of employees if they are able to present them with novel ideas and better ways of working. The Prof also suggests talking to colleagues to find ways you could be supporting each other to be more effective based on individual strengths.

Finding meaning at work can extend beyond the office. Increasing personal relationships with colleagues can go a long way to improving productivity. Feeling part of a team, by getting to know your team, organising outings, a running group or volunteering together all are contributing factors. A post-work glass of Pinot can help too!

READ MORE:
These Apps Will Help Ease Work Stress
7 ways To Be Stress Free At Work
6 Signs That You Are Spending More Than You Can Afford

Text: Bauer / Additional reporting: Sandhya Mahadevan / Photos: 123RF.com, Giphy