Every generation since the Silent Generation, it never fails, people choose the wrong jobs and careers, and they grow old and miserable wondering where they went wrong in their life. Related:Why It’s Absolutely Necessary To Discover Your Passion One thing that’s extremely troubling as it pertains to this issue today is that, as new generations continue on, they become less and less satisfied with their jobs at a much earlier age. Millennials for example are barely five years into their careers and many of them are already “over Corporate America.” Some of them have chosen to quit their corporate gigs in exchange for entrepreneurship. If not entrepreneurship, they settle as a coffee barista letting their B.A.’s and M.B.A.s go to waste. There’s a cultural epidemic that we must deal with as a society and as individuals. We must stop pursuing jobs doing things that we hate just because the job may pay well or may have a certain level of clout. Those superficial reasons for choosing a job or a career will never allow you to maintain longevity. After five years or less, the allure of the money and prestige will have worn off. Once it does, all that’s left is bitter resentment for the degree you’ve chosen that you no longer have any interest in, as well as the job that goes along with it. Employment has evolved and this evolution has made it imperative for us as individuals to begin choosing jobs we love because the things that used to keep us loyal to our jobs like benefits, perks, and pensions no longer exist. Many people may say that finding a job doing what you love won’t pay the bills. That’s true, but perhaps your lifestyle needs to be downgraded. If you truly hate your job, you must make a decision because you can’t have your cake and eat it, too. If happiness and fulfillment on your job is truly important, then you must be willing to sacrifice a higher paying job which may not provide the same level of income. More often than not, earning less money by pursuing your passion is what happens. This is the case because people who are paid well are more often than not paid high wages because they possess a highly valuable skill or because their job requires them to take on a high level of stress. If your passion is basket weaving, you may be able to make a living selling your baskets on Etsy or at local craft fairs, but it may not yield the income or lifestyle you’re accustomed to because the skill required isn’t highly valuable and it certainly isn’t stressful. What you ultimately need to think about when it comes to choosing a job is your priorities. Many people say that happiness and fulfillment is a priority, yet they make decisions that are counter-productive to achieving happiness and fulfillment. Know who you are and who you aren’t and have the courage and wisdom to know the difference.
There you are: sitting on the beach, covered in sunscreen, reading your favorite book, drinking your favorite drink under the cool shade of an umbrella. Life doesn't get any better than this. Suddenly, a door slams, a phone rings, a printer turns on. You jolt back into consciousness. You're at work, sitting in your cubicle, without even a hint of sunshine streaming in from outside.
When you're working a full-time job, finding time to enjoy the warm, bright summer weather can be a challenge. This is especially true for young professionals, as many of them are used to having summers off (or, at the very least, having a flexible summer schedule). But there's no need to feel trapped behind your cubicle walls. Go out and enjoy summer!
Here are a few tips for making the most of your summer while working full time.
1. Grab Some Foldable Chairs
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Keep a couple of foldable camping chairs at the office so you and a co-worker can catch some rays during lunch—whether it's in the park or the parking lot.
2. Keep A Beach Bag In Your Car
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Keep a bag full of summer supplies for your favorite summer activities. Having a bag (or, in my case, a backseat) full of towels, sunscreen, and swimwear keeps you prepared for anything. Friends hitting up the pool after work? You're covered. Once the clock strikes five, you can head to your destination of choice immediately.
3. Plan An Office Outing
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Plan an office field trip to the beach, the park, or the pool. Just do something fun so your brain can recharge and refresh!
4. Organize Group Walks
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Get a bunch of co-workers together and go on regular walks around town during lunch. (Or you could suggest a quick jaunt over to the ice cream shop.) This is a great way to get some fresh air, sunshine, and exercise.
5. Eat Lunch At The Park
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When you find yourself eating out, hit up places with a deck, porch, or patio of some sort. Obviously, eating out every day isn't really a feasible option for most of us, so look into alternative ideas as well. Pack a lunch and hit the park for your own little picnic.
6. Organize Office Sports
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Whether it's setting up an official office sports team or just hanging out with your colleagues a few times a week, playing sports is a great way to get out and enjoy the weather. Have a field nearby? Try setting up some slow-pitch softball games. Or see if you can get a basketball hoop for the office so you and a few co-workers can shoot some hoops at lunch.
7. Join A Professional Group
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During the summer, professional networking groups often have fun events like harbor cruises, pub crawls, and outdoor mixers. Find a professional group in your area and make networking fun this summer.
8. Have An Office BBQ
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Get your grill on! Talk to your boss about setting up an office BBQ. Ask everyone to contribute their favorite dish, side, or drink. Fire up the grill and relax! Hey, it's summer after all.
9. Wake Up Early
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Yes, yes, I know...waking up early is an incredibly painful and unbearable experience for some of us, but waking up even an hour earlier has its benefits—especially in the summer. Go for a morning run, putter around in the garden, or watch the sunrise with a loved one. Talk about starting the day off right!
10. Strategically Use Your Time Off
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Strategically use your vacation days around holidays. This way, you can make a potentially long weekend longer without having to use too much of your precious vacation time. Half days are also pretty awesome. It's amazing how much you can do with four extra hours! If you want an early weekend but don't want to burn up your vacation days too quickly, try taking a half day on a Friday instead of using a full day off.
11. Bike To Work
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If you're one of the lucky few who live within walking or biking distance of work, take advantage of it! Not only will you get plenty of fresh air, but you'll also save money on gas, which is always a plus!
There are plenty of easy ways to enjoy summer when you work a full-time job. So this summer, try out a few of these ideas and make the most of the sunshine and warm weather—while they're still around!
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