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| King of Prussia |
The Bad
I'm sitting here at the office after hours trying to get a project done by tomorrow. I'm so tired of staring at a computer screen that I'm taking a break by blogging at a computer screen.
Lately I've been pretty bored with my job. I get tired of doing the same thing over and over. But I guess that's pretty much universal, isn't it? Think about it: the worker that retired on a pension from a factory after thirty years did so by doing just about the same thing day after day. That's my definition of drudgery. At least my assignments are always different. Yet I'm still tired of writing reports for a living.
The conundrum is I know I would be tired of whatever I was doing if I was doing something else. I got tired of mowing yards, I got tired of being in the Navy, I got tired of deployment, I got tired of school. Every job I've ever had I was bored with after several months. At least this one took about a year before I got bored. And at least here I'm allowed the latitude to try new things that introduce variation. Still, I'M SO BORED.
So is the guy in shirt and tie in the here-unnamed casino commercial who sits there watching the clock until 5:00. He's obviously bored with his job and waiting until he gets to do something else. That commercial was made because it resonates with people - they get it. That means most people are watching the clock, regardless of whether you have a desk job or work manual labor. Either way, it gets tedious.
How many of us really enjoy our jobs? I think most people endure their current positions, hanging on the promise of the weekend or the next gig to keep them going. I know some people that do like their jobs. These people really have a passion for what they do and that makes them good at it. They have jobs that keep them going, whether meeting people, on the phone, on the go, or coordinating something. These people are entrepreneurs, superintendents, brokers, or doctors. I don't know anybody that loves their job as a plumber but I suppose those people could be out there.
The Ugly
I now start to identify with the cult classic Office Space and the cube rats that long for freedom. The tedium drives them to concoct a scheme to get rich and one simply ends up a construction worker enjoying "honest labor." It's an interesting plot but I have to disagree. I've been both a white collar and blue collar employee and neither one is the cure for the other. A sinister component in human nature is to be discontent with our present situation. I think contentment with where you are and what you have is the key. A pile of money and an easy life isn't the recipe for contentment - just look at Lindsay Lohan. She made $11 million in 2004 and then ended up with two DUIs and three trips to rehab. That's pretty ugly if you ask me.
The Good
The cliche to "look on the bright side" is the immediate answer for me. Who knows what the answer is long-term but for now, the job I have is pretty good. I'm not constrained by traditional work hours. I work with great people. I have good bosses and great benefits. I work at an innovative firm that encourages my imagination. I can work from home. The list goes on. I'm just tired of it so I dwell on the negatives and loathe climbing the stairs to my office. Why is that? Why do I find myself trying relaxation exercises and looking for a hobby? After all, life is good. It's not like I'm mistreated and have to take out the trash at the end of the day. This is when I have to recognize that sinister dissatisfaction is creeping in and fight it!
It's a Matter of Perspective
For as long as there have been jobs there have been bored employees. I can't imagine goat herders lead a very exiting life. Neither do farmers. Factory workers really have it rough, not to mention repetitive motion injuries. It's time to stop trying to find the answer in self-help books and accept that I'm going to be bored sometimes... OK... a lot. My dad always said we all have to do things we don't like. He's right. Just because we live in ADD Land doesn't mean we have to have constant stimulation at work. It does mean that I have to work harder to focus.
Focus: there's an idea. What is my focus in terms of the big picture. I have a wife and son to care for, a future to secure, and an extended family that will need me. So it's time to focus now - right now - on the things I don't want to do at work. After all, there are things here that I enjoy and interest me.
Most importantly, I realize that without doing the things I don't particularly enjoy, I don't have a frame of reference for pleasurable activities. It's the "no rain makes for a desert" philosophy. A person really doesn't enjoy leisure without first having put forth effort. There is no pleasure in relaxation without previous exertion. And hobbies are just as boring as a tedious job without having the job to begin with.
So here's to a late night at the office and another workday tomorrow! I'm thankful I have a job.
