A lot of my life is made up of doing things I'd really rather not.

I know I'm not alone, so I wanted to reach out with some encouragement for others who may have jobs that they really don't like. A job can be more than just a way to make money, and often if the only positive thing that we think about is getting money from the job, it can be a rather discouraging experience. Yes, we've all got to do what we've got to do, but here is a short list of other potential positive things about our jobs that can help motivate, inspire, and encourage us to enjoy what we do to make money a little more. Hope it helps!

GETTING MORE FROM YOUR JOB - WHAT OTHER BENEFITS DOES IS BRING?

TRAVEL

While many of us may not enjoy having to leave home to make money, travelling cna be a good experience. Does your job allow you to go places and see things that you otherwise might not ever get to check out? Often mine does, so this is one thing that encourages me as I leave my family to make money.

Helping a man put out his flaming motorcycle on our way to Mississippi

HELPING OTHERS

Yes, the main reason that I work is to make money, but this is an excellent byproduct of what I do, and I bet I'm not alone in it. Does your job allow you to help others or make their lives better? As a "travelling handyman" I show up in places where people are having problems that they just can't fix on their own. When I leave, their problems are solved, so we get to help others with our work.

A Gecko I found while working

OTHER HOBBIES

Does your job allow you to enjoy any other hobbies while you're making money? Often, I get to encounter interesting animals at work that I simply wouldn't be able to find at home. That's one of my hobbies, and a very enjoyable part of my work. What are some of your hobbies? Does your job allow you to enjoy any of them?

Running a "crew" of flooring installers / Teaching my children how to lay flooring

EXPERIENCE

The experiences that we gain from certain jobs can help us long after we no longer do certain jobs. Does your job allow you to gain experience that you may be able to apply later in life? I've spent quite a bit of time supervising others, which really helps out when I'm trying to get projects done with my wife and six children. It's like I've got my own crew at home to supervise. Also, many of my previous jobs enjoyed cooking in bulk while preparing things at restaurants. Now, I often get to cook in bulk for my family, since there are quite a few of us.

BRAINSTORMING / PROBLEM SOLVING

I'll put this one in a separate category than experience, because I think it's worth it. Does your job allow you to think hard to find reasonable solutions to various issues? Mine does, which is a huge blessing. I think that the "use it or lose it" cliche applies to our minds to, so being able to think creatively and brainstorm is a very positive part of my job. All of that problem solving skill can be developed and retained to help me in years to come.

Don't be afraid to use that boring mental downtime at work to think

TIME TO THINK

Id your job mundane and boring at times? Does it require very little mental effort? If so, that's a good thing, if you use it properly. Too many people never spend much time thinking. For them, when they are not at work they opt for being distracted with amusement, which literally means "not-thinking," since to "muse" is to "think." You can even spend some time evaluating your life and thinking about how to get a better or more fulfilling job.

That's just a short list of things that can help me going through the day. As I wake up hours from home and far from my family today, I'd rather be at home. However, I've got to do what I've got to do, and thus I try to begin my day of work as best as I can. Hang in there folks!