7 Signs You’re in the Right Job

On average, adults in the US spend about 47 hours each week at work. It’s clear that, unless you love your job (or even just like it), you’re going to be miserable when you’re there. The problem is, you’re not just going to be miserable during those 47 hours; you’re going to be miserable in between times too, worried and frustrated about the job you have to do that you dislike so much. 

This will cause problems in relationships and can even bring about strain on your mental health. 

It’s very important that you find the right job, something you can enjoy and feel satisfied with, so that the rest of your life goes smoothly too. You might not like to think that so much of what you do is linked to your workplace, but it is – our jobs are how we describe ourselves most of the time; they’re how we measure our self-worth, and they’re what we spend most of our time either doing or thinking about doing. 

With this in mind, and knowing how important it is to be in the right job, here are some of the signs that you have chosen well and that your job is making and keeping you happy (as well as other important elements in life such as your family, friends, and hobbies). Read on to find out more. If only a small number of these ideas fit, or even none at all, it might be time to start searching elsewhere for something new to do. It will improve your life considerably. 

Time Goes Quickly 

Don’t you just hate those days when time seems to stand still and no matter how much you feel as though you’re doing, only a few minutes have passed whenever you look at the clock? Everyone has these days once in a while – no one is happy all the time and even the best jobs can have bad days – but if you’re having them all the time, this could be a sign that you’re in the wrong job. 

If, however, time flies and you’re shocked at just how many hours have gone by even though you wouldn’t have guessed that much more than 30 minutes has passed, then this could certainly mean that you’re in the right job. Not only is time passing quickly, but you’re getting a lot done within that time, so that by the end of the day you feel happy with what you have accomplished but not completely exhausted because it hasn’t seemed liked a drag. 

You Challenge Yourself 

Staying in your comfort zone is something everyone is happy to do – that’s why it’s called the comfort zone. If you don’t like your job very much, it’s unlikely you’re going to do anything that will mean you have to take risks and step outside of that comfort zone at any point. 

If you do enjoy your work, the idea of trying something new, taking a risk, and getting out of your comfort zone won’t be such a problem. In fact, it might even be something you feel excited about. This might be because you feel confident in your abilities, or you know that your employers are happy for you to implement new ideas because they trust you, or that they won’t punish you for making a mistake. 

It might be scary to do this and leave your comfort zone behind, but if you enjoy your work and love your job, you’ll do it anyway, because you’ll want to do all you can to enhance yourself, your company, and your career. 

You Have Energy 

Most people get out of bed and make a coffee or some similar drink that helps them to wake up. However, a lot of the time this is done out of habit rather than any particular need. If you love your job, you’ll be energized already, and happy to go out and get on with things even if you weren’t able to have your customary cup of coffee for whatever reason. 

If you dislike your job, not only will you be more reluctant to get out of bed in the morning, but you might find you have trouble sleeping. This could lead you to need your morning coffee rather than simply want it. Not only is it not great to rely on any kind of substances to keep you awake (even if they are natural ones), but if you do, and you’re not energized because you enjoy what you’re doing and it’s mentally stimulating, then you’ll find that by the time you reach the end of the day, you’re extremely tired. Plus, throughout the day your already low energy levels will drop, and you’ll be much less productive. 

Your Boss Pushes You

The idea of having a boss that pushes you to do more might not sound like anyone’s idea of a fantastic job. If you were to imagine the best job, you might assume that your boss would be someone who was sweet and kind and let you do whatever you wanted without causing any conflict. 

Although these people might be a pleasure to work for, that doesn’t mean you’re working at your best. Having a boss that pushes you to do more is much better, and it is yet another sign that you’re in the right job. The reason for this is that a good boss will know what your strengths and weaknesses are, they’ll know what you can do, but more importantly they will know what you are capable of. The reason they are pushing you is that they know you can do whatever it is they are asking of you, and they need you to understand that you can do it too. They might ask you to carry out certain tasks or perhaps they’ll suggest you take an additional course to obtain more qualifications. In nursing that could means an online Master of Science in Nursing – Family Nurse Practitioner and Post-Master’s Certificate – Family Nurse Practitioner programs, for example. 

This kind of supportive and helpful employer shows that you’re in the right job because you’re clearly good at what you do. If your boss doesn’t push you, then it might be time to look elsewhere for work. Either your boss is not a supportive one and doesn’t care enough about the business to strive for more, or they don’t think you can do what they need, in which case, if it’s true, you’re in the wrong job. 

Your Co-Workers Are Friends 

Your co-workers being much more like friends than acquaintances is something that can happen even if you’re in the wrong job, so it’s not something to take by itself as a sign you’ve chosen the right career. However, when combined with other signs on this list, it can be a good gauge as to how things are going.

If you can’t wait to get away from the people you work with and don’t like spending any time with them outside of work (or even inside work, although you’ll have no choice in the matter), then this could be because you don’t like your job. If you don’t enjoy the work you have to do, then anything associated with it might be seen as bad too, even if the people you work with are perfectly normal people who, in other circumstances, you might get on well with. 

A job you enjoy will make you feel happy and much more capable of seeing the good in people. You’ll more easily make friends, and this will make you feel even happier about your job, and so it goes on. 

You Have a Good Work-Life Balance 

A job is not a good job if it takes all your time and energy. It’s not a good job if it ruins personal relationships and makes you sick either physically, mentally, or emotionally. No matter how much you might think it’s the right choice, no matter how much money you’re being paid, if you only have time in your life for work, and you don’t particularly like the work you’re doing, then you’re wasting your life. 

The right job is one that gives you the opportunity to succeed, but that also allows you plenty of time for your life away from work, doing whatever it is that makes you happy. If your life is not balanced between work and your other experiences, then it is not a truly healthy one. If you’re in the right career, it will be one that offers you the best work-life balance and doesn’t ask you to sacrifice precious personal relationships for the sake of a job which, when you think about it, is never guaranteed and can be changed whenever you or circumstances dictate. 

You Enjoy Your Days Off 

Days off are just as important as the days you work in determining how much you like your job and whether it’s the right one for you. If you love your job and you feel happy in your workplace, then you’ll also be able to enjoy your days off. There won’t be a dread hanging over you that you have to go back to work, and you won’t find that family outings are ruined because you can only worry about the next day and having to go back to the office. 

If you can enjoy your days off without any concerns about going back to work again once the time off is over, then you are in a great job.