How To Make Your Job Easier

That doesn’t involve quitting.

Tough job, but somebody’s gotta do it. And usually, you feel like that somebody is you.

Of course, maybe you could just make your job easier while you still do it.

1. Do the hard stuff first.

Do the hard jobs first. The easy jobs will take care of themselves. — Dale Carnegie

Dale Carnegie was right. Your job is going to have easy stuff and hard stuff and you’ll want to fixate on the easy stuff. Do the hard stuff first, which will be all the things you hope you don’t have to do. Otherwise, it sits there and nags at you while it piles up into an insurmountable collection of tasks.

This, by the way, is very unfun, but you’ll feel a lot better about your to-do lists if you can get those big gorillas off of your back.

2. Do battle for your own mind.

This hits hard for creative people, especially, who do their own thing on their own time after work and on weekends. Resentment towards the job come when you feel like your best work, ideas, thoughts, and energy are given to the job, and the thing you love gets leftovers. Or maybe you resent others for the “better” job or success that they seem to have. Perhaps you’re not living your dream, and that makes your job seem worse than it is.

This is when you have to actively change your thinking. Check out Mike Rowe’s S.W.E.A.T. pledge to get your mind started doing just that.

… ‘happiness’ and the ‘pursuit of happiness’ are not the same thing. — Mike Rowe

3. Just say no and keep it simple.

Try this on for size: say no. To something. Either focus on your job and say no to activities that get in the way of it, find ways to say no at your job, or whatever it takes to simplify life. Saying no is tough, I agree. But if you’re overwhelmed, no is necessary.

4. Do something you’re good at.

This is different than doing something you like. I like to take naps, but I’m not going to get paid for that. Find something you’re good at, even if it doesn’t top your list of things you adore.

When your job is a good fit for what you’re good at, your job is easier. Makes sense, doesn’t it? Working in your weakness once in a while helps make you stronger, but working mostly in your strength gives you confidence. And confidence makes your job easier.