Does anyone else mumble “time to make the donuts” when you wake up in the morning? Have I ever actually made a donut? No. But does the image of the Dunkin’ Donuts baker who lived such a routine, somewhat dreary, repetitive life still stick with me when it’s time to get to work & I pretend I’m a robot just to get my body out of bed? It sure does.

We may often feel like this is life as it relates to work. “They don’t call it work for nothin, amiright? (Yuk Yuk, slap on the back).” The overlooked sadness of that statement goes beyond just the bad humor.

Here’s the thing, just putting in your time & counting the days until the weekend or vacation is costing you more than you think. It’s a clear precursor to disengagement and burnout. Studies point out that there is a strong correlation between disengagement/burnout & higher levels of anxiety/depression. It will also often lead you to struggle more being present with your families & friends.

Being on autopilot also impacts your brain’s ability to see new possibilities. When you literally change your brain through neuroplasticity by doing the same things every day, it literally helps you become more efficient at your main tasks by filtering out what it considers to be unnecessary data. It’s like wearing tinted glasses that make the world around you fade to gray. You get really good at driving your normal route (I know exactly which lane I want to be in at each point in my commute), but the bright colors & unexplored areas of the city stay invisible.

The good news is that it doesn’t have to take a lot of effort to start turning the tide toward a better future. It doesn’t even have to require drastic change.

You can incrementally reinvent by taking small steps toward discovering things that you might enjoy. Explore a workshop on interior decorating fundamentals, invite a podcaster out to coffee to find out what that’s like, or even have a strengths-focused coaching conversation. The benefits of just dipping your toes into different worlds will create momentum & increased confidence. Who doesn’t want that?!?

When’s the last time you were really proud of something you did at work? Wouldn’t it be great if that wasn’t a rare occurrence?

Can you imagine a world where you’re feeling engaged, accomplishing things you never felt were in the cards for you & actually enjoying your work?

It really is easier & closer than you think if you just start with small actions of discovery.

If something in this post makes you pause & think a bit, that’s a signal worth exploring. Let’s talk about what discovering what lights you up at work could look like for you by clicking the Book Your Session button at the top of the screen for a free consultation.

PS – While I haven’t actually “made” the donuts, I have, however, eaten plenty of the donuts. That first bite of that Dunkin’ Donuts powdered sugar chocolate cream donut is a memory that still sticks with me every time I drive by a location. Haunting me, calling me back….