In a Career Rut? Dig Yourself Out Here
First, the good news: If you’re reading this article, you’re probably not burned out, since one of the symptoms of burnout is apathy.
But the not-so-great news? If a headline about career ruts intrigued you, you might be in one. Here’s how to tell whether you’re at a ho-hum stage in your progression, and what to do about it if you are.
What Is a Career Rut?
Start by considering what it’s not: burnout, stress, or a plateau. Burnout is characterized by chronic exhaustion, diminished effectiveness, cynicism, and a disinvestment from work. Stress is external or internal demands that lead to a sense of pressure. A career plateau is a stretch of time when a worker feels capable of achieving more professionally but is unable to do so, often but not always because they don’t have a way to advance.
A career rut has strains of all these. People in a career rut might approach their work with less enthusiasm than usual, which can make them less effective. They may feel a sense of pressure, though the workload itself hasn’t changed. There may also be a sense that something isn’t quite what it could be.
But a career rut is distinct from these in that someone in a career rut is still invested in the work. In short, if you’re feeling ho-hum and less than enthused—bored, even—by your work, or you just have a sense that your job isn’t as exciting as it was when you started, you might be in a career rut.
And unlike burnout or a career plateau, you don’t have to take drastic steps to get out of it, nor do you need to depend on someone else to give you a chance. You just have to find your motivation again.
Find Your Intrinsic Motivation
A lot of meeting planners say they “just fell into” this line of work, continuing it as they learned that they derived satisfaction from pulling off a great event. That might make for a good sense of motivation at first, but as planners become more experienced, they may need to approach the “why” with more intentionality.
In short, before you stumbled into a career rut, why did you enjoy your work? Why did you do it at all? Motivation can be divided into extrinsic and intrinsic factors. Extrinsic motivation consists of rewards outside of yourself that drive you to pursue something, such as a paycheck or praise from colleagues. Intrinsic motivation is a reward you give yourself: The pursuit is worthy to you simply because you like doing it.
Both extrinsic and intrinsic rewards have their place (it’s fine to do your job because you’re paid for it!). But motivation researchers have learned that intrinsic motivation is more likely to lead to lasting, more satisfying endeavors. Identifying your intrinsic drive to be a planner can be a valuable reminder that you do this work because it brings you satisfaction in some way.
Accept a Pro Bono Project
Struggling to find that intrinsic motivation? Nudge yourself by taking on some volunteer work. Charitable organizations often rely on events to meet their annual budget, and while more established groups probably already have on-staff meeting planners, your unique skills can be put to use if you raise your hand.
People who volunteer their time say that it boosts their sense of purpose, their happiness, and their well-being. Bonus for stressed-out meeting planners: Even though you’re giving your time, volunteering can actually help with stress management. Plus, when it comes time to find your next gig, you can reap the rewards of the organic networking you’ll be doing while finding your own mission.
Take a Risk
Let’s say you’re in touch with your intrinsic motivation. Maybe you’re just not having fun on the job the way you used to.
If that resonates, it’s time to shake things up. Psychologists note that people tend to perform their best when they’re at what’s known as the optimal level of arousal. Too much arousal and you’re just stressed; too little arousal and you’re bored, which can then turn into apathy, causing you to mistake boredom for burnout.
At your next brainstorming session, give yourself a stretch assignment. How can you be one notch deeper in left field? How can you be a hint more creative, even zanier? What ideas can you float to your clients or leaders instead of letting yourself reject them before they leave your brain?
Getting out of a career rut doesn’t happen naturally. But it’s worth the effort now, because it can be a rapid journey from a rut to burnout, a condition that may be far harder to bounce back from. Taking the time to reconnect with your motivation can help you stay in the game for years to come.
