The key to managing the person you are and overcoming inclinations that can sabotage efforts to find happiness at work is to manage your career.

Here are some tips for handling various scenarios, whether you wish to improve your workplace condition, believe changes are coming, or are trying to make it in the gig economy.

There are some fundamental ideas to building a great career, regardless of whether you are just starting out or approaching close to retirement. They apply to all professions, including those such as computer systems analyst, butcher, and baker.

Please take note that the following tried-and-true strategies operate as a solid foundation on which you can build a successful career that can withstand unforeseen changes. These ideas will also help you put work and profession in the proper perspective because there is much more to life than the daily grind.

How Beneficial Networking Is

Bad things are said about networking. It makes people think of conceited corporate ladder-climbers whose only concern is “What’s in it for me? However, studies are mostly in agreement that cultivating relationships with others, including current and former coworkers and people we respect in the workplace, offers a solid foundation for a fulfilling career and a safety net in case the unexpected occurs.

Network fundamentals

Consider the coworkers you question “Have you tried the new coffee shop down the street?” to on a daily basis. Consider this to be your personal network.

Then consider the coworkers you frequently cross paths with; these are individuals with whom you enjoy working and who you are familiar enough with to occasionally engage in conversation. They could be referred to as your outer circle.

Through networks, we can interact with coworkers and form emotional bonds with people we know. However, they also serve as a source of business intelligence about your division, company, or sector.  Frequently, the most valuable connections in your networks are the far-flung ones.

What to Do First

• Try to take a moment when you run into a former coworker at your place of business to inquire about how they are doing.
• Invite them to join you for drinks after work simply getting to know individuals a little better outside of business hours is the key here.
• An efficient and comparatively simple way to connect with people you know, particularly those who have moved employment, is through social media sites like LinkedIn and Facebook
• Do not forget to update your profiles. You won’t benefit from having an outdated profile.

Continue to learn

When people stay current with changes in their fields, their careers flourish. Every endeavor faces problems that were previously unanticipated as well as new technologies, “best practices,” and regulatory changes. This is true for both competent masons and office tower architects. Keep your chin high and resist becoming stuck.

• Participate in professional organization events by joining one.
• Participate in training and workshops
• Take classes in your area of expertise to further your education.
• Think about teaching as an adjunct in your area of expertise.

Your job does not define who you are. You can rekindle your interest in everything by becoming interested in something unrelated to your line of employment.

According to studies, engaging interests and hobbies are associated with lower rates of burnout and a higher capacity for overcoming challenges at work. The objective is to discover something that has nothing to do with your family or career, but everything to do with your unique personality.

• Engage in creative endeavors
• Calming techniques also referred to as “moving meditation”
• Choose a sport you’ve always wanted to try.
• Volunteer for a cause that matters to you.
• Take classes in areas you wanted to study in college but didn’t

You’re not necessarily looking into a different line of work, but rather letting your idle curiosity grow for a while. Your extracurricular activities can help you manage your weekday troubles by reducing some of the pressure you put on yourself and free up some creative energy that can be used for your tasks.