Photo by Ivana Cajina on Unsplash
I was languishing and I didn't even know it.
As I sat hunched at my desk one morning with a large cup of coffee, I felt a guilty pang in my stomach as I glanced sideways at my growing to-do list.
My friend had emailed me that viral New York Times article by Adam Grant, which I gratefully clicked on—anything to distract me from that looming list.
What is Languishing, Anyway?
“The neglected middle child of mental health can dull your motivation and focus — and it may be the dominant emotion of 2021.”
As I read through the article, I found myself nodding my head after every sentence. A light bulb had gone off, along with a deep sense of relief. The complicated and previously unidentifiable emotion I had been experiencing was clearly defined right in front of me: languishing. And, if it was written about in the New York Times by a world-class organizational psychologist, that meant I was not alone in feeling these emotions at work.
It’s no surprise that 2020 was a challenging year, especially for navigating a career. I’m privileged and thankful to be able to work from home; however, that flexibility came at a price. A study by Robert Half found that 70 percent of professionals who transitioned to remote work because of the pandemic said they now work on the weekends, and 45 percent say they regularly work more hours during the week than they did before. The survey also found that working parents were more likely to work weekends, and put in 40-plus hour workweeks.
So what does this study have to do with languishing? According to Grant, languishing is a sense of stagnation and emptiness: “It feels as if you’re muddling through your days, looking at your life through a foggy windshield.” While people put their heads down and focused on the work in front of them, many ignored the emotional toll that the pandemic was taking on their mental health.
And now, as many people receive the vaccine and there’s a light at the end of this very dark tunnel, it seems like the emotional effects of the pandemic have left many of us in a languishing state, resulting in an immense lack of motivation. Which leads me to ask this very important question: What can we do about it?
How to Deal with Languishing
Thankfully, Grant has a few suggestions.
The first one comes as no surprise and is something many struggle to maintain even pre-pandemic—and that is maintaining boundaries. Once in-person meetings were no longer possible, the shift to Zoom meetings was the next best thing. But alongside the Zoom meetings came constant IMs and pings asking, “Can you hop on a quick video call?” Grant suggests setting up blocks of uninterrupted time to focus on certain projects, which has been proven to increase productivity.
If you find yourself with back-to-back Zoom meetings day in and day out, have a conversation with your boss to determine if you can set aside a few hours each day, or maybe even one workday each week, that can be Zoom free.
Other Tough Emotions at Work
Of course, languishing is not the only emotion that is hard to identify and find solutions to overcome. Read on for a list of four other common emotions at work and how to navigate them.
How to Navigate Rage at Work
When a colleague doesn’t complete their part of a project, or maybe you don’t receive the promotion you wanted, it’s understandable to experience a plethora of emotions—including rage. It’s always important to remember that whatever you’re feeling, your feelings are valid.
However, it’s also important to be mindful of how your reactions might impact others. Therefore, when you feel anger bubbling up inside your chest, take a step back from whatever you’re doing to clear your head. Try deep breathing exercises to help slow your breathing and heart rate. MindTools suggests breathing in slowly for five seconds, then breathing out slowly for five seconds. Once you’re able to approach the situation with a clearer head, you can identify the path forward.
How to Navigate Discontent at Work
If you’re feeling discontentment, it usually means you are dissatisfied with your current work situation. You might even consider quitting if you feel your work doesn’t have purpose or meaning.
If you feel like quitting, consider first evaluating what projects or work previously made you happy and consider speaking with your boss to see if there are any upcoming projects you could help with. It just might help you get your mojo back.
How to Navigate Boredom at Work
Maybe you’ve maxed out your learning potential at your current company, or maybe you’re just not interested in the work you’re doing anymore. If you love your company but you’re not feeling any pride in what you’re doing, here’s a shortlist of productive things to do that will help your career when you’re feeling bored at work.
- Write an email to your boss letting them know you want to discuss some new responsibilities.
- Subscribe to a new industry-focused and/or women-focused newsletter.
- Organize your files.
- Subscribe to a new podcast.
How to Navigate Feeling Underappreciated at Work
A simple “thank you” can go a long way, but if you don’t receive that from your boss after a challenging project, or if you feel you’re not being adequately compensated for your work, this can lead to a major lack of motivation. You can certainly try to have a conversation with your boss about how you like to receive feedback, but this may be a sign that you should start looking for work elsewhere.
As Grant so accurately wrote, “One of the best strategies for managing emotions is to name them.” Once you identify the emotions you are feeling, you take back a sense of control so that you can navigate the right path forward for you and your career. Want more resources to help navigate your emotions at work? Check out this emotional tendencies quiz today!
