Ever felt uninspired while working an online job?
Some of us might feel demotivated because we no longer find purpose in our jobs. Perhaps we don’t know our life’s purpose at all.
It’s normal and happens to the best of us.
Sometimes, we feel like this when we don’t fully understand how our work contributes to our organization or community.
Also, it can happen when our personal interests aren’t aligned with the tasks we need to do in our remote jobs.
So how do you infuse your remote work with purpose and passion?
Dive into the Japanese concept of “ikigai” to derive direction and motivation for your online job.
What is Ikigai?
Ikigai is a Japanese concept that roughly translates to “a reason for being” or “a reason to wake up in the morning.”
It’s about finding happiness, purpose, and significance in life, usually by combining four important parts:
What you love (your passion)
These are the things that make you happy and fulfilled—activities or hobbies that genuinely excite and energize you.
What you can be paid for (your profession):
How can you find proper compensation or material rewards for your work?
What you are good at (your vocation)
It’s about knowing what you’re good at—your strengths, skills, and talents—and understanding how you can use them to make a valuable impact.
What the world needs (your mission)
Understanding what others, your community, or society need and finding ways to help and make a positive impact comes into play here.
When all four elements are present, it helps you find meaning in life and work, making you feel fulfilled, satisfied, and happy.
So how do you apply Ikigai to remote work? Here are 4 ways.
Discover What You’re Good At
Evaluate your strengths and skills.
When you know what you’re good at, you can employ those strengths to enhance your performance and make a positive impact.
For example, in an online marketing job, you might be talented at crafting innovative and captivating online marketing content.
By recognizing and honing this strength, you can greatly contribute to your client’s marketing goals and find fulfillment, which is in line with the concept of Ikigai.
Assess What You Can Be Paid For
Next, recognize the value your work provides to your remote job.
How does your work contribute to the organization’s or client’s goals? What is the financial value of your contributions?.
Moreover, are there opportunities for growth, advancement, or recognition in your company?
Working with a client or company that rewards you for your efforts, whether through pay, career growth, or recognition, greatly boosts your job satisfaction and fulfillment.
Know Your Passion
Reflect on what you truly enjoy doing in your remote job.
It could be a particular aspect of your work, a skill you both love and are good at, or a topic you’re passionate about.
Incorporate more of these elements into your daily tasks to increase your overall satisfaction.
Seek Meaning Beyond Your Job
What if your job is not your passion?
For example, let’s say you have an encoder online job where you type all day.
It’s not really something you’d likely be passionate about, but we all need jobs that cover our living expenses, right?
If this is the case, you can search for meaning and fulfillment in other areas of your life.
Consider cultivating hobbies or interests outside of work that bring you joy and satisfaction.
The benefit of an online job is that it gives you more time to explore new interests, so you can potentially discover something you feel passionate about.
Looking for home-based jobs in the Philippines? Sign up with Remote Staff for the best remote working opportunities for Filipinos.
Remote Staff can match you with long-term clients so you can find opportunities to apply Ikigai principles and experience deeper fulfillment in your remote career.
Register today!
