A better word for "work"?
October 11, 2011 1:03 PM Subscribe
Is there a better and more positive word to describe "work".
As someone who battles procrastination and a tendency towards pessimism (if there's a chance), I have been thinking about how to change my self talk and improve my outlook.
When I hear the word "work", for me, it always has a lot of negativity surrounding it. Mental images of drudgery, boredom, obligation, and lack of freedom seem to surround it.
I'm looking for a better way to describe "work". I have to work in order to survive, so I want to be able to say, "I'm going to XXXX" and have good enthusiastic imagery associated with it.
Have you ever changed your language to alter your perception and abilities to improve your life? Is this even possible? What better word would describe work for you?
As someone who battles procrastination and a tendency towards pessimism (if there's a chance), I have been thinking about how to change my self talk and improve my outlook.
When I hear the word "work", for me, it always has a lot of negativity surrounding it. Mental images of drudgery, boredom, obligation, and lack of freedom seem to surround it.
I'm looking for a better way to describe "work". I have to work in order to survive, so I want to be able to say, "I'm going to XXXX" and have good enthusiastic imagery associated with it.
Have you ever changed your language to alter your perception and abilities to improve your life? Is this even possible? What better word would describe work for you?
Accomplishment?
posted by weapons-grade pandemonium at 1:10 PM on October 11, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by weapons-grade pandemonium at 1:10 PM on October 11, 2011 [1 favorite]
I kind of like the popular colloquialism of "earning," like to "go out there and earn." It feels a little more positive than "work" because it implies the concept of generating wealth instead of just the exertion part of making a living.
posted by El Sabor Asiatico at 1:12 PM on October 11, 2011
posted by El Sabor Asiatico at 1:12 PM on October 11, 2011
What is your job? When I leave the house each day, I "make more people aware of the benefits of credit unions" and "help make it possible for poor people to get on the road to financial independence" and "craft perfect sentences" etc. Even without a negative response to the word, I've always made a point to stay focused on why my work matters. When you believe your work matters, it doesn't feel like work.
posted by headnsouth at 1:12 PM on October 11, 2011
posted by headnsouth at 1:12 PM on October 11, 2011
What's your job?
posted by John Cohen at 1:13 PM on October 11, 2011
posted by John Cohen at 1:13 PM on October 11, 2011
I like "getting shit done, completely"
posted by theodolite at 1:14 PM on October 11, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by theodolite at 1:14 PM on October 11, 2011 [1 favorite]
"Labor" can be negative, but if you read up on the labor movement you might find it more uplifting. Focusing on the idea that "work" is something honorable, something that unites you with other people who work can be a pretty powerful thing.
And yes, knowing what your job is would help with this question.
posted by bubukaba at 1:17 PM on October 11, 2011 [3 favorites]
And yes, knowing what your job is would help with this question.
posted by bubukaba at 1:17 PM on October 11, 2011 [3 favorites]
There's also "Taking Care of Business," although I don't find that expression all that positive since it references both Bachman-Turner Overdrive and Office Depot.
posted by El Sabor Asiatico at 1:18 PM on October 11, 2011
posted by El Sabor Asiatico at 1:18 PM on October 11, 2011
"That place that pays me."
This can be extended to "That place that pays me so that I can do the things I actually care about."
What actually does work for me is thinking about my coworkers and how awesome they are. So, for me, work is that place where I get to hang out with some friends.
posted by punchtothehead at 1:18 PM on October 11, 2011
This can be extended to "That place that pays me so that I can do the things I actually care about."
What actually does work for me is thinking about my coworkers and how awesome they are. So, for me, work is that place where I get to hang out with some friends.
posted by punchtothehead at 1:18 PM on October 11, 2011
Making Work Work for Highly Sensitive People talks about the distinction between "craft", "drudgery" and "calling" - see this review. Not sure if the distinction is original to that writer or comes from somewhere else. This has been helpful to me in terms of defining how much of my work is "drudgery" and how much I enjoy or get something out of. I also have found it useful to make a distinction between "work work" (the job I get paid for) and creative activities that are important to me - other types of work. This doesn't reconceptualise the paid for work but it does put other activities in the same category.
posted by paduasoy at 1:20 PM on October 11, 2011
posted by paduasoy at 1:20 PM on October 11, 2011
For some reason, Geek Gaming speak resonates with me. (...Wait, what do I mean 'for some reason'? Anyway), in a way that may help.
An old roommate used to quote Miracle Max's line from Princess Bride to me when I left for work each day: "Have fun storming the castle!" But it did more than give me a chuckle -- it made that slog to work feel just slightly more...epic. I wasn't going to work, I was going off to Do Battle With The Day, sort of.
Similarly, I've adopted an acquaintance's name for her "To Do" list -- they are not things she has to DO, they are things she has to SMITE. I have been calling it my "To Smite" list for a few years now.
It kind of helped.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 1:20 PM on October 11, 2011 [5 favorites]
An old roommate used to quote Miracle Max's line from Princess Bride to me when I left for work each day: "Have fun storming the castle!" But it did more than give me a chuckle -- it made that slog to work feel just slightly more...epic. I wasn't going to work, I was going off to Do Battle With The Day, sort of.
Similarly, I've adopted an acquaintance's name for her "To Do" list -- they are not things she has to DO, they are things she has to SMITE. I have been calling it my "To Smite" list for a few years now.
It kind of helped.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 1:20 PM on October 11, 2011 [5 favorites]
Yeah...I am thinking that you need to find a way to associate "work" with something positive, i.e., you need to change the imagery in your head. Because, let's be honest here, it is a bit ridiculous to say, "I can't have lunch, I am going to my profession." Although, if we were friends, I would totally appreciate you saying that just for the laugh value. I think you need to make "work" a good thing in your head.
posted by AlliKat75 at 1:21 PM on October 11, 2011
posted by AlliKat75 at 1:21 PM on October 11, 2011
I think you're going about it backwards. Instead, use 'work' to describe some things you do for fun. A lot of the games I play are quite difficult, so they're 'work,' even if I'm doing that work for really no reason at all.
posted by LogicalDash at 1:24 PM on October 11, 2011
posted by LogicalDash at 1:24 PM on October 11, 2011
"Time to make the donuts!"
Not totally flippant... look at how your job serves other people, and realize that you provide a valued service that helps your community. (How do you know if it's valued? If it wasn't valued, no one would pay for it.)
posted by The Deej at 1:32 PM on October 11, 2011 [3 favorites]
Not totally flippant... look at how your job serves other people, and realize that you provide a valued service that helps your community. (How do you know if it's valued? If it wasn't valued, no one would pay for it.)
posted by The Deej at 1:32 PM on October 11, 2011 [3 favorites]
Instead of work, you could say, I am going to make beyootiful love to my SO. But I fear this might be a situation where the abyss is also looking into you and soon beyooitful love making might also start to seem drudgetastic too.
posted by biffa at 1:37 PM on October 11, 2011
posted by biffa at 1:37 PM on October 11, 2011
MAKIN' BANK, YO
posted by El Sabor Asiatico at 1:42 PM on October 11, 2011
posted by El Sabor Asiatico at 1:42 PM on October 11, 2011
Practice my craft.
posted by tempythethird at 2:15 PM on October 11, 2011
posted by tempythethird at 2:15 PM on October 11, 2011
Response by poster: OP here: I love the replies!
I'm a court reporter. I hate 'work' because our rates are being cut all the time (same rates now as 20 years ago - honestly), and every client wants extra for nothing.
I suppose feeling valued is the best kickback you get can from any job (which is why people volunteer, I guess), and when your money is being cut all the time, it's hard to feel valued.
I love the "To Smite" list above. I'm going to use that. I'll just make sure no-one's name is on it as it might be misconstrued ...
posted by stenoboy at 2:25 PM on October 11, 2011
I'm a court reporter. I hate 'work' because our rates are being cut all the time (same rates now as 20 years ago - honestly), and every client wants extra for nothing.
I suppose feeling valued is the best kickback you get can from any job (which is why people volunteer, I guess), and when your money is being cut all the time, it's hard to feel valued.
I love the "To Smite" list above. I'm going to use that. I'll just make sure no-one's name is on it as it might be misconstrued ...
posted by stenoboy at 2:25 PM on October 11, 2011
Seconding theodolite.
Although personally I use "taking care of business" because that horridly catchy 80's song then springs into my head, entertaining me a great deal while I'm "working over time!"
posted by oblio_one at 3:43 PM on October 11, 2011
Although personally I use "taking care of business" because that horridly catchy 80's song then springs into my head, entertaining me a great deal while I'm "working over time!"
posted by oblio_one at 3:43 PM on October 11, 2011
Endeavor?
posted by trip and a half at 8:05 PM on October 11, 2011
posted by trip and a half at 8:05 PM on October 11, 2011
Honestly, even though I generally like my work, I view it in the context of providing for my family. What am I doing today? Keeping my wife and daughter fed and warm.
Never fails as a motivator.
When I do non-paid work, like fixing up the yard or repairing a car or something, I think of it as making the world just a little bit better than it was before. I can go to sleep knowing that something, even if it's small, is better or nicer because of what I did today. Sometimes this also applies to paid work, sometimes not.
posted by tylerkaraszewski at 8:49 PM on October 11, 2011
Never fails as a motivator.
When I do non-paid work, like fixing up the yard or repairing a car or something, I think of it as making the world just a little bit better than it was before. I can go to sleep knowing that something, even if it's small, is better or nicer because of what I did today. Sometimes this also applies to paid work, sometimes not.
posted by tylerkaraszewski at 8:49 PM on October 11, 2011
Productive. Eg:
"I am going towork be productive now!"
You are making a difference, doing something good that needs to be done.
Also bear in mind that a lot of people are in jobs that, unlike yours, are actually detrimental to society in the big picture, and not productive, necessary, or good. That's harder to keep your head up about (and rightfully so).
posted by -harlequin- at 3:11 AM on October 12, 2011
"I am going to
You are making a difference, doing something good that needs to be done.
Also bear in mind that a lot of people are in jobs that, unlike yours, are actually detrimental to society in the big picture, and not productive, necessary, or good. That's harder to keep your head up about (and rightfully so).
posted by -harlequin- at 3:11 AM on October 12, 2011
If you have a more specific task in mind, I'd suggest talking about it directly, instead of talking about work in general. That way, if the task is miserable, you can at least quarantine the misery.
posted by LogicalDash at 4:18 AM on October 12, 2011
posted by LogicalDash at 4:18 AM on October 12, 2011
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posted by bilabial at 1:10 PM on October 11, 2011