Fall Back in Love With Your Job

Optimism

When you're optimistic, you have resources that you can tap to take action and to see possibilities and solutions to problems at work. Having a can-do approach helps you to bounce back quicker from rejection and to resist the urge to give up. It also opens your eyes to how you can bring about change, not how you can't.

Focus on what's going right and stop thinking so much about what's going wrong or could go wrong.

Keep a "good" list, or a gratitude list, and use it to reset your day — every day. Optimism flows from gratitude. Thankfulness is a great antidote to what ails you.

Reach out and thank someone who made your work shine. I try to think of at least one work-related thing I am grateful for each day. Since I work at home, it can be as simple as reaching out to a colleague on LinkedIn, Twitter or Facebook. Interactions with others, even virtual ones, can get you unstuck and make you feel as if someone notices you and your work.

Value

Have the inner confidence to know that if you put out the effort, you will get results or see progress. Value your own work, skills and talents. Believe in yourself.

Keep learning new things. The people I know who really enjoy their work regularly get involved in learning or self-improvement efforts.

When you're learning, you pay attention to the world around you. You notice things. You listen more closely. If you can just do one thing to make a change right now, learn something new.

Challenge yourself to study new things related to your job. Adding new skills can lead to new responsibilities at work and make you a more valuable employee.

Chart out a plan to upgrade your game and set long- and short-term goals. You might take a class to sharpen your skills or learn new ones. Seek out professional development and training opportunities offered by your employer. Upgrade your technology skills. Take advantage of online learning sites such as TED, Khan Academy and lynda.com.

Enthusiasm

When you're enthusiastic, people want what you have. They want to be around you. They want you to be on their team. Enthusiasm is infectious. It boosts your energy and helps you tackle changes.

Your attitude is something you have control over. You can choose to be upbeat. Having a positive attitude and desire to learn, and staying up to date with various skills and technology, help you to stay relevant and competitive in today's workplace — as well as maintain an edge.

Even if you feel like a cog in the middle of a big organizational wheel, you can run your career like a one-person business. Think of yourself as an entrepreneur with your employer as your main client. Think of ways you can make yourself more valuable to your company by expanding the range of "products" or skills you offer.

Resilience

When you're resilient, you resist the urge to get stuck in the past and to be discouraged by failure or adversity. Instead, you bounce back and focus on the future.

Look at the big picture. Let go of your preoccupation with this week and think about how success might look for you five years from now.

Step away from your desk and meet new people at work. Learn what they do and how they contribute.

Get up to speed in your industry. Set up a Google search so you can read articles about trends and news events.

Finally, get in shape. Build the strength you need to truly succeed emotionally, personally and professionally in your work life. Eat healthfully and work out a few days a week. When you are fit, you have more energy. You'll feel good and have a positive mind-set to start making changes.

Kerry Hannon, AARP jobs expert, is a career transition expert and an award-winning author. Her other books include What's Next? Finding Your Passion and Your Dream Job in Your Forties, Fifties and Beyond and  Great Jobs for Everyone 50+: Finding Work That Keeps You Happy and Healthy … and Pays the Bills. Follow her on Twitter @kerryhannon.