My experience of the 9 to 5 is like chalk & cheese vs my experience from 3 or 4 years ago.

I can categorically feel the difference between the worry, anxiety and stress I used to feel during the working day, evenings & weekends and the calm & ease I feel now.

But what’s surprised me isn’t just how I can feel it, but how other people notice it too.

A colleague I used to work with in Lloyds v1 and now work with again every day in Lloyds v2 told me she thought I had more banter now I’m back in my old job. 

And I think she’s right. 

In Lloyds v1 I’d do everything in my power to avoid banter and even avoid having to make watercooler small-talk or even chat to other colleagues at all whenever I could get away with it.

My boss (same boss in Lloyds v1 and Lloyds v2) also mentioned how she thought I seemed a lot more relaxed now I’ve re-joined her team.

And it’s not just in the workplace.

I was at a party a couple of weeks ago when a friend I’ve known for years said “you seem so content nowadays”.

And recently, over sushi, another friend told me “I think you’ve come out of your shell a lot more Tom”.

Now, this isn’t me tooting my own horn. 

I’m just relaying facts.

It’s also something I chatted the fat about with Mark Crossfield when he invited me on his podcast Your Bravo Career a few months ago (still findable with a quick Google – the episode is called The Inner Path to Career Fulfilment).

If someone like me – someone who was wracked with overthinking, doubt & worry and who could quite literally feel a wave of gloom & doom wash over me every time I sidled into the office – can find a way to not just “be okay” with work, but actually have fun at work and have other people notice this too, then anyone can.

I mean that.

And when other people start to see this change, it’s proof (if proof is needed) that this shift at work isn’t just possible but is now underway.

In my new group coaching programme Thrive at Work, I’ll be revealing the “how to” of all this.

When I handed in my notice, I had to deal with surprised looks and people thinking I was crazy to quit a secure & well-paid job.

But if someone had told me before I quit that I could keep the exact same job and turn the dial up on the fun, ease, calm & flow to the extent that other people were noticing & commenting rather than shaking their head or raising their eyebrow at me quitting, I would’ve bitten their hand off.

Thrive at Work is a way to find this fun, ease, calm & flow for yourself.

If you'd like a piece of the action, all the details are here.

 - Tom