Finding the right level of challenge

Sometimes people say they just want an easy life, but if work becomes too easy, we can lose motivation. That isn't to say you need to feel challenged all of the time – for instance, if work becomes too difficult, we can start to feel stressed or overwhelmed. So, the aim is to find challenges that help us grow while still feeling achievable.

Challenge is one of the Five Ways to Happiness at Work. In Friday Pulse, the Challenge score is made up of three areas: Creativity, Learning, and Feedback. Together, they explore whether you're experiencing the right balance between stretch, enjoyment, and expectations.

To start, take a look at your Challenge score and consider whether there are any areas you'd like to improve.

Think about what's next

Learning and development don't always have to mean a promotion or a completely new role.

Take some time to think about where you'd like to develop next.

Ask yourself:

• What would I like to learn?
• Which skills would I like to build?
• Is there a project I'd enjoy getting involved in?
• What's one thing I could do differently over the next few months?

Sometimes the smallest changes can have the biggest impact on how challenged and engaged we feel.

Do more of what you enjoy

The work we enjoy often plays to our strengths and leaves us feeling energised.

Where possible, look for opportunities to spend more time on tasks or projects that you find interesting and rewarding. You might also be able to redesign parts of your role or approach familiar tasks in a different way.

When we enjoy what we're doing, we're often more creative, productive, and motivated - and that enthusiasm can have a positive effect on the people around us too.

Make time for a power hour

It can feel difficult to make progress when we're constantly interrupted by emails, messages, and meetings. Even a single hour of uninterrupted focus can help you make meaningful progress on work that matters.

Try setting aside regular periods of time to concentrate on a single task. You might choose to switch off notifications, close your inbox, or let colleagues know you're focusing for the next hour.

Giving yourself permission to concentrate can help you produce your best work and increase the sense of accomplishment that comes from completing something meaningful.

Build on other people's ideas

Some of our best thinking happens through conversation.

Sharing ideas with colleagues, asking for feedback, or talking through challenges with someone you trust can help you see things differently and develop stronger solutions.

Collaboration doesn't reduce your ownership of an idea - it often strengthens it.

Be willing to learn

Learning often starts with admitting we don't have all the answers.

Asking questions, trying something new, or sharing an unfinished idea can feel uncomfortable, but it's often where the greatest learning happens.

Being open to feedback and willing to be vulnerable creates opportunities to improve while also encouraging others to do the same.

Keep challenging yourself

Feeling challenged isn't about constantly pushing yourself harder.

It's about continuing to learn, making progress, and looking for opportunities that stretch you in positive ways.

Take time to reflect on your Challenge score every quarter. Which areas have improved? Which could you focus on next? Small changes, such as taking on a new project, learning a new skill, protecting time for focused work, or collaborating more with colleagues, can all help you continue developing while keeping work enjoyable and rewarding.