> find a way you can do meaningful work at work
This is silly. 90% of corporate work employing millions of ppl is not 'meaningful work'
The meaning is not in the work—it's in you. You can always find ways to connect more to things you value while at work. That makes it personally meaningful. If "creativity" is a core value for you, but your job is not "creative" on paper, there are countless ways to pivot toward creativity. You can draw illustrations for a presentation. You can redesign a document template with good typography. You can split a complex spreadsheet into clear tabs. Whatever you do, there's a way to do more of what matters to you.
And if there really isn't, get out.
This. You can have pride in doing things right, but it still won't make it any more meaningful. It will be just you deluding yourself. Some things needs to be done, but I don't think anyone would be surprised how little of it is actually needed.
Yeah. The myth of meaningful work does more harm than good.
Plenty of people find meaning in work. They enjoy it and would do it even if they won the lottery. If that's you, then that's great.
But that will never be the cade for me. I serve organizations with missions I am proud to support. I work with reasonably smart, dedicated people. I am paid a decent amount. The work is sometimes challenging and fun. I am a consultant, so I can set my own hours.
But on any given day, I would rather do anything other than work. Go for a walk. Watch TV. Read a book. See friends.
And that's okay.