Get off the treadmill—find control in meaningful work

When Joe sat at the paint-shop counter each morning, he felt numb: take orders, shake cans, say “Thanks.” No wonder he gorged on Oxycontin to numb the tedium. But when he approached his manager with a simple idea—tracking which colors ran out fastest so he could pre-mix popular shades—everything changed. The manager said yes, and Joe got to run mini-projects for the first time in years. Within weeks, he discovered he looked forward to work. He felt seen, valued, and in control. As he measured run rates and tuned schedules, he regained the pride he’d lost—and depression eased. His daily cortisol readings fell, according to an earlier lab study on autonomy at work. This story mirrors a decade of research: employees with even a small measure of control and project ownership feel more engaged, less anxious, and report lower depression rates. Autonomy isn’t a corporate buzzword—it’s a human necessity. In practice, even tiny shifts in responsibility can restore purpose and mental well-being.

Choose one repetitive task today and propose a small change to your manager or teacher—perhaps leading a mini-project or tracking an overlooked metric. Document the outcome as proof of your impact. Then secure a weekly slot to tackle a fresh challenge you care about. You’ll feel your sense of agency return. Try it tomorrow morning.