As Suze Orman often says on her show, most boomers won’t be able to retire in their 50s and 60s like previous generations. Between the recent financial crisis, lack of savings, and longer life expectancies, it looks like many of us boomers will be working into our 70s.

So what should you do if you’re stuck in a job you hate? You may feel that the job is neither challenging nor rewarding. The days are monotonous, tedious and boring. He may feel underutilized as he repeatedly performs seemingly minute tasks.

Do not lose hope. Here are some things to keep in mind:

Don’t hate me for this first piece of advice, just think about it for a bit. Sometimes a job stops being interesting because you stop being interested and engaged in the work and therefore stop being innovative or creative. Try and find ways to be more productive, take pride in your work and get involved in diversified activities. Honor the place where you work for its ability to provide a livelihood and put food on your table. Find satisfaction by striving for excellence. Get motivated to find ways to bring a smile to your face, as well as bring some joy into the lives of your co-workers.

Research shows that people are not happy because they are successful; they succeed because they are happy. Happier people are generally more motivated, easier to work with, and willing to tackle a difficult task. Once again, attitude comes into play: how you feel about your job and the people you work with will influence the quality of your work. You might also consider asking your supervisor what you can do to improve your skills and get promoted to a more satisfying, interesting, and rewarding position in the company.

Or maybe it’s time to reconsider your career path. Why not take a career aptitude test to determine which jobs match your skills, passions, and interests? Follow up by taking steps to get the training you need by taking classes at your local community college or volunteering to get the experience you need. If you have always dreamed of following your passion, it is never too late. Perhaps you can reduce your expenses to pursue a personally rewarding career that offers you less money. Start saving money and make the necessary sacrifices now to support your efforts.

Ron Klotchman, 49, is a boomer who did just that. He had been working an unsatisfactory office job for 14 years as a customer service representative, call center trainer, and manager. As the company went down during the recent economic downturn and laid off most of its workers, Ron’s manager told Ron not to worry because his job was secure. Although that should have been good news, Ron had mixed feelings. He was just exhausted and dreamed of becoming a full-time artist.

“One day I finally felt like the new quotas at work were deliberately making themselves unattainable,” says Ron. “I discussed quitting with my wife and within an hour I made the decision.”

He is still happy with his decision to leave and has never looked back. “About 90 percent of the company got the hatchet and the few times I did revisit, the misery in the eyes of the 10 people left in this cramped little room finally convinced me I was right,” he says. “Now I have no doubts. My health has improved due to a huge decrease in stress. I stopped being angry all the time and got back to my creative roots as a full-time artist.”

Supported by his wife’s income and money from the sale of their house, Ron gets odd jobs as an art model and teaching art classes and began showing his work at a gallery co-op. “I was able to make this life transition because we were financially solvent, frugal, and because I have been a fatalist ever since my father died suddenly when I was 31 years old. I decided to live and be happy while I could because life is short.

Maybe you can follow a similar path. Surprisingly, recent evidence suggests that career changes work well for the vast majority of older workers. This is true whether they changed jobs to follow their passion or were forced to change careers due to financial hardship. In fact, a recent study found that older workers and retirees who switched to different lines of work enjoyed their new jobs more, even if it meant less pay, fewer benefits, and less prestige. Because? Career changes often result in reduced stress and flexible work hours.

And finally, don’t get so involved in your work that you lose sight of your personal life. Find happiness outside of your work with the people you love, volunteer work that gives you a sense of fulfillment, and opportunities for personal growth.