So what is it that you want to do? Well, usually, what you want to do is pick a feature that you want to get implemented, and figure out what you could refactor that would make it easier to implement that. Or you find an area of the code that is frequently being worked on and get some reorganization done in that area. This will make people appreciate your work. It's not just about that – it's really about the fact that they will appreciate it because you are doing something effective. But getting appreciation for the work that you've done – or at least some form of polite acknowledgment – can help encourage you to continue, can show you that other people are starting to care about your work, and hopefully help spread good development practices across your company.
Is there ever a time when you would tackle a refactoring project that doesn't have something directly to do with the work that you have to do? Well, sometimes you would refactor something that has to do indirectly...