You Can Be Happier at Work
I’m blessed to have my dream job, but it wasn’t too long ago that, come Monday morning, I was moaning and groaning along with the rest of the world at having to go to work. Believe it or not, there are some things that you can do to be happy at the job that you have right now.
Being happy is a skill that takes practice. You have to work at it and be intentional about experiencing it. If you are in a job that seems hard to get up for in the morning, then here are some well documented tips and tricks to help you find a little joy in your day.
Studies show that people are happier at work when they feel like they are helping others. You don’t have to work for a non-profit or in a healing profession to be of service. Chances are, no matter what kind of job you are doing, you are making at least one other person’s day easier. Where does your work make a difference? It can be as simple as organizing chaos by doing the filing.
If you don’t think you are being of service to anyone, then consciously decide to help another employee. One study done at the University of Wisconsin found that employees who helped others at work were 33% happier than those who didn’t.
Don’t bring your personal problems to work. Using coworkers as a sounding board for your personal issues can do more harm than good. It puts extra stress on you, and it can also wear you fellow employees down.
Take a brisk walk on scheduled breaks. I used to work in a nine story building, and every couple of hours I would run up the stairs. It relieved stress, it got my blood flowing, and it cleared my head. Getting outside and taking a quick walk is also a good way to take a mental pause from work. You’ll get some exercise and feel ready to tackle the rest of your day.
Create a small list in the morning of things you would like to accomplish during the day. Make this list “doable.” When you cross each item off of your list, acknowledge your progress in some way. It could be as small as a fist pump, to giving yourself a little treat.
I used to run a small financial firm, and I couldn’t stand doing compliance paperwork. I would get stressed every time I looked at the growing pile on my desk, but I avoided it like the plague. I started making a list, and would treat myself to a Hershey’s kiss every time I completed a task. That paperwork pile disappeared really fast!
Practice gratitude. Create a gratitude ritual by thinking of three good things that happened during your day at work. You could do it right before you turn off your computer for the day. You made some money, or someone opened the door for you, or the coffee was good. It could be anything.
Complaining about work can be habitual, so create a new habit of saying positive things at least once a day. This will help retrain your brain to find more things that are pleasant about work.
Reward yourself. If your employers don’t have reward incentives, them make some for yourself. Give yourself a treat when you accomplish something, like “When I get these reports filed, I’m going to treat myself to a Starbucks,” or “I can only go out to lunch if I finish my phone calls.”
Barbara Buck is a Foundational Reconnective Healing Practitioner, writer, and teacher. For more information about her, please visit her website at www.theomancollective.com. Check her out on the Happy Empaths Twitter feed @the_empath.