13 Jul Boosting Your Happiness in the Workplace
By: Megan Jones
Let’s be honest, working that 9:00-5:00 can be strenuous and can exhaust you in more ways than one. However, it doesn’t have to be! There are plenty of things you can do to make work more exciting and even make you happier to go and be at work! Consider trying one or more of these methods to aid in boosting your happiness in the workplace.
- Start the day on a good note
Studies show that those who are in a good mood are more productive and productivity can lead to a sense of accomplishment leading to empowerment. By starting out your day in a good mood you can reinforce that feeling throughout the day and create a positive daily cycle. Start your day with something you enjoy: whether it is your ritualistic morning beverage, listening to music, or cooking a good breakfast. Try to do something that will make you happy in the morning and then reflect how it affects your entire day!
2. Create an Office Nest
Create a space that makes you happy to be in! If you work for eight hours some days that might be more than you are asleep! Decorate your office as much as your company policy permits to make you feel more comfortable. The small memorabilia that you add can bring a smile to your face throughout the day.
3. Develop an Office Support System
Network and connect with co-workers. Go or plan outside plans with co-workers to get to know them better or strike up a conversation with someone new at the water-cooler. These better your connections with your co-workers, who can not only be a resource but make you more excited about going to work because you have someone you enjoy sharing the day with.
4. Be organized
Staying organized can ease stress because you are aware of where and what needs to get done. A clean desk makes the work environment seem less hectic and stressful. Additionally, a messy area can make you feel overwhelmed which will lead to overall dissatisfaction. You have enough stress at work, so avoid the additional stress that clutter and scrambling for lost items will cause.
5. Make fewer decisions
Although in the workplace you might have a difficult time controlling the decisions you are required to make, try mitigating the outside work decisions. Try having your outfit ready the night before, meal prepping, or having a go to commute playlist. Decreasing these miniscule decisions can have a monumental impact. The more decisions you make leads to decision fatigue: a depletion of your cognitive resources. Decision fatigue can make future decisions more difficult. By changing the amount of decisions that you know you have complete control over it will make easier at work. Just look at Steve Jobs, he wore the same outfit every day, so he didn’t have to decide what to wear every morning!
6. Don’t try and change your coworkers
Every workplace has a diverse group of minds that don’t always coincide. Remind yourself that you cannot change anyone, only change how you react to them. Moreover, try not to let other actions affect your mood. Whenever a conflict arises, assess the problem, and try and find the root of the cause. In some cases, it isn’t the issue itself as the impact it has on another co-worker. Listen carefully and work together to find a cohesive conclusion.
7. Acknowledge Your Progress
One of the most powerful causes of positive employee happiness at work is feeling like you’re moving forward and making meaningful progress. Try writing down a few things you would like to get done in the morning. These goals can be as small such as eating breakfast, drafting an email, organizing your desktop. Alternatively, you also use this method to tackle a big project. When you check off the little steps the goal seems less daunting. Additionally, by writing down what you want to accomplish, you are more likely to accomplish it. Moreover, you will feel more accomplished when you can check it off the list.
8. Have a Sense of Meaning
Finally, find a job that makes you happy to go to work. Employees who know how their work has a meaningful, positive impact are not just happier but more productive. Moreover, research from Harvard professor Teresa Amabile discovered that no matter the size of a goal having a sense of meaning can contribute to happiness in the workplace. Find your purpose through your work. It will help create meaning and excite you to contribute and complete it!
The job is what you make of it! Consider trying one or more of these to help boost your happiness in the workplace! Additionally, recognize the hard work you put in and the fact that your job, makes someone’s life better!
Looking to Learn More? Check out These Sources:
Ten Tips for Staying Happy at Work
