We spend a lot of time at work, from Monday to Friday probably more waking time in the office than with our families and loved ones. If we are to cope with this, we have to make sure we make the most out of our work time and enjoy it. Unhappiness at work can lead to a lack of focus, and can impact productivity and make it harder to communicate with those on your team. It can also lead to an increase in stress levels, which can cause significant damage to the body. Like working out or eating healthy, being happier is something you have to work on. It’s a skill that takes practice.
Start the day on a good note
How you feel in the morning affects how you feel at work for the rest of the day. In one study, researchers analyzed the moods and performance of working professionals Those who were in a good mood in the morning were more productive during the day and reported having more positive interactions with clients and colleagues. So make it a point to do something in the morning that makes you feel good.
Maintain A Work-Life Balance
All work and no play is not a recipe for happiness. If you find you are working all the time, you may need to make adjustments and put boundaries in place. While some jobs demand longer hours than others, there may be ways to work around this, such as requesting to work from home.
Furthermore, spending time with your family and friends on the weekend can help you recharge for the week ahead.
Positivity and smiling
Positive thinking can feel labored at times but has been proven to work in multiple of studies. Smiling is infectious and is the simple form of positivity that uses what psychologists refer to as the theory of self-perception. Being positive leads to efficiency and well-being for yourself and the people around you. When you radiate positivity in an office, others will be picked up as a result. When trying this out, make sure you stay away from any negative people as they are bound to bring you down.
Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff
Each day brings a new set of hurdles to overcome. Instead of getting frustrated by these, learn to enjoy the ride and take things as they come. One way to do this is to practice being present and living in the moment, rather than getting caught up in the stresses of the past or future. Being present allows you to focus on problem solving rather than the problem itself.
Go on vacation
If all else fails, get yourself out of the office for a few days and recharge your batteries. Switch off completely, turn off any handheld devices and just relax. You will come back with a new perspective on things and you will be a happy person, hopefully with lots of great memories to share.
Help a Colleague
Helping others makes you happier. And helping your colleagues makes you happier at work. You don’t have to do anything huge or heroic to help. Ask if they need help on a project. Offer to do something simple, like type up notes after a meeting.
End your workday with a simple gratitude pause
Our brains are better at remembering the bad than the good. We’re conditioned by evolution to seek out what’s wrong and focus on it: this helps us protect ourselves from danger, which is good, but it makes it more difficult to be happier. The good news is that you can train your brain to better remember the positive things. In other words, you can fight your natural negativity bias.
If you share something positive about your day with someone else, even better. Research shows that discussing positive experiences with others enhances how good you feel about them and increases their after-effect.