Staying Happy at Work

It’s no secret that it’s often hard to stay happy at work especially if you aren’t your own boss, need to report to someone every day or don’t particularly like your co-workers.  Most employees dread Mondays, dream about Fridays and wish the weekend could be longer.  In this competitive corporate environment, chances are you often spend more time at the office than at home.  Being happy at work is very important to getting your job done better and becoming a success but it’s easier said than done.  Many workers have to deal with difficult bosses, backstabbing colleagues, favoritism, unfair pay and the ever dreaded office politics.  Job stress can take a huge toll on your mental and physical health.  Constantly changing your job isn’t a good option so how to stay happy at work?

First off don’t sleep in as late as possible and keep pushing that snooze button.  Try to wake up at least an hour before you need to and enjoy some “me” time.  If you have a family or kids, eat breakfast with them.  Watch your favorite news show and catch up on what’s going on in the world.  Take a long, hot shower.  Doing little things for yourself before a long day at the office goes a long way to being happier 9-5.

Plan your day ahead of time.  Set goals for yourself.  Know what you’re up against at work for the day.  Make a schedule for yourself and try to stick by it at any cost.  Of course, unexpected events come up at work daily but try to focus on accomplishing your own goals.

Dress for success.  While many companies are business casual these days and that’s often a good thing, it’s not always a bad thing to add some spice to your outfit.  As trite as it may sound, dressing well can often lead to you doing your job well or even better.  If you look good, you feel good.

Try arriving to the office a little early so that you can see what’s on tap for the day and maybe even chat with other co-workers who are there early too.  Sit at your desk and just breathe and relax.  Give yourself a little alone time before the madness of the day ensues.

Keep your office neat and tidy.  Coming in every day to a desk that is a mess can leave you feeling overwhelmed.  If you’re organized, you can do your job better.  A cluttered office often leaves your brain feeling cluttered.  Try keeping a daily planner: either a notebook or an Excel spreadsheet.  Minimize clutter and you’ll minimize distraction.

Be outgoing and friendly towards your colleagues even if you don’t like them or have fundamental differences of opinion.  Don’t engage in negative office gossip and water cooler talk.  Keep yourself out of office politics as much as possible.  Focus on doing your job well and not how others may not be doing theirs.

Engage in positivity.  If you’re in a staff meeting and are asked for feedback, try not to dwell on the negative.  While often it’s important to raise issues that are troubling, always try to end things on a positive note.  Encourage your colleagues and point out what a great job their doing. 

Be a team player.  Offer help and advice to your colleagues.  While many people find it easier to work on their own especially when they have strict deadlines to meet, don’t be afraid to offer to work on group projects or stay late to help a co-worker.  Often this might lead to them helping you in return when you need it.

Don’t waste countless hours reading junk email or playing around on the Internet.  While it’s fine to give yourself 10-15 minutes of time to connect with your friends or read an interesting article, try to stay focused on the task at hand.  If you do your job efficiently and meet your goals, you’re likely to be able to leave the office at a more reasonable hour and get home in time to spend time with family or friends.

Do your most pressing tasks first.  Get the hard stuff out of the way so that the rest of your day can run smoother and you can focus on getting a jump on longer term projects.  Your first order of business every day should be to respond to the most urgent and time sensitive phone calls and emails.  Get the difficult stuff off your plate and the rest of your day should feel more relaxing.

Always abide by company policy.  Don’t break the rules or get yourself in unnecessary hot water.  You don’t want to jeopardize your job security.  Keep to strict guidelines at all costs.

Take pride in your work.  Give yourself a pat on the back for a job well done.  If you have an innovative idea, take it to your boss.  Show them the strong results you’ve gotten by focusing on your work.

Most importantly, make the most of every day or in essence, make every day count.  Do your job the best you can and focus.  Don’t get distracted.  Show your boss that you’ve been a success.

Remember you might need a letter of recommendation one day so you don’t want to burn bridges or end on bad terms.  As I mentioned earlier, if you stay positive at all times, your boss will take notice and that’s how they’ll remember you if you choose to leave or they’ll use you as an example of how your peers should act.

While it’s often difficult to find a job that makes you happy, there are little things you can do every day to make yourself happier.  Take your happiness into your own hands and make it happen for yourself.

Here are some articles you might want to check out about staying happy at work:

“9 Tips for Being Happier at Work”: http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/outside-voices-careers/2009/10/07/9-tips-for-being-happier-at-work

“24 Tips for Being Happy at Work”: http://www.happiness-project.com/happiness_project/2006/08/this_wednesday_-9/

“The Secret to Being Happy at Work”: http://www.guardian.co.uk/money/2010/mar/27/secret-to-being-happy-at-work

“8 Ways to Stay Happy at Work”: http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-05-18/work/33845489_1_job-stress-good-music-fewer-mistakes

Until next time…