How To Be Happier At Work Right Now
What do you like about your work?
What do you wish was different about your work?
These are questions I love to ask people because I really want to help others find enjoyment and meaning in their work. I don’t just like my work, I love my work! I’m not only happy at work (and no it’s not because I am eating great chocolates all day), but even when there are unhappy moments, I still find a deep meaning and peace in it all.
We spend about 8 hours a day, 5-6 days a week at our work. That’s A LOT OF OUR LIVES and so I really want others to find that same sense of peace and meaning in their work too.
There are so many things I could say about this topic, but to start, here is a list of a few things you can try right now to help you be a little happier at work. They are not quick permanent fixes, but with time and a consistent commitment to doing them, you may find yourself smiling a little more. :)
Write down something you are looking forward to about work every morning before going in.
Visualize having a good day in your car before you get out and go in.
Compliment someone else at work.
Put what makes you smile on your desk or work area (eg: a pic of your family, a live plant, or cute stationary).
Listen to uplifting music that makes you smile.
Speak up and ask for something you need clarification on.
Have a little fun. Take a coffee break. Listen to a co-worker’s joke.
Ask for help.
Ask someone else if they need help.
Take a fresh breath outside alone for 3 minutes.
Do something nice for someone else and don’t tell them about it.
Eat a piece of chocolate from your drawer after you did a hard task.
Thank someone else for their work.
Write down 3 little things you were grateful for that day (no matter how small) before you leave.
Literally pat yourself on the back at the end of the day and tell yourself, “You did your best.”
Pray for the next day.
Even if you just rolled your eyes at this list, heck if it will work, why not try it? Do something. Don’t just continue to be unhappy. And sometimes if you can’t change your situation, there are some things you can control. Start with that. You can do it!
erin’s tip
Start with yourself. As Ghandi once said, “Be the change you wish to see in the world.”