Seven Tips for Finding Happiness at Work and Life
Finding happiness at work and life is crucial
for maintaining a healthy work-life balance. A job is not just a source of
income but also a place where we spend a significant portion of our lives.
Therefore, it is essential to make sure that we find joy and fulfillment in
what we do. Here are some tips to help you find happiness at work.
- Identify What Makes You Happy
The first step in finding happiness
at work is to identify what makes you happy. What are the things that bring you
joy and fulfillment? Is it working in a team, helping others, or having a sense
of autonomy? Once you identify what makes you happy, try to incorporate those
aspects into your work life.
- Develop Positive Relationships
Developing positive relationships
with your colleagues can significantly impact your happiness at work. Having
people to talk to, collaborate with, and share ideas with can make work more
enjoyable. Take the initiative to get to know your colleagues and build
positive relationships.
- Set Realistic Goals
Setting realistic goals can help you
feel a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction. It is essential to break down
your goals into smaller, achievable tasks, and track your progress. Celebrate
your achievements, no matter how small they are.
- Take Breaks
Taking breaks throughout the workday
can help you feel refreshed and rejuvenated. Make sure to take regular breaks
to stretch, walk around, or meditate. This will help you stay focused and
productive.
- Practice Gratitude
Practicing gratitude can
significantly impact your happiness at work. Take a few minutes each day to
reflect on the things you are grateful for in your job. This could be your
supportive colleagues, a fulfilling project, or a comfortable workspace.
- Seek Opportunities for Growth
Learning new things and seeking
opportunities for growth can help you feel challenged and engaged in your work.
Look for ways to expand your skill set or take on new responsibilities. This
will help you feel more fulfilled in your job.
- Maintain a Work-Life Balance
Maintaining a work-life balance is
crucial for finding happiness at work. Make sure to set boundaries between work
and personal life, and prioritize self-care. This will help you feel refreshed
and ready to tackle new challenges at work.
In short we can say that, finding happiness at
work is a process that requires intentional effort and self-reflection. By
identifying what makes you happy, building positive relationships, setting
realistic goals, taking breaks, practicing gratitude, seeking opportunities for
growth, and maintaining a work-life balance, you can find joy and fulfillment
in your job.
The average person will spend 90,000 hours at work over a lifetime, so you
might as well try and enjoy it.
Work, it’s something most of us do
though it isn’t always enjoyable. Whether it’s long hours, gruelling tasks or
just the repetitive nature of a day-to-day routine, work can sometimes be
something we have to do rather than something we want to do.
But given that the average person
will spend 90,000
hours at work over a lifetime it makes sense to try and enjoy it if you
can. So what can you do to be happier at work and reduce stress?
1. Be active
Exercise
and other physical activities won’t make your problems or stress disappear,
but they will reduce their emotional intensity and give you mental space to
sort out problems – as well as keep you physically fit.
Research
shows time and time again the positive benefits of exercise, so why not bookend
your working day with some physical
activity.
Walking to and from work is a great way to create separation from
the working day. If that’s not possible you could get off the bus a stop early,
make your lunchtimes active or maybe find an exercise class to do before you
start work for the day.
Try a lunchtime
exercise class for a change of scenery. Pexels/Yan Krukau
2. Connect with people
If you examine most of the happiness
scales, relationships
with others come near the top of these lists.
During the pandemic, many people found their wellbeing suffered
due to a lack of social contact. Indeed, a good support network of friends
and family can minimise your work troubles and help you see things
differently.
It’s also worth getting to know your colleagues. The more you
invest in your relationships at work, the more enjoyable
you may find your day.
Helping work colleagues and others in your life, can also
enhance your self-esteem
and give you a sense of purpose, which is essential to your wellbeing
and contentment.
Get to know your colleagues,
you might discover you enjoy spending time together. Pexels/Alexander Suhorucov
3. Learn new skills
Keeping “cognitively
active” is critical to your psychological and mental wellbeing and can
provide you with new opportunities in terms of your career development. So try
to keep learning – take a course, develop some new skills or learn a new hobby,
it all adds up.
Having things going on in your life outside of work is also
important for your emotional and mental wellbeing. In the UK we work some of
the longest
hours in Europe, meaning we often don’t spend enough time doing the things
we really enjoy. Don’t work excessive hours. And ensure you make time for
socialising, exercise, along with activities you find fun.
Your new hobby could
even lead you down a new career path. Pexels/Amina Filkins
4. Stay present
This is all about “being in the moment” rather than in the past
or looking too far forward. Enjoy the present and you will appreciate
it more. Indeed, there is plenty of research
on the positive aspects of mindfulness
and how it can help with mental health.
You don’t have to sit down for hours meditating either. Being in
the moment is more about bringing your brain back to the now. A more mindful
approach to life is something you can practice at any time of the day, it’s
just about being aware, noticing your surroundings – the sights, sounds,
smells. You can do this while you’re walking, in a meeting or making a cup of
tea.
5. Recognise the positives
Staying present also helps you to recognise the positives in
your life – allowing you to be a glass
half full rather than a glass half empty person.
Accept there are things at work or in life you can’t change and
concentrate on the things you have control over. Remind yourself to feel
grateful for the positives
in your life.
6. Avoid unhealthy habits
Given what we know about their long-term consequences, using
excessive alcohol or coffee consumption or smoking as a coping strategy for
work stress is ultimately likely to have a negative impact
on your happiness, even if they seem to provide a quick pick-me-up.
Finding the positive in
things could help you to enjoy time spent on Zoom meetings rather than resent
it. Pexels/Tima Miroshnichenko
7. Work smarter, not longer
Prioritise your workload
during working hours and you will have more disposable time to do the
things you enjoy. Accept that your in-tray will always be full, so concentrate
on the important things first.
The more you take control of your work life and get the balance
you need, the more likely you will be happier at work. Indeed, given that in
the UK stress-related illness accounts for nearly 60% of all long-term
sickness you must prioritise your wellbeing and try to reduce work stress
where possible.
