Are you happy at work? If you are, that’s wonderful! If you’re not… well, you’re not alone. According to a 2013 Gallup poll, unhappy employees far outweigh the happy ones.

Sometimes work is difficult and exhausting. Feelings of stress, uncertainty, and frustration can get anyone down. But no matter what your situation is, there are steps you can take to make things better. You CAN be happier at work! Here’s how:

  • Start things off right – People who are in a good mood in the morning tend to feel happier (and be more productive) over the course of the day. So start off your day on a happy note by doing something that you enjoy. Take the time to really savor your cup of coffee or hot chocolate. Or take a quick walk around the block and breathe the fresh air. Do something nice for yourself in the morning, and it will have a lasting, beneficial effect.
  • Don’t make so many decisions – People who are asked to make a lot of decisions throughout the day can often end up feeling drained and unhappy. If you’re in this situation, try to lighten the load. Eat the same things for breakfast and lunch throughout the week so that you don’t have to think about it. Wear the same basic outfit every day. And if there are minor decisions that need to be made, delegate them to someone else.
  • Help your coworkers – Spend a little time every day helping out your coworkers. Help with a challenging task, share your snacks, or go get them some medicine when they’ve got a headache. Helping others will make you happy – and it will cheer up your coworkers, too!
  • Think about the progress that you’ve made – At the beginning of the day, write down a few, small things that you’d like to accomplish. And then, as you get those things done and can cross them off your list, you’ll feel really good. Nothing improves morale and makes people happier than the feeling of moving forward and making progress.
  • Try to remember the good things – It’s really easy to obsess over the negative things that happen at work. It’s harder to remember the good, funny, positive things that happen. So try to make a point of thinking about the good things – especially things that you’re grateful for. You can even make a small list of the positive things that happen each day. Research indicates that people who do this tend to feel happier about their lives and more optimistic about what’s to come.

 

Kogan, N. (2014, November 17). 5 scientifically proven ways to be happier at work. Time. Retrieved from http://time.com/3589837/5-scientifically-proven-ways-to-be-happier-at-work/

Rampton, J. (2014, December 1). 15 proven tips to be happy at work. Inc. Retrieved from http://www.inc.com/john-rampton/15-proven-tips-to-be-happy-at-work.html