The guide to being happier at the office
| 2 min read
On average, Americans spend around 7.9 hours a day at work – with a lot of people putting in way more than that. This means that if you’re not happy at your workplace, you’re spending a lot of time in a bad mood. The good news is there are a few simple mental and physical adjustments you can make to completely change your state of mind.
If you find yourself sitting at your desk feeling like you’re having a “glass half empty” kind of day, read on for a few of our favorite ways to be happier at work (and in life in general).
Stop the “if this/then that” mentality. We’ve all been guilty of this at one time or another: “If I get promoted, then I’ll be happy,” or “if I get a raise, then I’ll be happy.” But the more you hold on to that way of thinking, the less likely you’ll be to ever achieve peace in your life. Try to let go of these statements and thoughts and not allow future developments dictate your emotions today.
Smile – even if you don’t mean it. Happiness makes you smile, but can smiling make you happy? According to a new study, putting a smile on your face (even when it’s forced) can genuinely decrease your stress level and make you a happier employee. It’s true what they say, even when it comes to happiness: You got to fake it ‘til you make it.
Find your balance. You should never underestimate the power of “me time” – whether it’s taking half an hour for lunch, using all your allocated vacation days or actually staying home sick when you’re feeling ill. Make sure you find your balance between work and home or you’ll start to resent showing up at the office.
Make some new friends. Research shows that employees are happier at work when they foster friendships with their coworkers. But the positive side-effects of having a best friend at work go beyond just boosted happiness. In fact, Gallup found that close work friendships boost employee satisfaction by 50 percent and people with a best friend at work are seven times more likely to engage fully in their work. So go ahead, grab lunch with the person down the hall.
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Photo credit: WeKAb
