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Happiness is in vogue, and
everyone--from psychologists to academics and career
coaches--has advice on how to find it and how to keep
it. Juxtapose that with a workforce that is more
stressed out and cynical than ever. After a recession
where millions of jobs were lost, remaining workers are
doing more work with fewer resources and a heavy helping
of distrust in management. Is it possible to find
happiness at work these days? These experts say: Yes.
Start now.
Throw Out Labels
We spend most of our lives
instantly judging things that happen to us. It's
raining: Bad. No bonus this year: Very bad. The boss is
out of town: Very good. Author of Happiness At Work
Srikumar Rao, Ph.D., says you can boost your sense of
calm by turning off the mental labels. If you decide
something is bad, it most likely will be, he says.
Let It Go
When something throws you
off, being able to let it go quickly will exponentially
increase your happiness at work. The ability to move
on--resilience--enables you to handle work challenges
with composure and strength. Instead of focusing on how
bad a situation is, focus on how to fix it or the next
step.
Write A To-Do List
It's hard to feel resilient
when you also feel like you have no power over your work
day. You can take some of that control back by writing a
to-do list and completing tasks in that order. Also,
limiting distractions by scheduling times to check
e-mail or social networking sites will help keep you on
task and feeling productive.
Focus And Engage
"The current workforce is
like the cast of the Night of The Living Dead,
says Rao. Disengaged worker-zombies do nothing for the
company or for individual morale. If you are able to get
excited about your work and focus on it with full
attention, time will go by faster and the experience
will be much more pleasant.
Quiet Mental Chatter
A constant stream of
negative thoughts sends many workers into a downward
spiral of unhappiness. Quiet the chaos by redirecting
your thoughts. Think of a positive memory and create a
mental image of it. The next time you have an idle
moment, instead of surfing the Web, draw up this mental
screensaver. Replay this in order to reset your mind and
scale back the negative.
Find Restorative Time
Workplaces are stressful
and you need to cope. But "alcohol and TV won't help,"
says happiness author Jessica Pryce-Jones. Instead, set
aside some time each day to recharge. Taking a peaceful
walk at lunch rather than mindlessly eating at your desk
will restore calm. Maybe a warm bath in the evening or
fun book for the commute are your fix-its. Experiment
and find what works for you.
Connect To Your Values
People who feel more
connected to the company's mission and feel like their
work is valuable or meaningful are more likely to be
happy on the job. If you begin to feel like your work is
meaningless, look at the big picture: Work for a
pharmaceuticals company? Think of the lives being saved.
Or, consider how showing up each day aligns with your
personal values. The money you earn supports your life
outside of work, and whether that's your family or a
hobby, it's a good reason to keep coming in with a
smile.
We're The Same
It's easy to put
people--colleagues, bosses, clients--into categories.
People I don't like; people I do like. Me vs. them. A
simple way to make work relationships more pleasant is
by finding common ground. Consider what makes you
similar to your co-workers rather than different and the
dynamics of the relationship will change. Social
interaction play a huge part in your happiness on the
job, so it should prove a good investment of your time
and energy.
Feel Compassion For A Toxic
Boss
The No. 1 reason employees
leave a company is because of a bad boss, says Rao.
They're everywhere, and you're likely working with one.
See a boss for who he or she really is, he advises, and
feel compassion for them: "You have to put up with her a
couple hours a week, and she has to put up with herself
her whole life." Rao suggests picturing a toxic boss as
a child having a temper tantrum. When you remember the
negativity is all about them, not you, you'll be better
able to shrug it off.
Know When To Leave
You can do everything right
and still be dissatisfied with your job. If you've tried
everything in your power to make a situation work and
you're still unhappy, that's when it's time to leave.
Situations can be salvageable, and it's in your best
interest to admit it and move on. Workers spend an
average of 90,000 hours at work in their lifetimes. You
owe it to yourself--and your health--to discover
happiness on and off the clock.
- Courtesy: Forbes.com
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