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Tips To Find Happiness At
Work
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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
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 )
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