Especially after the beautiful weekend we just had, I bet everyone can relate to having “a case of the Mondays”. It’s that sinking feeling as your alarm sounds on Monday morning to get out of bed and get to work (made famous by the 1999 movie Office Space). Sure, it’s hard to go back to work after a great weekend, but for the most part you should get satisfaction from your workday and workplace. We are posting “10 Ways to be Happy at Work” as our way of saying Happy Monday and we hope you have a great week.
10 Ways to be Happy at Work
- Choose to be Happy–
Happiness can be achieved at work if you set your mind to it. There may be tasks you find mundane, but if you focus on the parts of your job that make you happy than you will be more satisfied with your day. Spend time with optimisitic coworkers to keep your mind on the positive track.
- Do Something You Love Every Single Day-
Try to incorporate your skills and interests with your chosen career path. Seek out opportunities where your skills would be most helpful. If you are passionate about what you do, you will be more motivated to produce a better quality of work.
- Take Charge of Your Future-
Who benefits most from your personal and professional development? You do. While your boss can give you guidance, it is your responsibility to set the pace in your professional growth. Ask for specific and meaningful guidance, but be sure to motivate yourself rather than waiting for others to do so.
- Take Responsibility for What Happens at Work-
Time flies when people are busy. Your coworker may not remember that project they were supposed to send you as they are busy completing their own tasks. If you need information or help, be assertive and ask. Don’t wait for others to come to you. As long as you are polite, a helpful reminder can be just what people need to get the job done.
- Only Make Commitments You Can Keep-
To avoid work stress and unhappiness, don’t make promises to submit work that you may not have time to complete. Many employees spend more time making excuses for failing to keep a commitment, and worrying about the consequences, than they do performing the tasks promised. Create a system of organization and planning that enables you to assess your ability to complete a requested commitment. Don’t volunteer if you don’t have time. If your workload is exceeding your available time and energy, make a comprehensive plan to ask the boss for help and resources. Don’t wallow in the swamp of unkempt promises.
- Ask for Constructive Criticism or Feedback-
Ask your boss and customers how you are doing and how you could serve them better. Doing so will not only show that you care but it can help you gain perspective on areas in which you are succeeding and areas that could use improvement.
- Avoid Negativity-
Choosing to be happy at work means avoiding negative conversations, gossip and unhappy people as much as possible. No matter how positively you feel, negative people have a profound impact on your psyche and will bring you down.
- Practice Professional Courage-
Conflict can be uncomfortable, scary and maybe even harmful if you do not know how to respond. Approaching a conflict with the right mindframe can uncover opportunities and enable you to serve your customers better. Listening to criticism from customers or disagreeing with coworkers can uncover areas that need improvement which will help you in the long run. Be open-minded and willing to talk things out will help you maintain relationships at work and in life as well.
- Make Friends-
Getting to know your coworkers can bring you unexpected satisfaction from work. Sharing a simple laugh or smile can improve your mood and having someone to talk to helps when you are concerned about something at work. Participating in team-building exercises or community service is a good way to get to know coworkers outside of the work environment.
- Treat Yourself-
Sometimes it is the little things that can improve your mood and make your day better. Having coffee or a snack can give you a boost of energy when your day is dragging on. Listening to music can also help you stay focused and be productive.
We hope you have enjoyed this post and know that at Mackoul we welcome your feedback on our customer service and insurance products. If there is anything that you think we could do better, let us know because we care. If you think we are doing something well, we’d love to know that too.
Enjoy the rest of your Monday and get a laugh from the Office Space excerpt below if you have the time. Oh, and if you have not seen Office Space, put it on your list of must-see movies!
