"In order that people may be happy in their work, these three things are needed: They must be fit for it. They must not do too much of it. And they must have a sense of success in it." - Happy at work quotes by John Ruskin
Enormous amounts of our time, in fact one third of our day is spent in the workplace and with recession, anxiety and job stress being the order of the day, the difference between, "Oh crap, it's Monday" and "Thank God it's Monday" is determined by whether or not you are happy at work. So what are the factors that determine happiness at workplace and what exactly is the difference between a happy and an unhappy employee. Is it good communication between management and staff, and working with friendly colleagues or is it about an individual's outlook? Well, here is a look at what constitutes happiness and how to be happy at work place.
How to Be Happy at Workplace
In a research conducted in UK, it was found that only four out of every five employees were happy at work. Surprisingly contrary to popular notion, it was not the salary or the love for the work that made people happy. Instead friendly, supportive colleagues and a good manager have been found to be the primary causes of happiness at work. So how do you keep your spirits up and foster a sense of joy on the job? Here are some tips to help you on your way to finding happiness and complete job satisfaction in the workplace.
Start with a Positive Outlook: Happiness is a state of mind, an attitude, and though not many people realize it, but staying happy at work is totally based on your motivations and a positive outlook towards your job. I know most of you would not really agree with me but it is the truth. Dwelling on the good aspects of the work rather than rattling on and on about what makes you unhappy is the basic key for happiness. Negativity and gossiping around about the bad things may be easy but it is looking at the bright side that is the difficult part of a job. As Francesca Reigler puts it, "Happiness is an attitude. We either make ourselves miserable, or happy and strong. The amount of work is the same."
Challenge Yourself: Rather than looking for help and motivation from other people, challenge yourself and take charge of your own growth professionally. Boredom is one of the primary factors that causes people to switch jobs. So find new challenges and march to the music of your personally developed plan and goals. It is a great feeling to take control over what you do and see a task through. If you hit a roadblock then it is a good idea to take help from your manager, but complete reliance on someone for your career advancement is futile. Read more on how to stay motivated.
Make Friends: Having someone to talk to on a social levels and in fact having coworkers that you like to and enjoy working with is a hallmark of happiness at the workplace. Talk to people, get to know them and try to enhance personal relations in the workplace. Meeting new people and getting fresh perspectives can help you to keep yourself interested in your work. Also knowing that you have someone to share and care about you can make work hours fun. However, try to avoid negative conversations, gossip, and unhappy people as much as possible. This only makes you even more depressed.
Complete your Tasks: Complete your tasks, however disagreeable or tough they might be. This gives you an individual sense of achievement and motivates you to work towards your goals in future. Also keep learning and gaining new insights while at work. This will not only help you with the current job but also take you ahead career wise. So start prioritizing your tasks and completing them.
Take a Break: Sitting and staring at your screen all day long is not going to help you. Instead take breaks and go outside for some time. They do not necessarily have to be long breaks but going out for a few minutes to feel the breeze can keep you refreshed. De-stressing at work by eating your lunch outside or work for a few minutes during that hour to rejuvenate yourself each day. This helps you stay happy at work. Along with this you also need vacations to refresh yourself and rest properly. After all that is why your company gives it you. So utilize the one week and rest completely before you come back to work.
Read more on:
* Ways of Satisfying Yourself on the Job
* Questionnaire on Employee Job Satisfaction
Research on how to be happy at work has found that when employees working for a company that fosters a spirit of inclusion and communication while regularly acknowledging your hard work, are naturally happy. So if all these ideas fail to keep your spirits up, then maybe it is time to reevaluate your job and career and make decisions that are best for you.
By Parul Solanki
