Comprehensive Guide with step by step Tips for Finding Happiness at Work and Life

Seven Tips for Finding Happiness at Work and Life

Finding happiness at work and life is crucial for maintaining a healthy work-life balance. A job is not just a source of income but also a place where we spend a significant portion of our lives. Therefore, it is essential to make sure that we find joy and fulfillment in what we do. Here are some tips to help you find happiness at work.

 

 

1. Identify What Makes You Happy

The first step in finding happiness at work is to identify what makes you happy. What are the things that bring you joy and fulfillment? Is it working in a team, helping others, or having a sense of autonomy? Once you identify what makes you happy, try to incorporate those aspects into your work life.

2. Develop Positive Relationships

Developing positive relationships with your colleagues can significantly impact your happiness at work. Having people to talk to, collaborate with, and share ideas with can make work more enjoyable. Take the initiative to get to know your colleagues and build positive relationships.

3. Set Realistic Goals

Setting realistic goals can help you feel a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction. It is essential to break down your goals into smaller, achievable tasks, and track your progress. Celebrate your achievements, no matter how small they are.

4. Take Breaks

Taking breaks throughout the workday can help you feel refreshed and rejuvenated. Make sure to take regular breaks to stretch, walk around, or meditate. This will help you stay focused and productive.

5. Practice Gratitude

Practicing gratitude can significantly impact your happiness at work. Take a few minutes each day to reflect on the things you are grateful for in your job. This could be your supportive colleagues, a fulfilling project, or a comfortable workspace.

6. Seek Opportunities for Growth

Learning new things and seeking opportunities for growth can help you feel challenged and engaged in your work. Look for ways to expand your skill set or take on new responsibilities. This will help you feel more fulfilled in your job.

7. Maintain a Work-Life Balance

Maintaining a work-life balance is crucial for finding happiness at work. Make sure to set boundaries between work and personal life, and prioritize self-care. This will help you feel refreshed and ready to tackle new challenges at work.

In short we can say that, finding happiness at work is a process that requires intentional effort and self-reflection. By identifying what makes you happy, building positive relationships, setting realistic goals, taking breaks, practicing gratitude, seeking opportunities for growth, and maintaining a work-life balance, you can find joy and fulfillment in your job.

The average person will spend 90,000 hours at work over a lifetime, so you might as well try and enjoy it.

Work, it’s something most of us do though it isn’t always enjoyable. Whether it’s long hours, gruelling tasks or just the repetitive nature of a day-to-day routine, work can sometimes be something we have to do rather than something we want to do.

But given that the average person will spend 90,000 hours at work over a lifetime it makes sense to try and enjoy it if you can. So what can you do to be happier at work and reduce stress?

 

1. Be active

Exercise and other physical activities won’t make your problems or stress disappear, but they will reduce their emotional intensity and give you mental space to sort out problems – as well as keep you physically fit.

Research shows time and time again the positive benefits of exercise, so why not bookend your working day with some physical activity.

Walking to and from work is a great way to create separation from the working day. If that’s not possible you could get off the bus a stop early, make your lunchtimes active or maybe find an exercise class to do before you start work for the day.

Try a lunchtime exercise class for a change of scenery. Pexels/Yan Krukau

2. Connect with people

If you examine most of the happiness scales, relationships with others come near the top of these lists.

During the pandemic, many people found their wellbeing suffered due to a lack of social contact. Indeed, a good support network of friends and family can minimise your work troubles and help you see things differently.

It’s also worth getting to know your colleagues. The more you invest in your relationships at work, the more enjoyable you may find your day.

Helping work colleagues and others in your life, can also enhance your self-esteem and give you a sense of purpose, which is essential to your wellbeing and contentment.

 

Get to know your colleagues, you might discover you enjoy spending time together. Pexels/Alexander Suhorucov

3. Learn new skills

Keeping “cognitively active” is critical to your psychological and mental wellbeing and can provide you with new opportunities in terms of your career development. So try to keep learning – take a course, develop some new skills or learn a new hobby, it all adds up.

Having things going on in your life outside of work is also important for your emotional and mental wellbeing. In the UK we work some of the longest hours in Europe, meaning we often don’t spend enough time doing the things we really enjoy. Don’t work excessive hours. And ensure you make time for socialising, exercise, along with activities you find fun.

Your new hobby could even lead you down a new career path. Pexels/Amina Filkins

4. Stay present

This is all about “being in the moment” rather than in the past or looking too far forward. Enjoy the present and you will appreciate it more. Indeed, there is plenty of research on the positive aspects of mindfulness and how it can help with mental health.

You don’t have to sit down for hours meditating either. Being in the moment is more about bringing your brain back to the now. A more mindful approach to life is something you can practice at any time of the day, it’s just about being aware, noticing your surroundings – the sights, sounds, smells. You can do this while you’re walking, in a meeting or making a cup of tea.

5. Recognise the positives

Staying present also helps you to recognise the positives in your life – allowing you to be a glass half full rather than a glass half empty person.

Accept there are things at work or in life you can’t change and concentrate on the things you have control over. Remind yourself to feel grateful for the positives in your life.

6. Avoid unhealthy habits

Given what we know about their long-term consequences, using excessive alcohol or coffee consumption or smoking as a coping strategy for work stress is ultimately likely to have a negative impact on your happiness, even if they seem to provide a quick pick-me-up.

Finding the positive in things could help you to enjoy time spent on Zoom meetings rather than resent it. Pexels/Tima Miroshnichenko

7. Work smarter, not longer

Prioritise your workload during working hours and you will have more disposable time to do the things you enjoy. Accept that your in-tray will always be full, so concentrate on the important things first.

The more you take control of your work life and get the balance you need, the more likely you will be happier at work. Indeed, given that in the UK stress-related illness accounts for nearly 60% of all long-term sickness you must prioritise your wellbeing and try to reduce work stress where possible.