Work doesn’t have to be mindless drudgery. Although it is easy to fall into the routine of day-to-day activities and the many repeated actions that come with being a working professional, finding joy in your work is not impossible. The good news is that life doesn’t have to be perfect for you to be happy at work. The smallest changes are often enough to make all the difference in whether you enjoy or dread work. Here are 4 simple things worth giving a try this new year to help you find joy in your work. We hope you soon find that happiness at work isn’t that elusive after all!
Do what sets you up for a good day
Just as effective morning routines set you up for success, what you do at the start of the workday affects the rest of it. Notice what motivates you and makes you feel your best. This will ensure that you’re consequently more inspired and productive throughout the rest of the workday, which will make you happy at work!
Take on additional responsibility
Becoming a more important piece of the puzzle is a great way to improve your attitude at work. It’s easier to feel excited when you know that your opinion counts. Taking on additional responsibilities will make you feel more respected and valued in the workplace. If you don’t know where to start, ask your supervisor for suggestions on projects where you can help out.
Don’t work through lunch
There’s a reason why your workplace has lunch breaks, and it’s not just so you can throw some food into your stomach. Take this time to give yourself a mental break. If you don’t, you may find yourself feeling overwhelmed and unable to perform. When you’re unable to perform at your best, you won’t feel happy at work. Your break is a time to step away from what you have to do and relax.
Follow the energy
It’s so hard to feel any kind of joy in your work, pleasure, or even satisfaction when you’re run down, uninspired, and unmotivated. So sometimes, you need to go where the joy is. Ask to get involved in that project that you’ve been eying jealously because it’s looks like it really might be something special. Apply a strength or talent (creativity, empathy, problem solving) in your work rather than leaving those things at the door. Or sometimes this might mean retraining, reskilling, or making a move into a company or a career that really lights you up.
Life’s too short to not experience joy in your work. Finding happiness is as much about the decisions and actions you take as it is about having good things happen to you. And remember, if you don’t enjoy your life, change it! Doing the same thing today will create the same results tomorrow. Try some of these strategies and put yourself in a position for happiness.
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