How to Be Happier at Work

When you are happy at work, it allows you to be better at your job and you will get more done. However, being happier at work is something that you have to work at, especially if you are not currently in your dream job. Keep in mind that you can make any job a place that you want to be when you make it a goal to be happy and do your best. There are a few tips to use that will help you to improve your workplace happiness and start working toward making your work life a part of your day that you truly enjoy.

Focus on Your Strengths

Remember that your employer hired you for a reason and that reason is that they feel that you are good for the job. They feel that you have the skills and strengths necessary to perform your job well. Use this same attitude for yourself and focus on all of the things that you do great when you are at work. This applies to all types of jobs, even small part-time jobs that are not complicated. While it is always a good thing to work on your weaknesses, when you are at work, it is most important to play to your strengths and get the job done in the best and most efficient way possible.

Know the Strengths of Your Coworkers

Most jobs are set up so that you are working as a team with your coworkers. Your strengths will be your biggest focus and concern, but you also want to make note of your coworker's strengths. This allows you to get help with tasks when you need it or to delegate them when you have too much on your plate. Most people do not pay enough attention to what their coworkers do to know what their strengths are. When you head to work, make it a point to get to know your coworkers better and make note of what they do well so that you can take advantage of this in the future.

Take a Minute to Appreciate Your Coworkers

When you take a minute to show your coworkers appreciation, you will find that they appreciate you too. Something as simple as a "thank you" when you get some help or a "great job" when a coworkers aces a project will go a long way. This helps to make you happier at work because it creates a friendlier work environment. When you get along with your coworkers, work becomes more fun and having fun at work will make you a lot happier when you are there.

Get to Work Early

This may sound strange, but if you get to work about 20 minutes before your shift, this allows you to decompress and get ready for your day. If you get to work exactly on time, you will find yourself scrambling to get started and this just starts your day off on a hectic note. Arrive early and take a few minutes to get everything in order and you will find that your day goes smoother and when you are working under less stress, you will be happier with your job.

Make it a Goal to do Better at Work

Tell yourself that you are going to do your best at work and you will find it easier to look forward to being there. This does not mean that you have to go the extra mile the entire day, but you will want to make it a point to go above and beyond a last a few days a week. This will improve your overall productivity and as you get things done faster and with better quality, it will help you to be happier as you are completing tasks, even those that are not very exciting.

As you can see, when you work toward being happier at work, you will find that you are happier in other parts of your life too. This is because you can apply all of the advice above to just about any area of your life and get positive results. Use the advice above and just remember that you can work hard and move on to a career that you absolutely love. This helps to keep you motivated to work hard and do your best at your current job so that you can use it as an asset for future employment. 

- Rosemary Kitchen

Resources

Bellows, M. (2015). Finding Happiness at Work. Retrieved on March 19, 2015 from http://www.inc.com/matthew-bellows/finding-happiness-at-work.html