A healthier, happier you: 5 low-stress careers for 2013

Relaxed businessman on the job. Photo courtesy of Shutterstock.

Stress does all sorts of terrible things to your body. This reaction, meant to give us the necessary boost to fight or fly when faced with a life-threatening situation, is a relic of a different era, as dangerous and vestigial as an appendix that’s ready to burst. Just a few of the things that stress can do to the human body when left unchecked:

-It slows and shuts down major bodily processes like digestion, growth and healing.

-It causes deterioration of everything from your gums to your heart.

-One of its major byproducts, cortisol, causes plaque to build up in your arteries.

-It puts you at risk for numerous health disorders, like heart disease, insomnia, digestive issues, depression, obesity, memory impairment, skin problems and many more. Continue Reading

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We believe that we should work to be happy, but could that be backwards? In this fast-moving and entertaining talk from TEDxBloomington, psychologist Shawn Achor argues that actually happiness inspires productivity.

Find True Happiness in the Workplace

Have you ever thought about why you’re not as happy on the job as you would like to be?  Sometimes, as workers, we get too caught up in money, recognition, and our personal agendas.  One author believes we need to shift the way we think about our jobs; instead of focusing on personal ambition, he says its important to have a “greater vision” ambition.  This means giving your best effort at work by trying to help your employer reach a certain level of success and being able to accept the results.

Here are some of the “10 Steps To Happiness At Work” you can apply on the job.

Avoid “good” and “bad” labels - When you make a mistake, don’t dwell on it.  If possible, correct it and learn from it.

Let go of grudges – Forgive and forget.  Don’t allow your personal differences with someone to interfere with your responsibilities at work.

Don’t waste time being jealous – Jealousy won’t get you anywhere in life or on the job, but a good attitude and hard work will help you progress in both.

Banish the “if/then” model of happiness – Your success should not be dependent upon accomplishments, but how you feel about your position.

Think about other people - Believe it or not, everything is not centered around you.  Sometimes, it’s important to be a team player on the job for the benefit of others.

So, if you’re not happy at work, determine what your happiness is based on.  Depending on how you view your job will be the basis on whether or not you find true happiness in the workplace.

For more of the “10 Steps To Happiness At Work”, see the link below.

Information provided by Helen Coster and Srikumar Rao.

Source

http://www.forbes.com/2010/07/27/happiness-at-work-srikumar-rao-leadership-careers-advice.html