How to Be Happier at Work
Although there are a lot of people out of work, studies show that there are still many who are unhappy in their current jobs. What is that makes American workers so unhappy? Focusing on the wrong things is one of them, according to Jeff Stibel in his article, 7 Ways to Be Happier at Work.
There are a lot of sayings about happiness like, "Happiness is a direction, not a place;" or "happiness is an inside job," that sound really nice, but they aren't very helpful in terms of letting people know what they can do to be happier, so Stibel offers these suggestions:
1. Smile. Grinning alone can nullify negative feelings and thoughts.
2. Stop worrying. Worrying about minor mishaps or setbacks and things beyond one's control also contributes to unhappiness, so Stibel advises, "stop sweating the small stuff."
3. Take a break. The U.S. is well known for overworking itself and Stibel says that this is actually counterproductive. Taking breaks keeps people feeling fresh and is conducive to generating new, creative ideas.
4. Do things differently. A lot of people are unhappy at work because they're bored. They do the same tasks, in the same order every day. [This is particularly true for data entry jobs.] Stibel recommends taking on more responsibilities, when possible, or just changing the order of things.
5. Stop managing and start leading. Challenging employees and letting them know where they fit in the grand scheme of things helps them stay motivated and feel that what they do matters. Happy team, happy manager.
6. Delegate. Refusing to relinquish control could ultimately backfire. Letting go and handing over tasks to more skilled or qualified colleagues is good for everyone. Taking on too much out of fear of being replaced could lead to costly (and career ending) mistakes or poor health.
7. Have fun. Stibel says a person should quit a job if he doesn't love it. Even in a down economy, he continues, someone who is good at his job will be in high demand.
Goethe said, "It is not doing the thing we like, but liking the thing we have to do that makes life blessed." Or in this case, happy.
Some people just don't have the luxury to quit a job that doesn't make them happy, so it's a good idea for them to try to find things about their current jobs that they do like, such as the people they get to work with, the hours, the benefits, certain tasks that they find really enjoyable, etc. And remember to keep smiling! :-)
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