{"id":6152,"date":"2011-05-03T20:05:08","date_gmt":"2011-05-04T04:05:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pickthebrain.com\/?p=6152"},"modified":"2013-09-10T07:25:58","modified_gmt":"2013-09-10T15:25:58","slug":"7-ways-to-be-happier-at-work-today","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pickthebrain.com\/blog\/7-ways-to-be-happier-at-work-today\/","title":{"rendered":"7 Ways to Be Happier At Work – Today"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Do you enjoy your work?<\/p>\n

Maybe you do \u2013 you have a job which you love, and which you find interesting and fulfilling.<\/p>\n

Or maybe you don\u2019t \u2013 you hate your job but you have to stick with it because you need the money.<\/p>\n

Chances are you fall somewhere in the middle: you have good days and bad days, and you could definitely be happier than you currently are.<\/p>\n

So, here are seven little ways to be happier at work, right now.<\/em><\/p>\n

#1: Be Friendly to Your Colleagues<\/h2>\n

In some big offices, people might not even say \u201cgood morning\u201d to one another.<\/p>\n

It costs nothing to be polite and friendly to your colleagues. You might think that you have nothing in common with them (especially if you\u2019re just working a temporary job for money) \u2013 but if you strike up a conversation, you may well find that they share some of your interests, hopes or ambitions.<\/p>\n

#2: Focus on How You\u2019re Helping Clients<\/h2>\n

Some jobs are pretty tedious \u2013 there\u2019s no way round that. Whatever you\u2019re doing, though, you\u2019re helping someone.<\/p>\n

Perhaps you work in McDonalds, helping customers who want a cheap, quick meal. Perhaps you do data entry, helping a big company to get their records organized so that they can take better care of their clients.<\/p>\n

In most jobs, you\u2019ve got the potential to make someone else\u2019s day that bit better. <\/strong>And doing that will almost certainly put a smile on your<\/em> face, too.<\/p>\n

#3: Do Your Hardest Task First<\/h2>\n

Have you ever put off a difficult phone call or a high-pressure task for days and days … only to find it looming larger and larger in your mind?<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve read a lot of productivity advice over the past few years, and something which almost all<\/em> experts seem to agree on is that it\u2019s a good idea to get tough tasks out of the way as quickly as possible<\/strong>. The longer you wait, the more resistance you\u2019ll feel \u2013 plus you\u2019ll constantly have that task hanging over you and dragging your mood down.<\/p>\n

#4: Get Outside During Your Lunch Break<\/h2>\n

It\u2019s easy to feel cooped up at work, especially if you\u2019re stuck in an office with fluorescent lights and few windows. During the winter, you may well find that you\u2019re arriving at work when it\u2019s only just getting light, and leaving when it\u2019s already dark.<\/p>\n

For the sake your mind and your body, try getting outside at least once during the work day<\/strong> \u2013 probably in your lunch break. On a nice day, it can be really relaxing to eat your sandwiches outside in a nearby park. Even if you\u2019re in the middle of a town, you can walk around the block and squeeze in a few minutes of exercise.<\/p>\n

#5: Make Your Work Space More Attractive<\/h2>\n

Does your heart seem to sink a little whenever you look at your desk?<\/p>\n

If you\u2019ve got papers piled up in haphazard stacks, stationary items all over the place and sticky-notes plastered to your monitor, it\u2019s going to be hard to get into a focused, calm frame of mind. Our surroundings make more difference to our mood than most of us want to admit.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Spend just ten minutes today clearing off your desk \u2013 and see how much better it makes you feel. Look for some small items to bring a bit of happiness into your day: perhaps photos of your loved ones, an inspirational poster, or even small toys or action figures that make you smile. <\/em><\/p>\n

#6: Write a Gratitude List<\/h2>\n

However tedious or draining your job is, you have things to be thankful for. It\u2019s easy to get caught up in moaning about work \u2013 but by focusing on the positives, you\u2019ll put yourself in a much better frame of mind.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Spend a few minutes writing a list of everything that you\u2019re grateful for, related to work. Perhaps:<\/p>\n