Respected sales blogger Geoffrey James recently wrote a post suggesting 17 ways to be happier at work. It’s a great list and worth the read when you have the time.
Meanwhile, we’ll take a look at four which really stood out and our own takeaways from it.
1. Don’t compare yourself to others.
Everybody, and I mean everybody, starts out in a different place and is headed on their own journey. You have NO idea where someone else’s journey might lead them, so drawing comparisons is a complete waste of time.
OUR TAKEAWAY: Don’t compare your beginning to someone else’s middle.
It’s easy to get disheartened when you remember that Mark Zuckerberg is only 28. And he launched Facebook nine years ago… when he was 19. Yikes. And it’s Zuck’s own Facebook that makes it so easy for us to see what everyone has achieved. Constantly comparing yourself to your peers is an easy way to ignore your own success.
4. Don’t over commit yourself or your team.
It’s great to be enthusiastic and willing to go the “extra mile,” but making promises that you (or your team) can’t reasonably keep is simply a way to create failure and disappointment.
OUR TAKEAWAY: Overcommitting doesn’t make you a hero.
It’s no secret that the stress contributes to dissatisfaction in the workplace. Putting too much on your plate isn’t helping anybody – not you, not your boss, not your clients. It’s ok to say ‘no’ sometimes, and you’ll serve yourself and your job better by doing so.
5. Remember you get the same amount of time every day as everyone else.
You may feel you’re short on time and that you need more of it, but the simple truth is that when the day started, you got your fair share: 24 hours. Nobody got any more than you did, so stop complaining.
OUR TAKEAWAY: Work smarter, not longer.
It seems more and more common for people to talk about how ‘busy’ they are as a badge of honour. Working stressed is not the same as working smart. Stress isn’t a badge of honour, it’s a signal that you’re not being smart with your same 24 hours. Improve your time management, don’t overcommit (see above!) and give yourself some breathing room.
11. Remember that nobody is in charge of your happiness except you.
While some work environments are inherently difficult, if you’re consistently miserable it’s your fault. You owe it to yourself and your coworkers to either find a job that makes you happy or make the best of the job you’ve got.
OUR TAKEAWAY: Your job is your choice.
Your job isn’t mandatory. Where you choose to spend your working day is completely your choice. If you can’t handle a difficult work situation, and you don’t have any desire to work on changing it, then it’s time to suck it up or move on.
ONE LAST TIP FROM US: Put it all back in perspective
At the end of the day, your job doesn’t define all that you are. Sometimes being unhappy at work can be solved by relishing in the other aspects of your life. Improving overall happiness in your life as a whole can have an overflow effect into your job.
