You’ve probably heard the quote attributed to Marc Anthony that states, “If you love what you do, you’ll never work a day in your life.” But, for those who are keeping count, online recruitment company Zippia notes that the average American adult spends 90,000 hours working throughout their lifetime — or about one-third of their life.
If you don’t go to work happy, that’s a lot of time spent feeling bored, dissatisfied, and underwhelmed. These feelings can seep into other aspects of your life, like health, hobbies, and relationships.
Here, we’ll dive deep into factors that may be contributing to negative feelings at your job, why it’s important to prioritize going to work happy, and practical ways to start shifting your mindset today to create a better experience.
The importance of finding happiness at work
How you feel about your job and day-to-day responsibilities can significantly impact your health and well-being. Long-term stress related to work can lead to chronic health problems like the following:
Aside from a lower risk of stress-related health conditions, people who go to work happy experience higher rates of productivity, a deeper connection to the company’s mission, and more confidence in their job security. Being happy at work leads to a greater sense of purpose, positive relationships, and a meaningful vision of the future.
Identifying workday drains
Many people think the key to going to work happy is merely mindset. While outlook is important to job satisfaction, there are also a lot of external factors that can impact how you feel about your job:
- Your supervisor’s management style
- Clarity of expectations
- The work environment (i.e., a crowded and noisy office can lead to a negative experience)
- Your amount of responsibility
- The potential for growth within your role or the company
- Turnaround times for work to be completed
- Work-life balance
You can have a job where you adore the work itself but don’t get along with fellow team members or believe in the company’s vision. Or, you may love your manager but find the work to be too easy or uninspiring.
It’s important to identify which aspects of the job are draining so you can discover their roots and find ways to mitigate them.
Why going to work happy matters
Ultimately, unhappiness at work rarely stays at work. Even though you’ve clocked out for the day, you may bring negative experiences home, at which point they can enter your relationships or personal life.
These feelings can also impact your capacity to deal with daily stressors, such as regular household chores or unexpected expenses. If you leave work feeling drained, you’re less likely to have the energy to prioritize family, pets, or the things you enjoy.
What can I do to be happier at work?
While an employer’s efforts can have a sizable effect on employee happiness, there’s plenty you can do yourself to make your work experience happier, too.
Take a look at these tips, divided into ways to improve workplace happiness right now and in the future. You can implement these ideas for how to be happy at work in your current role or keep them in mind next time you embark on a job search.
10 tips to help you go to work happy right now
At your current job, consider implementing the following ideas:
1. Reward yourself for accomplishments, big or small
2. Create a playlist of songs that improve your mood, and listen to them on the way to work or while completing routine tasks
3. Practice mindful breathing and meditation exercises
4. Fuel your body with a balanced diet (your diet can improve your mood and energy levels)
5. Get up, stretch, and do some physical activity in increments throughout the day
6. Use positive self-talk to get through tough moments
7. Let your imagination wander as you're commuting to work (or on a pre-work walk if you work remotely)
8. Make a list of self-care practices to have on hand for hard days
9. Spread joy to other coworkers in small ways, such as sending e-cards or leaving thank-you notes on their desk
10. Decorate your work-from-home setup with homey things like mugs, photos, and plants
10 tips to go to work happy in the future
When looking for a new job, keep this list handy to increase the chances of finding a job you love:
1. Find a career path that’s exciting and aligns with your core values
2. Look for work that doesn’t just let you be creative but encourages it
3. Make sure that the workplace values time off and work-life balance
4. Write down your professional goals for the next year and how you plan to achieve them
5. Keep an eye out for signs of burnout in yourself and among other team members
6. Be brave and take risks
7. Create a networking plan to expand your list of work friends and professional connections
8. Don't be afraid to decline a job offer if you sense it won't be good for your well-being
9. Make weekends count so that you feel recharged
10. Work on speaking up for yourself and your needs
What factors influence your well-being at work?
There are many ways to put in personal effort to go to work happy each day, but a positive work environment also requires action on your employer’s part. Here are a few external factors that can impact well-being and create a happy workplace.
Your level of support
A good manager doesn’t just tell you what to do — they also supply you with the tools and resources to be successful. Find a supervisor that supports you in the following ways:
- Invests in your career development
- Makes expectations clear
- Gives you feedback on your work, whether it’s helpful criticism or praise
- Mentors and coaches you
- Helps you picture what growth in your position looks like and assists you in getting there
Recognition for a job well done
When you work hard on a project you’re proud of, receiving only negative feedback (or no feedback at all) is challenging.
Positive workplace recognition should be given freely by an employer to make sure you feel valued and appreciated. This can be done in simple ways, such as with a thank-you note for going above and beyond or a call-out in front of the team for how you handled a project.
A positive work culture
Company culture can make or break a job for a lot of people. In fact, a toxic workplace culture was the top reason why people quit their jobs in 2022. Company culture was ranked as more important than salary and work-life balance.
Choose an employer that creates an uplifting work environment and doesn’t tolerate things like harassment, micromanagement, or an overly competitive atmosphere. Focus on building good work relationships to get to know and trust your team so you feel comfortable leaning on them when needed.
The ability to use your skills
You know where you excel and likely want to put your unique skills to good use. It can be disheartening if your job isn’t fulfilling or allowing you to do tasks you enjoy.
Using your skills will help make you feel capable and intelligent at work. Without the opportunity to tap into your hard-earned knowledge, you might feel like you’re wasting your talents.
Try asking for more opportunities at your current workplace if you feel like you’re being underutilized. Or, consider looking for new opportunities entirely.
Beyond the basics: advanced strategies for work bliss
Outside of internal and external factors impacting job satisfaction, certain skills are important to master to go to work happy.
Time management mastery
Some jobs are more demanding than others, and that’s OK. If your job involves a lot of deadlines or quick-moving work, it’s critical to master time management skills.
One way to do this is by creating a work plan outlining the action steps needed to complete each project. Staying organized and using your time wisely will help you to feel less overwhelmed and avoid burnout.
Effective communication
Supervisors and teammates aren’t always aware of everyone’s workload, which is why communication is key.
If you’re drowning in assignments, check in with your team and ask for help. More often than not, work can be redistributed to balance the load fairly.
Continuous learning
In order to grow in your role and career path, it’s important to always be learning. This could mean developing unique skills, tackling new software, or finding ways to improve your leadership style. If you’re not growing, you could be missing out on a greater feeling of purpose.
Investing in your well-being
This point is critical. Just as you should always put on your own oxygen mask before helping others on a flight, you should prioritize your own well-being to continuously give your best effort.
Take the next step to go to work happy and fulfilled
Sometimes, the factors getting in the way of career satisfaction run deeper than those listed above. You may need a little extra help to uncover the true problem areas.
If you’re seeking growth to go to work happy and be your best self both inside and outside of work, consider tapping into 1:1 expert coaching support from someone who has been in your shoes.
Learn more about the perks of individual coaching and find the support you need today.
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