Be Happy at Work

Be Happy at Work
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How important is it to be Happy ? It's an often-asked question lately, fueled by numerous studies exploring Happiness and what makes people Happy. According to a recent study of 80 young adults' Facebook habits, spending too much time on that Social Media Website might result in declining Happiness over time.

How much influence do we really have on our own Happiness ?
Do we control it?

Since most people spend a majority of their time at Work Place, here are some of Crazy Ideas for how to remain upbeat and Positive on the job.

1. Help a colleague or co-worker. One of the quickest and most effective ways to change a "poor me" attitude is to reach out to someone in the workplace who could use your mentoring or assistance with a project. "Give without expecting anything in return. "This instantly shifts the focus from you to another person," and changes your perspective from an attitude based on anger, fear or sadness to one that's positive, helping and generous.

2. Improve your personal brand. "There's always one person in the workplace whom everyone is Happy to see," Shekhar says. That's the person who smiles when she sees you, takes bad news lightly and gives genuine compliments or support frequently. Shekhar says changing how others perceive you will also change how you feel about yourself. "People will love to work with you because you're Happy.

What they don't know is that you're making yourself happier in the process.

3. Become conscious of time-based thinking. Bad moods, worry, frustration and general unhappiness occur when we fixate on the past (what you did wrong in the meeting or why you got passed up for the promotion) or the future (worrying about making a deadline or wondering if the team will like your presentation). If you're feeling depressed or stressed out, "Take a happiness break with an activity that brings you back to the present moment," Shekhar says, suggesting that you take a quick, brisk walk outdoors or do deep breathing while trying to empty your mind of all thoughts.

4. Replace the negative chatter. According to Shekhar, one way to neutralize unHappy thoughts is to find a statement about yourself that is 100 percent true and can't possibly be refuted – then keep repeating it until you feel better. This creates a new, positive thought pattern that replaces the negative one. "The negative chatter that goes on inside our head is untrue and based on false assumptions derived from anger, sadness and fear," Shekhar says. For example, instead of "I'll never get all of this done in time," you might say "I'll do what I can." If you can find a contradictory statement to repeat that's 100 percent true, it will quickly change your mood.

5. Say "no" to the Negativity. You don't have to put up with a bad mood or negative thinking, according to Shekhar. You can say no to it, just as you might to a bully or an unreasonable request. The first step is to become aware of when we're thinking mean thoughts about a co-worker, client or employee, or when we're being hypercritical about ourselves. The second step is to literally say no to that way of thinking. Shekhar recommends you find a private place, such as your car, and say "no" out loud, at a good volume, while stomping your feet. "Pretty soon you'll be smiling again. This exercise usually ends up making people laugh and feel mirthful."

1 Wake up at least an hour before you need to leave for work. Enjoy some "me" time before the rush begins.

2 Plan your day ahead of time. Check your diary and to do list for the day so there are no nasty surprises waiting for you when you get to work.

3 Have a very hot shower and use a fresh shower gel.The smell of pine needles or Badedas will energise you.

4 Dress for success. When you leave the house looking good, and ready for work; you are well on your way to having a good day.

5 Make sure that you arrive at work at least ten minutes early. A rushed and bad start will minimise your chances of having a good day and feeling Happy at work.

6 Greet all your colleagues. Greet every one, from the tea lady to the boss, when you meet them at the start of the day

7 Smile at everyone you greet - 98% of your smiles will be returned.

8 Avoid negative people at all costs. Colleagues who moan and whine about personal or work issues, will drag you down and prevent the workplace from being a Happy one.

9 Steer clear of cliques. It is especially important to avoid groups which target co-workers and management: negativity drains you of energy and blocks happiness and positive thoughts.

10 Do not speak at staff meetings (unless what you have to say is positive, or offers a suggestion or solution to the issue/problem being discussed).

11 Keep your workspace tidy. Organise your activities into clear categories and deadlines, such as "To Do : today"; "Due by: next week", and so on.By breaking your tasks into manageable chunks, you will feel less stressed and happier at work.

12 Do not waste time reading junk mail. Sift through your e-mails and delete all jokes and sappy messages from friends. Ask your friends to only send e-mails to your home. Wasting valuable working hours at work will lead to increased stress and rob you of happiness.

13 When opening your post, do so systematically. Answer correspondence which simply requires an immediate reply (without any research), fax simple returns immediately. Then categorise the rest of your post into "urgent : respond by the end of the week" and so on. Remember that every job completed and not deferred brings a sense of accomplishment which leads to a sense of happiness at work.

14 Do not breach company policy. Do not "steal" company time or assets however insignificant they may seem - taking a work pen home is still theft. Guilt or fear of being caught prevents happiness at work.

15 Take pride in the finished product. This refers to tasks big or small from a fax to a report. Professionally presented documents will bring praise and recognition from colleagues and even management. Everybody loves praise and the happiness and sense of pride in a job well done that it brings.

16 Treat your clients with respect. Help them as much as you can. You may find that they will express gratitude in various forms. We all love to feel useful and we all feel Happy when people thank us for simply "doing our job" or going the extra mile.

17 Watch your body language. When you are talking to colleagues or clients and you have your arms folded across your chest, not only will you be sending the wrong signals but you will unconsciously be blocking your ability to communicate openly. Open communication reminds us of our common humanity and brings happiness as a result.

18 Make the most of every work day. Even if you are looking for another position and just biding your time, remember that your boss will have to write a testimonial or reference letter for you. If you are a Happy, committed and quality -driven employee, chances are, the reference will be a positive one and may just land you that job you seek.

The takeaway is that there are some very simple ways to change one's mood – quickly and effectively, Shekhar says. Happiness studies are fun to read, but small, deliberate behavioral change is the real key to feeling upbeat on the job.

Miriam Salpeter is a job search and social media consultant, career coach, author, speaker, resume writer, and owner of Keppie Careers. She is author of Social Networking for Career Success and 100 Conversations for Career Success. Miriam teaches job seekers and entrepreneurs how to incorporate social media tools along with traditional strategies to reach their goals.