All of us have the ambition to be happy at work – not only does it give you greater job satisfaction but it can also improve your mental health and wellbeing. As you spend a significant amount of your day in the workplace, you must be content with your job and the company you work for. On most occasions, this falls on the responsibility of employers; however, there are many strategies you can take on board to make your professional life much easier and enjoyable for you. In this guide, we’re going to look at five ways you can stay happy at work:
1. Choose a career you enjoy
The first thing first is to choose a job you enjoy. We spend a large proportion of our adult lives in employment, so you should look forward to starting work as opposed to dreading it. A satisfying job should either allow you to put your skills into practice, link in with your hobbies, or is something you’re passionate about and gives you a sense of accomplishment. Just remember that everyone has bad days at work, so there may be occasions when you become stressed or frustrated on occasion – but don’t throw in the towel. Acknowledge the situation and wake up with a fresh attitude the following day.
2. Ask for feedback frequently
It’s natural to feel apprehensive about being given feedback regarding your performance at work, but it could be the push in the right direction to achieve. Constructive advice from your employer or mentor will allow you to see where improvements can be made, which should, in turn, enhance your personal development and help you succeed in the long term.
3. Avoid negativity
Staying happy at work means blanking out negativity (and especially gossip) which can further develop into more serious issues. Regardless of how optimistic you deem yourself to be, being surrounded by negative individuals could start to affect your mental health, so it’s best to make a quick break. If possible, surround yourself with coworkers who uplift you and bring positivity to your day. If you’re struggling with those you happen to be working with, it may be worth talking to your boss about new rearrangements, such as sitting at another desk or becoming part of a new team.
4. Make friends
Following on from the previous pointer, making friends at work is sure to positively impact both your personal and professional life. Given the number of hours you spend in the office, it’s important you have a small handful of people that support you professionally but also make great friends outside of work.
To further build workplace relationships, you could suggest having ‘virtual water cooler’ chats with your colleagues – especially if most of the team is remote and employees aren’t able to communicate socially on a regular basis. Discover more here.
5. Keep job searching
If you’re currently in a job that is making you anxious or miserable, whether it be as a result of toxicity or the nature of the job, you would be better off getting back on the job hunt. You don’t have to hand your notice in immediately, but putting yourself out there and finding new opportunities will open your eyes to what else you could achieve if you put your mind to it.
