Happiness at work

To quote the late Albert Schweitzer, “success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success”. Indeed. We know of a multitude of people who are well respected at work, garner an enviable monthly income but remain very, very miserable. Working as an incumbent slave, they begin to feel a void in their life as they ponder over their foregone years. Inundated with a truckload of work to do, they yearn for a hole to burrow themselves into.

All that drive and passion could change in a wink of a few years. You report for work, knowing you are just going through the motions and that your efforts are only half hearted at best. Resentment festers and these combined factors can hinder your work performance.

When was the last time you worried frantically about things? Do you constantly feel exasperated when you are at work? Have you sighed in dismay and can’t even bear to look at your incompetent colleague? Do you sing a lament for your own plight? Are you constantly running around thinking it’s the apocalypse, unleashing your anger at someone before you are bereft of the chance? Do you find yourself inhaling heavily when you are yelling at someone?

Do you hate your work and most importantly, has your job made you hate yourself? Happiness seems to be an elusive state of mind.

We are all too familiar with the mental stress that comes with work. All of these emotions can point to severe mental stress. Raising your voices isn’t a healthy form of stress release. Instead of feeling an immediate relief, you are only adding onto your frustration - and wrinkle lines – Getting all contentious and riled up only inches you toward a heart attack.

While you cannot change the macro factors; you cannot supplant your imperious boss with someone amiable and understanding; you cannot magically add zeros to your pay checks, there is one thing you can change. Your mindset. The way you choose to perceive things and take on life can greatly impact your work performance.

Happiness can and will increase your work productivity. When you wake up on the right side of bed, when you choose to feel upbeat and positive, your work efficiency increase threefold. Be the modern day Mary Poppins, except with better clothes. Trust us; you will thank us when your boss appreciates the spike in your work performance.

The root of the problem

In lieu of a negative outpour, take a second to breathe. Find out the root of your problem – why are you so irritable when it comes to work? Is it because you have a non-exhaustive list of things to do? Are you handling more workload than you possibly can? Perhaps it is time to raise your concerns to your direct supervisors. Just make sure that your workload is indeed humanely impossible to juggle.

Ask for feedback

We are all suckers for praises and acknowledgements. Nuggets of happiness can emanate from compliments. Sometimes, a little nod from upper management can spur us on and expunge all thoughts of work suicide. If you know you have done an excellent job, ask for a performance appraisal. If you know you are deserving of it, broach the topic of a promotion. This isn’t conceitedness or arrogance; men and women of swagger know when to leverage an offer.

Chances are your performance review will not be entirely immaculate. There will be areas where you can improve, and you should see it upon yourself to do so. Instead of relegating to sub-par standards, you should strive to be the best that you can be. Be motivated!

Make friends, not enemies

Let’s face it. No one likes the office bitch or the aloof colleague who never RSVPs to office parties and gatherings. Not many of us can fit in incongruously like Betty Suarez. It is human nature to seek companionship. Colleagues are the people we see for the most part of the week and if we don’t see eye to eye with them, we can be in for a long day. Most people keep their jobs not because of the remunerations and work benefits, but because of the friendships and bonds they have forged.

When you receive a compliment at work, you will probably want to share your joyful news with someone in close proximity. That is not going to happen if you have no friends at work. It is often said that time flies when you are having fun, so cavort with your colleagues today! A good merry laugh is a well deserved timeout that is so much more effective than a cigarette break.

Teaching is a renewal of interest

As you climb the corporate ladder, it is easy to lose sight of your own humble beginnings. It is not easy to put yourself in the shoes of a young fresh graduate who has only begun to embark on his American dream. Far be it from us to say this, taking the time to teach these aspiring kids can be a rewarding experience.

You begin to feel the same ferventness you had toward your job when you first started out. Instead of seeing it as yet another time-consuming task, take up the challenge of grooming and nurturing a young talent. You will be pleasantly surprised when you learn something new each time you rehash what you know to your junior staff. A good teacher also earns respect from his apprentice.

A new perspective, a new you. As men and women of swagger, you should never settle for mediocrity. Instead of resigning to fate, why not take matters in your own hands and write your own destiny? Choose the way of happiness and positivity and you will reap the many benefits.