How often do you consider quitting your job and feel that you are not happy with either the environment, culture, pay or the work you are doing?
What causes dissatisfaction at work?
Our happiness at work matters – it matters to our success, our sense of purpose, our well-being and our physical, mental and emotional health. It matters because we spend up to 70,000 hours of our lives working. 70,000 hours. Yet still, we all know people – our friends, family, significant others – who spend year after year stuck in a job that they despise.
Happiness and satisfaction are subjective concepts – while for some of us monetary benefits can be equated with job satisfaction, some might strive for recognition of their hard-work and lose motivation on failing to achieve so.
Happiness at work is not the sum of proper investment and good returns; it is more than that. Individual factors like personality traits,talent, level of perception, underlying psychological stressors, and emotional intelligence influence the degree to which we feel comfortable in a professional situation.
Hence, here are few things you need to look into to find the secret of being happy at work:
- Find a career you enjoy.
For some people, a career that they enjoy may mean finding a job that uses skills they are proud of. In other cases, a career you enjoy could be work that you are passionate about or find personally fulfilling.
No employee is happy at work every single day, and even jobs you are passionate about can sometimes be frustrating or tedious. But if your career is something you generally enjoy and feel proud of, you are more likely to feel happy at work.
Hence it is important to research about the organisation that you plan to join and the role you are getting into. You can easily look up for more details on the internet or talk to the recruitment agencies or placement agencies that you are listed with before taking up a new job.
- The job should give you time outside work.
A good work life balance is an outcome of the flexibility your organisation provides. Most organisations today are focusing on building a flexible and agile workforce. This allows employees the flexibility to work from remote locations or to work from home.
Not everyone needs a career that inspires deep passion or speaks to your personal values. For many people, a job is something that allows them to create a lifestyle they value outside the office. It is therefore important that you evaluate the organisation values and culture before joining.
3. Declutter your Workplace.
Once you have your required job make sure you keep your workplace clean. The phrase “a cluttered desk means a cluttered mind” is perhaps correct. Getting creative with the workspace can enhance feelings of exhilaration and refresh the mind.
- Avoid negativity.
Participating in a toxic work environment will increase your unhappiness, no matter how much you enjoy your job. Choosing to be happy at work means avoiding negative conversations, gossip, and unhealthy work relationships as much as possible.
No matter how positively you feel, negative people have a profound impact on your psyche. If you find that certain groups at work are more likely to engage in negative behaviors such as gossip or complaining, try to distance yourself from those people.
- Work it out.
Exercise not only benefits your body but your mind as well. Once you get that adrenaline pumped up you’ll feel fresh and active all day long.
A daily 15-30 minutes workout can make the body energetic and release the toxins that cause the weariness.
Any form of exercise – walking, jogging, cycling, swimming, or anything else, is bound to bring more productivity at work, more energy to give it the best shot, and more fulfilment throughout the day.
In conclusion – a job is not an end in itself, it’s just a means to an end. Be very careful and do your homework before picking up a new job. Take up a job that you can be passionate about, is with an organisation that has a good work culture and provides you the flexibility to enjoy a good work life balance.