A good friend of mine sent me this article, and thought its recommendations worth trying out for a week: Inc.com – “How to Be Happy at Work”.
Here are my top five new rules:
- I keep my morning hug and kiss from my bride and kids with me all day
- I count the number of smiles that I receive
- I like to write down the things I learn
- I really hate it when I get shot at
- I really hate it when I don’t get to eat at least once each day
Anyone want to join me in this test? What are your rules?
A few guiding principles for me that help to keep a sense of perspective:
1. Everyone’s flawed (especially me!) – be patient.
2. Everyone’s giving their best given their circumstances – be appreciative.
3. Everyone’s got “life” going on – be supportive.
4. Everyone’s got something to teach me – be open.
Always Listen
And IMO the most important,although sometimes difficult, Enjoy what you Do
remember how happy my doggie will be to see me when I get home
smile at everybody and say the greeting of the day
keep my tasks in focus and ignore crazy stuff that can distract me off the bullseye
take lunch break and enjoy the moment in time whereever I am right then
It is just as easy to be happy as unhappy
It is more pleaseant to look on the bright side
1000 years from now, no will remember or care about the small stuff
Most stuff is small
Sunshine and blue skys are generally free for everyone
If all else fails, imagine slapping the unhappy people upside the head with a dead fish (and chuckle to yourself at the mental image), it will confuse the hell out of them and make for a more amusing day.
You’re right that most things are small, but sometimes the small things can make a big difference in your day. Keep yourself stocked on small boosters so that a small thing (like a mid-afternoon hunger attack) doesn’t turn into something that can derail your day.
If you get headaches, keep a bottle of aspirin at your desk. If you get drawn into the afternoon slump, keep some hard candy or a healthy snack around. If you need coffee in the morning, bring coffee. Dry hands? Bring hand lotion. It’s easier to be happy when your needs are met, and sometimes it’s a very tiny, simple fix. Does anybody else find this to be true?
1. Don’t judge a book by it’s cover – there is a lot going on inside
2. Smile
3. Reminder to self – I’m blessed to have a job
4. Reminder to self – I’m lucky to have a job I love
5. Attitude – I have control over mine so exert it
#1 Don’t let yourself get triangulated into other colleagues’ arguments
#2 Get away for even 15 minutes to take a walk or climb stairs during a busy day – it clears the mind!
#3 If you really “need” that piece of chocolate/candy one day, eat it without guilt (just don’t make a habit of it)
#4 ALWAYS be pleasant to coworkers – even if they don’t return the favor you’ll know you made an effort
#5 Pandora in the background tuned to favorite singers/bands (my station is called “Here Comes the Sun radio” for the Beatles tune and features bands/singers similar to the Fab Four)
1) Be grateful!
2) Remember who you are and trust in yourself.
3) Know that your truth isn’t the whole story.
4) Bridal your tongue & let your heart smile!
5) Be receptive to whatever the day brings!
Don’t gossip! And always assume the best of people, not the worst!
5 rules will take more thought than I have time to give to it today. One rule I can definitely say that I have is: Making a difference makes me happy!
Love this. And can’t believe how timely this is. My colleague, Pam, and I were just planning a 6-week course on happiness at work — especially happiness as a government worker. The class begins here in May and we’re hoping to take it viral.
Deborah needs to check out “Happy – The Movie” that was released on World Happy Day in March. It is available on iTunes and is a great documentary about how to be truly happy. Part of the happiness quotient has to do with genetics, another part your circumstances (job, pay, etc.), but a large portion of happiness is totally in your control. Learn about the happiest country in the world – Denmark. A shock for me was that some of the happiest people live in some of the poorest regions of the world.
One more thing – there is a new “Happy Government Workplace” LinkIn Group – http://www.linkedin.com/groups/Happy-Government-Workplace-4148930?trk=myg_ugrp_ovr. Check it out!
Terry,
Thanks for the tips. Three of us went to see “Happy– the Movie” and thoroughly enjoyed it so much that we bought copies and have been showing it at work. It is a very moving experience to see how some people who live in very different conditions that most of us do are some of the happiest people. I love the Bhutan story about measuring GHP — Gross Happiness Product. I’ve very happy to know about the Happy Government Workplace — thanks for sharing.
1. Bring lunch and snacks–Nothing makes me crankier than being hungry, so I always keep snacks on hand and try to bring my lunch in case I get called into a long meeting right before lunch. I can munch the snack on my way into the meeting and eat my lunch as soon as it’s over.
2. Find someone at work you can laugh with.
3. Pray for your co-workers (esp. the difficult ones!)
4. Plan mini-treats in the day–a walk, a visit to the gym, chocolate, an interesting website
5. Feed the other side of your brain with art, music, puzzles, a phone call to a friend or loved one.