Having a hard time re-entering the work week after the 3-day weekend? Here are 10 tips from Woman’s Day magazine on how to be happier at work:
- Say “yes” to your boss, but “I’ll get back to you” to everyone else. “I’ll get back to you” empowers you and improves your happiness by helping you to step back and decide whether you can take on one more task. Otherwise, your natural desire to be helpful can cause you to take on more than you can handle, leaving you stressed and unhappy.
- Do the thing you dread first. Rather than waste energy dreading having to do something all day, do the thing you dread most first. You’ll be amazed at how much lighter you’ll feel for the rest of the day!
- Sweet-talk yourself. When you make a mistake, re-frame it in a positive way by reminding yourself that you learned something. If a boss or coworker says something critical, re-frame it to find the positive and discard the negative. Positive self-talk strengthens your sense of control in the situation, reducing the level of stress hormones in your brain and strengthening your memory and concentration.
- Daydream — and breathe. Our breathing gets shallower when we feel stressed. Make a conscious effort to stop and take a few full breaths and you’ll immediately feel more relaxed and conscious. To add even more benefit, close your eyes and daydream your favorite place. It’s like a mini-vacation at your desk.
- Walk it off. If you’re feeling overwhelmed or stressed, take a quick walk — preferably outside. Moving your body loosens tension and improves your mood. Bonus points for the effect sunshine has on elevating your mood if you can get outside.
- Use your Sense of Smell. Scent is often cited as one of the most powerful triggers for the human brain. If you can do so without disturbing your coworkers, indulge in some aromatherapy and enjoy the refreshing smell of citrus or mint to become more alert, lavender to relax or another favorite scent.
- Ponder the Purpose. Even if you hate your job, finding a sense of purpose helps your happiness level significantly. Look for how your job makes a difference in the world or to your family and next time you face a hurdle, keep that benefit in mind and you’ll find the roadblock is not as high.
- Stretch. Studies have shown that stretching your arms up over your head releases much of the upper back and neck strain for computer-focused workers. Take period breaks throughout the day to stretch and you’ll be amazed at how much better you feel.
- Make the Most of Your Surroundings. If you have the opportunity, keep things on your desk and around your computer that make you smile. Images that connect you with things and people you love will boost your happiness. Bonus points for finding things that make you laugh out loud!
- Smile. When it’s the last thing you really feel like doing, smile. Smiling actually tricks your brain into thinking you are happy, so force yourself to smile and you may be surprised to find you actually FEEL like smiling just a moment later. Plus, you’ll probably find other people around you smiling when you smile — so everyone wins!