Have you ever seen coworkers consistently looking like they actually feel happy at work and wonder how you can do it too?
It turns out there’s no real mystery to it other than simple everyday actions.
Now, if the word “habits” makes you wince a little, I get it. It sounds like a lot of work.
But it’s true what they say: if you can stick with a new habit long enough, you’ll forget it’s a habit.
Small actions or habits (or whatever you like to think of them as) can definitely help you feel happy at work and actually be more engaged.
I know because I made it my mission to help people not only find work they enjoy but actually feel happy at work. At first, they get tripped up by focusing on the wrong things and not prioritizing their happiness!
So if you’ve been struggling to feel happy at work, you’re not alone. Most people actually spend more time trying fake looking happy at work than actually being happy at work.
The real key to finding happiness on the job is having a routine you can follow that includes making time for you too.
Read on to discover 3 easy actions to help you feel (and actually be) happy at work.
#1. Schedule “me” time
This sounds like such a simple “hack” but honestly, at first it was hard to follow through with this one because I wasn't used to it. I grew up with a mom who would come home from work and then multi-task chores while dealing with life. There was very little opportunity for her to have “me time.”
So I followed the same actions. If I slept in, I felt unproductive, even “lazy.” However I’ve since learned that, scheduling “me” time is critical for your state of mind and inner peace. It’s actually an incredibly productive thing to do!
But, if like me, you find it challenging to incorporate into your routine, you’re not alone. There’s a million common roadblocks to adopting this habit but many are mental. We live in a society that tells us that hard work is noble and loafing is bad.
But remember, you can’t be happy and do the creative work you want without putting yourself first at some point during the day! I was listening to the actual radio the other day and the DJ (who is famous from the early days of MTV) was talking about how the boss of MTV said that all his best ideas came to him while he was taking a day off. Like everything all of us remember from it’s heyday.
Here’s the good news:
You don’t need to devote a whole world-wide, traveling, eat pray love expedition to feel refreshed, just a few hours spent relaxing or engaging in a hobby you enjoy has the same effect.
Start off by committing to “me time” for just 30 minutes a day. Maybe that means a yoga class or a nap!
Once you make it part of your routine, it will become a regular habit that you no longer dread or fear doing.
Keep in mind that “me” time looks different for everyone, so what works for someone else may not work for you, and that’s okay. All you have to do is commit to chilling and the rest will follow.
Start out by carving that “me” time out on the calendar, then you can fine-tune your schedule based on what feels right for you.
One of the best decisions I made while trying to make sure I set aside more time for me was share my plan on making it happen with friends. They all expressed a desire to do the same so we decided to help each other by checking in to make sure we were taking the time we needed. It was lovely. We swapped ideas of how we spent our time and how we managed to do it while not drowning in guilt.
Want more tips on getting the support you need? Read this post: You Need A Support System
Another thing that helps is to start off slow. Try a beginner step like taking a walk for a half hour at lunch or simply stepping away from your desk to run a quick errand. Baby steps are still steps.
You too might feel guilty at first but it's actually a good sign! You’re starting to find more balance. High-five! And if you’re really ready to engage in that “me” time use your vacation days and actually get to relaxing.
#2. Get enough sleep
I used to underestimate the power of getting enough sleep, but I’ve learned it really is crucial to your wellbeing so definitely worth paying attention to.
When you sleep, your brain clears away the day's debris and gets down to some interesting problem solving plus, it’s good for your actual body.
I’m sure I don’t have to tell you this but when you don’t sleep, you’re likely to have less energy and experience brain fog, which undermines your ability to do pretty much anything well. As a lifelong insomnia sufferer - this was me on the daily until I set about conquering it and finally getting in those Z’s.
Unless you genuinely get enough sleep, you’ll ultimately lose steam and burn out because a sleep-deprived brain can’t function at 100%. To feel (and be) happy, you need to be rested.
So even if you have a hard time unwinding, make sure you get ideally 7-8 hours of sleep each night to help recharge your batteries.
If you’re having a hard time sleeping, try to:
Unplug from screens at least 30 minutes before you hit the sack
Start a bedtime routine and stick to it
If it feels chronic, talk to your doctor!
#3. Prioritize your health
This one can be extra challenging, especially if you’re used to working too much and putting your physical health on the back burner.
Many of my clients coming to me feel that they are simply unhappy in their work. They believe they don't like their company or their manager or their daily task load. But when I talk to them about the last time that they really prioritized having an “ideal week” meaning doing things that made them feel physically and mentally good, I tend to be met with blank stares.
These clients tell me that they are too busy to worry about their health, that they just simply don't have time, and that once they find work that makes them happy then they can focus on prioritizing that.
You may think that feeling happy at work will allow you to focus on your health, but the truth is it’s the other way around. Taking the time to care for yourself, prioritizing your physical (and mental) health allows you to be happier in general and therefore happier in your work.
When you care for yourself, you boost your overall wellness.
Even if you start by eating just eat one green vegetable a day (and yes I have adult clients that need this reminder) it will start shifting your health in the right direction.
Here are a few other ways to Prioritize your health:
#1 – Exercise regularly. I'm not saying you need to start mountain climbing but finding an exercise or a movement that you enjoy and that you will look forward to doing regularly will obviously help your physical health and we know exercise is also a major booster for your mental health. The key here is to find something that you genuinely enjoy not that you feel is one more chore to add to your to-do list.
#2 – Book that doctor’s appointment. Look, nobody enjoys going to the doctor but whether it's an eye appointment, a therapy appointment, a dental appointment, an acupuncture appointment or maybe it's a massage - having a medical professional support you in your physical and mental health is a genuine game changer.
There may be things that you know you need to change or do but you need some accountability or a professional to confirm your opinion or maybe you need some genuine medical attention that you have been putting off. Even if you don't have insurance there are ways to get the help you need - seek out the help available to you.
#3 – Monitor your overall routine. One of the biggest monkey wrenches in being healthy is to do most of your day to day living absent-mindedly. When you are aware of what you do and when you do it, and when you engage in those actions with intention, you will inherently focus on doing things that make you feel better.
When you sit at a table to eat a good meal instead of in front of the TV, while also scrolling on your phone, while eating with the other hand, you will make food choices that allow your body to work at its best or that provides you intentional serotonin happiness hits.
If you find yourself staying up saying “just one more chapter” until 3:00 a.m. multiple nights a week and then can barely drag yourself out of bed each morning, keeping note of this will allow you to see the pattern and make the change if it's something you choose to change.
Whether you’re new to prioritizing yourself, have been at it for a while, or you just want a way to stay balanced and focused, these actions will help you have those quick wins and lead to you feeling happy at work.
All you need to do is do them.
Remember it takes time and dedication, and the process isn’t perfect. So if you go off track at any point, that’s completely normal. Don’t beat yourself up and lose time worrying about it. Get right back to it. You got this!
Notice, none of these actions actually are about “work” - they’re about you.
Don’t forget to click here to download your FREE Career Success Workbook!
Yours in ‘go ahead and be happy’ career goodness,
EBS
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EB Sanders | Career Coach for Creative Types
Unsatisfied with your work? Start HERE now!
