The Official 'Mr Happiness2000' Blog: January 2014

Monday, 27 January 2014

Vacuous Nonsense - 5 Ways to Be Happier at Work

As expected there is a load of vacuous nonsense out there on this subject. Here's an example!

Is this you?

5 Ways to Be Happier at Work by Kelly Verdi

Stuck in a rut? These simple tips can help you perform better and feel more inspired in and out of the office.

The good old saying goes, “to each his own.” Whether it’s creating a playlist, overspending on a chai soy latte or sneaking in some online shopping, everyone has at least one way of making their work day a little more enjoyable. The fact is, however, is that there are several, easy ways that will not only get you through your day quicker, but may have you feeling happier (and even healthier) long after you leave office life in the dust. Try incorporating these simple tasks into your work week – after all – it is how you spend at least 40 hours of your time.

GET IT OVER WITH

Are there certain tasks to your day that you absolutely dread? Instead of putting off your least favorite responsibilities for after lunch, prioritize to tackle these duties first. That way, you’ll have more to look forward to for the rest of the day and won’t find yourself struggling to complete the more challenging assignments at the very last minute. Studies also show that work productivity is at its best earlier in the day, so use this statistic to your advantage and remember to eat a balanced breakfast!

DESK FLAIR

For many, the office literally is home away from home. So why not make it feel that way? Surround yourself with framed pictures of loved ones, flowers, candles (as long as they’re not against your office’s policy) or anything else that gives you a warm, cozy feeling. Try sticking some fresh lavender in your pen jar- this miracle plant has amazing therapeutic benefits that can help keep you keep calm and cool as a cucumber throughout the day.

SNACK ON ALMONDS

Nobody likes a “hangry” person – that is—the product of being so hungry, you become angry. Keep raw almonds close by for snacking in between meals. They’ll not only curve your appetite and help you stay full, but also have tremendous nutritional value. Loaded with vitamins and minerals, almonds are even considered “brain food” according to a recent article by Dr. David B. Samadi. Their healthy levels of vitamin E have been shown to prevent cognitive decline, boost alertness and preserve memory longer.

STRETCH

Whether you’re constantly on your feet or stuck behind a computer, the power of some thorough stretching at least once a day can do wonders. You’ll release toxins from your muscles and improve blood flow, circulation and even your posture. Your newly relaxed muscles will be thankful for the much-needed attention!

SMILE MORE

We’ve saved the best for last, probably because it’s the most simple of tasks on our list. Even when you don’t think you could be having a worse day, many experts recommend smiling for at least ten seconds to help dissipate any negative thoughts or feelings. This will help trick your brain into thinking you’re happy, and a warm smile can help spread happiness to others in the process. We like to call this the smile effect.

Kelly Verdi is the Public Relations Manager at Spa Week Media Group. She loves dogs, 80 minute facials and a good blowout worth bragging about.

http://www.spaweekblog.com/2013/11/07/6-ways-to-be-happier-at-work/

I just found this posting on Monster.com about ensuring your workplace is a happy one. But where employers expect workers to spend on average 40 hours a week in their workplace, are employers doing enough to keep you wanting to work there? And is their culture one of 'encouraged, enthusiastic productivity' or 'results through intimidation'? I'm seriously thinking of researching and writing a book about this. What do you think?

7 Simple Ways To Cultivate A Happy Workplace - Happiness at work

By Cheryl Stein - Monster Business Coach

It is very easy to get caught up in worrying if your company is going to do well and forgetting about the things that make people want to work for you. Making your organization a happy place to go to work is an essential component to the successful long-lasting business.

A happy work environment attracts good people and helps the people who work for you do the best for the company.

To create that kind of environment, it takes a strong top down and bottom up approach.

It takes creativity and presence of mind.

It takes proper hiring practices and clear expectations.

You can have it. You can be the one to start it. Once it gets underway, the feeling is infectious and your best bet is to think of your happy workplace as a sound investment.

Happy is not just a pipe dream. There is theory and study behind it. A whole field of Psychology is devoted to it. Martin Seligman, author of “Authentic Happiness” along with many other researchers, has done an in depth study of what makes people happy. You won’t be surprised to know that buying something new might make you happy for a few minutes but like a sugar rush, wears off really quickly. This is the workplace equivalent of landing a great contract or getting a great price reduction. It is exciting but very short lived.

The next level of happiness, which tends to last a lot longer, is the feeling that you have a pleasant life. That kind of feeling comes from liking what you are doing and feeling good about your job. The most sustainable level of happiness is being able to feel like you are giving back to this world.

There are many things you can do to make a sustainably happy organization. Here are some ways to get started:

1. Hire Happy Personalities

Hiring people who are going to help make your workplace happier will take a little thought and preparation. It is natural to focus on relevant experience and past achievements when interviewing a candidate. And you are right to want those things for your company. But ignoring the personality is a mistake.

The greatest candidate on paper might be the worst person to bring into your office. Look for the intangibles. Be very aware of how you feel around the person. Do they seem like they focus on the positives or negatives? Do they laugh? Do they smile? Do they seem like they create and nurture relationships? While their track record in terms of performance is very important, a person that brings gloom and doom to the workplace will kill productivity and motivation.

2. Be Community Minded at Work

Make a point of encouraging people to say hi to each other. Sounds simple but it is actually an incredible way to build a sense of workplace community and something that busy focused people forget. Start by making it a policy to have your executives and managers make sure to take the time to say hi. Choose ambassadors from all different levels and areas of your company to do the same. Acknowledging people can change the entire atmosphere and make your workplace be a much nicer place.

3. Get Out of the Work Routine Occasionally

We have a tendency not to focus on the big picture when we are really busy. This prevents us from creating perks or planning fun events that make the workplace happier. Treat people to something surprisingly good and fun. A day at the amusement park, a movie in the afternoon with popcorn and candy, chair massages. Anything you can think of to make people feel that you are doing something nice for them will make people feel happier.

4. Show That You Care About Your Employees

Ever hear of the Hawthorne effect? It’s the increase in productivity in the workplace when people feel that they are cared about. It makes people happy to be asked how they are and for you to take a little time to find out how things are going in their lives. That doesn’t mean spending hours at the water cooler having conversations about people’s lives. It means remembering to take the time to say, “How are you”.

5. Encourage Some Selfish Thinking

Part of the secret to being happy at work is to encourage people to have personal career goals. When people feel that they are working toward something, the day-to-day politics and stresses of the workplace don’t matter as much. Each challenging day can be better tolerated because it is a means to a personal end. People are able to separate themselves from their jobs and not become mired in the negativity when they are focused on reaching personal goals.

6. Focus on the Positive

Lots of places get caught up in the negative. They debrief by going over what didn’t work. Turn that around. Focus on the positive. That doesn’t mean that you should ignore the things that need to be improved on, it just means that when you are looking for the good, you will find the good. If you look for the bad, everything will seem bleak.

7. Give Back With Your Employees

Do something to give back to your community or to the world. Having a company wide initiative that makes a difference will make people feel connected to the greater good. Take a poll. Find out what people care about and get their opinions on how best to accomplish those goals.

Thoughtful Actions = Happy Work Environment

You can have a happy workplace if you take the time to make it a happy workplace. Hire happy people. Don’t get caught up in focusing on the negative and make sure to do the little things that make a difference in people’s lives. It won’t be a major cultural change at first but I can promise you that slowly but surely, your workplace will become a better place and people will do better work.

That should make you very happy.

From: http://hiring.monster.ca/hr/hr-best-practices/workforce-management/employee-performance-management/seven-simple-ways-to-cultivate-a-happy-workplace.aspx