5 Tips for Boosting Your Happiness

When we are unhappy, it affects all aspects of our lives including our work. Our productivity goes down, we are less engaged at work, we make more mistakes and we simply feel less motivated to get things done. There are things we can and cannot control. Our happiness is largely our responsibility even though it is mainly influenced by external circumstances or people. No one can make us unhappy unless we allow them to do it. One of the keys to becoming a peak performer is to cultivate more happiness in your life. Below are 5 tips that you can incorporate to put a smile on your face.

1. Make happiness a priority.

It is a good idea to start your day by telling yourself that you are going to be happy. No matter what happens during the day, good or bad, you will remain happy. Happiness is not dependent on outside circumstances. Happiness is a state of mind that we can choose everyday.

2. Do things that make you happy.

I know this is pretty obvious but most people neglect this very simple tip. How many times during the week have you done things that make you happy? If you list less than 5, you need to add more happy moments in your life. Do something today tht your future self will thank you for.

3. Live in the present moment.

The present moment is the only moment where you ever truly live life. When you think about the past and future, you are robbing yourself of the opportunity to enjoy the present moment. One of the keys to happiness is live as much as you can in the moment. It takes some time and effort, but in the end, the act of living in the moment rewards not only you but the people around you.

4. Practice acts of kindness.

When life gets you down, the quickest way to cheer up is to do something for someone else with no expectations that you will be rewarded. Research shows that being kind to others increases our own levels of happiness as well as theirs. Making other people happy is the highest expression of gratitude.

5. Plan for happiness.

Everyone wants to be happy, but very few people achieve it. I think the problem is that we don’t consciously have a happiness plan. We have a plan for everything else but we neglect our own happiness. From the moment you wake up to when you fall asleep, you should make a conscious effort to be happy. Most successful people have a to-do list. Most successful and happy people also have a fun list. Develop happiness routines and make them a part of your everyday living.

How to Get Noticed at Work

Most people do not go to work solely for the paycheck. There are numerous reasons why work is important for our livlihood. Today, I want to talk about being recognized, appreciated and respected at your workplace. We all want to get recognized and noticed for our work. It makes us feel important and gives us a sense of purpose and accomplishment.

When we are not being appreciated at work, we feel demotivated and will work less enthusiastically for the organization. There are a few things you can do to get the attention of other people in a positive way.

1. Do a great job.

The best way to get the attention of others is to be excellent at your job no matter what you are doing. A strong work ethic means taking pride in your work, regardless of what job you hold. When you are good at what you do, you will get noticed by other people that can help you get ahead in your career. Your boss will give you more responsibility which can lead to promotions and raises.

2. Go the extra mile.

Going the extra mile is doing the unexpected.  It’s going above and beyond your job description. The best employees are those that go far above and beyond their job duties. They will volunteer for assignments and projects that few people are willing to do. They put in the long hours to get the job done. They are always asking their boss for more work.

3. Become an expert.

If you spend an hour each day learning and reading about your field of work, you will become an expert in 10 years. Expertise takes time and effort to acquire. Very few people will take the time to invest in themselves. When you become an expert, people will seek out your advice, knowledge and opinion. You will be asked to attend important meetings and conferences where your expertise will be valued.

4. Speak up at meetings.

Many of us spend hours in meeting each week. Instead of feeling that meetings are a waste of time, use it to get notice. Speaking up in meetings demonstrates to everyone that you are well suited for your role and ready for the next big job. Become fully engaged in the meeting by asking questions and offering solutions to problems.

5. Help others.

When you help other people at work, your good deeds will not go unnoticed. Everyone at work knows who the team players are. When you help a collegue, it creates a harmonious work environment, builds trusts and goodwill and the person you help will more likely want to give you a hand in the future.

4 Ways You Are Making Your Work Life Harder

There is so much that we do each day in order to make our work life successful. We make task lists, add reminders and download task management apps on our smartphones and tablets. However, there is something more subtle that demands the attention of our common sense, but often gets brutally ignored. What are these things that make your life harder? Let’s have a look.

• Keep the smartphone away- trust us, you don’t really need to read every email, text message or tweet. What usually happens with the smartphones and tablets is that we constantly keep in touch with the whole world when we simply need to focus on our work.  Relax, there is nothing so important going on in Facebook and Twitter. Plus, you have subscribed to so many RSS feeds. They will keep updating you every single time. So, stop the habit of peeping in the screen on every beep.

• Gossip- while it really feels good to engage in a light-hearted chit-chat with your friends and colleagues; it is recommended that you stay away from gossip. The reason behind this is that it wastes a lot of your precious energy and often, you end up knowing and saying things you should not have. Even worse, when you gossip, you give others the chance to gossip about you. So steer clear of this habit.

• Learn to say ‘No’- on a number of occasions we love to play the role of the yes man and say yes to everything. This can sometimes bring trouble. If you are already loaded with work and can’t find time to finish it all, don’t be a good old colleague and say yes if another colleague or even your boss gives you a new task. In such a situation, you only reduce the quality of your work.

• Start Listening- this is probably the biggest mistake that you do at your workplace. You don’t pay attention to what is being said and keep wondering about other things. Being lost in thoughts can make you less productive at work.

How to Say No at Work

Have you ever felt overwhelmed with too much to do at work? I certainly have. Nowadays many companies expect their employees to do more work in less time. Here is the paradox of work. The better you get at your job, the more people will ask you to do. In other words, your boss will give you more responsibilities if he/she sees that you can handle the smaller projects. You will get to the point where your ability to finish all your work by the deadline will be next to impossible. So what is the solution? You can stay overtime and work weekends. This is a good temporary solution but this is not something you should do all the time because it leads to burnout. The simple solution is to learn to say no.

Most employees can’t say no because they want to please everyone, fear they might lose their job or not be seen as a team player. Saying yes to everything can actually damage your reputation and hurt your career.

Take time to think before committing to a new project, and before you say no, consider the ramifications.  Before you say no, spell out your current responsibilities and ask your boss to help you prioritize. Your goal is to let your boss know that you are not trying to make excuses why you can’t take on the project, but you want to be honest, realistic and upfront. After you have provided your reasons why you can’t take on the new project, proposed a solution or an alternative. This will show your boss that you genuinely want to help and you are providing a few options.

So saying no is not that bad after all. You might find out that people will respect you more when they know that you are not afraid to decline a request.

4 Ways to Stay Motivated at Work

When you first started your current job, you were probably excited and relieved to be employed. A few months later your enthusiasm for your job has diminished. You dread Monday mornings and you can’t wait to get back home after another 8 hours of stressful work. Your motivation for the job is no longer as strong. Firstly, you must take responsibility for this situation that you find yourself in. No one can motivate you except yourself. If you are unhappy at work, you are responsible for changing it. Assuming you want to continue working at your company, here are 4 things you can you do to change your attitude towards your job.

1. Consider what you enjoy about your job.

Think of several reasons why you enjoy working here. Perhaps you like working with some of your colleagues. Maybe you are working on a project that will enhance your experience or allow you to learn some new skills. Write these things down and read it when you are feeling depressed about your job. Instead of constantly focusing on why you hate your job, look on the bright side and be thankful that you have one.

2. Take a vacation.

If possible, take a few days or weeks off from your job. This time away from work will help you to get a better perspective on your job. Taking a vacation is just as important as getting adequate sleep. When you get enough sleep, you feel energized, refreshed and ready to conquer the world. After a restful vacation, you will come to work with a fresh set of eyes and perhaps a different outlook about your job.

3. Set some work goals.

When you have goals, it helps you to stay motivated, inspired and positive. Goals allow you to measure our progress. When we see that we are making a difference at work, it boosts our morale and increases our value to the company. Sometimes, the work goals are dictated by the company, boss or project. But you always can have additional career goals of your own. You can have goals to improve how you perform at your current work, get some more education and training or learn something new. There is an infinite number of goals you can set for yourself if you want to make some positive changes to your work life.

4. Have fun.

Work is only work when you rather be doing something else. Most people feel that they cannot have fun at work. Fun is what you do on the weekends. This is an incorrect attitude towards your job. The most happy and productive employees are those that love what they do and have fun doing it. If your job is stressful, take a few minutes each hour to give yourself a break. Use those few minutes to do something fun that makes you smile and happy. Think of those few minutes as a micro vacation. Having fun will boost your energy, productivity and creativity.

Is Job Stress Killing You?

Did you know that your job is killing you? According to a recent survey, your job is the top reason why you are stressed out in life. While some stress is normal, too much stress can take a physical and emotional toll on your health and well-being. If you dread coming to work and feel relieved when leaving work, this is a clear sign that your job is making you unhappy. In future articles, I will discuss more about stress and work. Below is an interesting illustration of the causes of stress and what you can do to decrease it.

5 Ways to Succeed at Your Job

Congratulations on landing your new job. I know you are excited to get started and want to make a great first impression. You also want to get up to speed and become a valuable member of the team. In other words, you want to succeed in your new job. Below are 5 ways to d it:

1. Always Ask Questions

You should always be asking questions and learning new things about your job no matter how long you have been there. Learning a tip to save you time can really add up over the hours, so it’s important that you take in as much as you can. It will allow you to learn how to do things the right way and perhaps even the easier way. Asking questions shows that you’re interested in bettering your performance as well. Not only will it make you look more professional, it will also show that you’re determined to be an asset to the company, which can go quite a long way.

2. Find a Mentor

It’s a great idea to find someone who will mentor you and show you the ins and outs of your position. This will be the best way to learn how to do things right without having to go through troublesome mistakes. You can avoid many failures by learning how to do things from an experienced worker. This will allow you to learn how to overcome many challenges that they have faced before you so you don’t have to suffer through them.

3. Set Goals

Setting goals can allow you to get a lot more things done. It will make your day go by much faster and it will also make your workload feel a lot smaller. You can set long-term goals as well as short term goals, but try to be realistic about the outcomes. Don’t get discouraged if you don’t always achieve your goals as it’s very common for your goals to change throughout your career.

4. Know Your Duties

Before you jump into your job and try to perform your best, you’re going to want to learn all of the ins and outs. Take the time to learn your job duties and memorize them without repeating mistakes. It’s going to make things a lot easier for you and allow you to progress much faster than usual.

5. Be Respectful

Always be respectful of other people; this includes co-workers as well as management. When you are respectful you will be seen much more professional, even when it comes to small things. Don’t be afraid to stand up for your own personal beliefs, but be certain to be respectful when doing so.

How to Stay Happy at Work

Did you know that when you are happy you are more creative and productive? Look around your office. Do you see a lot of smiling faces? If not, I can almost guarantee that those people are not working at their peak performance. Their unhappiness is actually sabotaging their jobs. Everybody gets depressed or sad every once in a while. It’s just a natural thing. But there are a lot of people who keep themselves in a constant downward spiral of depression when they can avoid it all together. Now, you don’t have to be the most chipper person in your office, but you can certainly follow these tips to make sure that you get the most out of your day and avoid the negative aspects of living with an unhappy outlook.

1. Keep Your Goals Realistic

Sometimes we can feel as though we need to reach the stars in order to live a happy life. Maybe we put unrealistic goals out there for us to achieve, but always end up falling short. Having these types of goals and requirements of yourself can be very unhealthy and it can really put your mood down in the dumps. When you’re constantly putting these huge goals on your plate and not meeting them, you will take on a lot of depression and start to feel worthless. The best way to remedy this is by setting realistic goals and not always shooting for the stars.

2. Don’t Let Your Surroundings Drag You Down

When we constantly surround ourselves with negative people and negative things we will start to take on that outlook gradually. Have you ever noticed that when you put on a scary movie that later that night things will make you jump or worry more than usual? This is the same for negative influences. What you’re going to want to do is make an effort to surround yourself with positive people and positive things. Pick up an uplifting comedy movie, play some music that makes you smile, have lunch with your favorite colleague. It will do you a lot of good!

3. Don’t Dwell on Your Past

Too many people spend countless hours stressing out about what they could have been or what they could have done to make their lives better. This is extremely unhealthy and it can be very bad for your happiness. There’s nothing that we can do to change the past, and reliving these old memories in your head will do nothing but depress you. The best way to combat these feelings is by always focusing on the now. If you’re working on a project, make sure you give it your undivided attention. If you’re watching a movie, don’t drift off and think of the past, engulf yourself in the storyline. These can be applied to many daily tasks.

How to Survive Your New Job

If you’ve ever just started a job, you know just how frustrating it can be to get in the groove of things. You’re surrounded by people who are outperforming you and maybe you’re not quite up to par with the company’s standards. It can be a very frustrating experience if you don’t take the proper steps to improve. The thing is that everything takes time and nobody perfects their job overnight.  There are a few things that you should keep in mind though. These are some basic ways of thinking that you should practice when you’re just starting out on the job.

One of the biggest problems that new employees run into in their new job is the fact that they allow their pride to take over their common sense. The truth is that you’re going to have to do some things in your position that other, more seasoned employees might not have to do. You’re just going to have to work your way up the totem pole. This will allow you to prove that you have a good work ethic and it can be a great way to be recognized by your boss. Just remember that you won’t be at the bottom of the totem pole forever!

It’s easy to fall behind at work, especially when you’re just starting out. You’re learning all kinds of new things and at the same time you’re expected to meet schedules. It can be frustrating, but it’s extremely important that you meet these deadlines. One of the best ways to stay above water is by keeping all of your work properly organized. Your boss is likely to be much more critical of you when you’re first starting out, so it’s very important you shine. Always stay ahead of your workload so you don’t fall behind, and don’t be afraid to work a few minutes over your lunch break.

You probably won’t get too far if you don’t learn how to do your job properly, and the best way to learn how to perfect your duties is by asking questions. You shouldn’t be hesitant to ask your boss or co-workers questions about your job. This will allow you to learn time saving tips that will make your work much easier. You’ll also be showing your boss that you’re eager to learn. This is a great way to kill two birds with one stone.

How to be More Creative at Work

For a lot of people it can be a bit difficult to remain creative at work. No matter what field you are in, chances are there are some areas where you need to maintain your creativity. A lot of people start out strong with their creative ideas during the start of the workday, and by mid-day they’re falling short. Let’s talk about some ways that you can remain creative throughout your work day.

One of the best ways to remain creative at work is by looking though different material which you may not have ever looked through before. This can be a magazine article, book or website. What you’re going to want to do is create a folder with articles and other bits of literature that you wouldn’t normally read and use it for inspiration. This will allow you to open up the way you think and experience new ideas. When you experience new things it will allow you to be much more versatile and creative. This can certainly do wonders for your creativity.

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been half asleep in bed and come up with a great idea, only to have forgotten it by the time I wake up. It’s very important that you write down any idea that you think is interesting. It’s a great idea to keep a notepad with you at all times. A lot of people will let great ideas slip by just because they forget them, you can remedy this by writing it all down. You never know when you might come up with a great idea, so be prepared!

It’s important that you avoid burning yourself out by taking a break when you feel you need it. Whenever you start getting drained, just work on something else for an hour or so and allow your mind to cool down. More often than not you’ll come back to your other work with a new perspective that will allow you to approach things differently.