So many people hate their jobs and spend their Sunday evenings dreading going back to work on Monday morning. Why is this? While they may be in the wrong job or need to change employers, sometimes it is simply that they have developed bad habits which make enjoying work so much harder.
If you want to be happier at work without changing jobs or starting a new career, make sure you are not doing any of the following:
- Taking it seriously. While there are jobs which are a matter of life and death, most aren't. Treat work like a day long suduko puzzle, a game. Most things are fun if you don't take them seriously.
- Using work to replace a poor personal life. No matter how hard you work or how much you achieve, working will never replace a fulfilling family and personal life. Put your energy into your personal life first. Work comes second.
- Comparing your success with the success of others. This is a recipe for disaster. You get what you want then see someone else achieving more and you feel second best. Compare yourself only with yourself.
- Tolerating your weak skill areas. The higher your skill, the happier you will be. Don't fall into the trap of thinking there are things you are weak at and always will be. Get trained up. Practise. Being good, feels good.
- Giving your opinion. The happiest people at work are the curious ones. They ask questions. They don't know the answer immediately. Try going through a whole meeting only asking questions. You'll feel great.
- Criticizing others. We all have to work with people we normally wouldn't spend time with. It is easy to criticize others when things don't go well. But look for the positive and you will feel positive too.
- Worrying about everything you have to do. The worst thing the brain does is fill your mind with thoughts about all the things you have to do in the future when you aren't actually able to them. Focus on what you can do now. Write the rest down and only think about them when you can do them.
- Wanting to be perfect. No one can produce brilliant work all the time. Even Paul McCartney wrote The Frog Chorus! Some things will not work and your boss or colleagues will criticize something you have done. Don't sweat it. Learn from it and move on. You are not only as good as your last bit of feedback. You are much more than that.
- Working in the office. Many offices can sap your energy and the routine of always going to the same place can make you feel dull and predictable. You don't have to work in the same place every day. Change seats. Work at home. Work in a cafe you like.
- Staying when it is time to go. Don't be the last person to leave the party. Change re-invigorates. Sometimes all you need to do is change one thing in your job rather than the job itself. Volunteer for something you know nothing about. Remember point 1 when you do this!
So you may not need to quit your job but just stop doing these 10 things above and you should start feeling happier.
What do you think people should stop doing to feel happier?