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It's not unusual to occasionally dislike a boss or to long for the next day off from work. In fact, it is quite common to work at a paying job without necessarily enjoying what we do every second of the day. Sometimes, a quick attitude adjustment can do wonders. There is truth to the adage, “Think positive, be positive.”
Keep a work-related gratitude journal. Before you end your day, write down one thing (big or small) that you are grateful for at work. Each day, strive to come up with something new. (It might be the fact that your coworker smiled at you or that your boss liked your idea at the team meeting.)
Star charts work for grownups, too. Get through the week more easily by giving yourself a reward when you complete a difficult task or make it through a tough day.
Set boundaries. Remember that it’s okay to say “no” or “not yet” to certain requests. If you already have too much on your plate, and your boss tosses you one more assignment, then ask her which tasks should take top priority, and clearly share which projects may get pushed to a different day or week.
Remember work-life balance. Each day, do something to remind yourself that you are more than just an employee at your organization. Say yes to that coffee date or to dinner with a friend or loved one. Go to a yoga or meditation class after work to regain your sanity.
Just like any other habit, if you regularly focus on being positive and happy at work, then you fall into this positive mindset. Some people mistake positivity for having a false sense of reality. You can be both positive and realistic. Bad things will happen at work. Instead of getting upset in the moment, try to take emotion out of the situation. Ask yourself what you can learn from the situation, so that when faced with similar circumstances at another time, you get different results.
Simple tweaks make for a happier outlook:
1. Smile at yourself in the mirror. Say something like, “Make it a great day” to remind yourself that you have the power to control how you feel about whatever situation may come your way.
2. Practice being grateful to make it a habit. There is always something to be thankful for, even in the most dire situations. Use a gratitude journal to hold yourself accountable.
3. Repeat a phrase like, “I will not complain” or “I’ll look for the good,” consistently throughout the day. If you get caught in a situation where you would usually complain, say (or think!) your mantra to bring you back to a positive place.
4. Count to 10 before you utter a complaint. Take a deep breath and consider if the complaint will truly improve the situation or just make things more miserable.
5. Be constructive instead of destructive with your speech. Instead of complaining, offer a solution or an alternate way to approach a situation that would improve the office situation.
Copyright© 2018 Amy Cooper Hakim
