Welfare at work: how to self-motivate
What do we talk about when we talk about happiness? There are many people who talk about (and sell) the idea of happiness. In fact, this seems like a fad, similar to being thin or not eating meat. But like everything in life, we must go to who really studies happiness to know what we are talking about: psychologists.
The different theories point us aspects such as economic welfare or social connections , among others, as those that most influence our happiness. Of course they are important, but how does happiness affect our work environment?
We spend most of our life at work and, on many occasions, we do it with an emotional tone, let's say, neutral .
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Happiness in the workplace
If we work, we can look forward to certain projects and we can even feel moments of intense connection with our team. There are moments of happiness. But, in most cases, this state happens by chance.
Normally we do not associate work to happiness, and this is the beginning of the problem. If we randomly ask several people in a job situation, they are likely to tell us that happiness is having a job, that they consider themselves lucky for it. And that, while that is so, being happy while working is something rather secondary. We already do other things to be happy, they would tell us.
But, by not associating our work with possible happiness, are we not denying an important part of our life? Go happy to work even seems somewhat obscene . It is not well seen that someone can manifest it; The softest thing you will receive are comments referring to your luck, as well as many others that are less considered.
Greater well-being at work, greater performance
The most curious thing is that Research on happiness in the workplace they show to what extent their influence on productivity and health are enormous. Those who are happy working, perform more and have fewer casualties.
A survey carried out by Gallup in 2015 shows that only 32% of American workers declared to be "actively involved" in their jobs. The majority (52%) did not feel involved and 17% considered themselves totally disconnected from their work environment.
Something we have to do, do not you think? Much of the problem is boredom. Doing the same thing over and over again is a guarantee of being permanently. Wretchedness and happiness do not fit together, these are the first changes to make. Find the opportunity to learn new strategies and tools, facilitate mobility between departments of the company, find common places to exchange ideas ... seem to be some of the best antidotes for combat boredom and promote well-being and enthusiasm in the company .
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The trap of the work routine
Another factor that is directly associated with happiness in the workplace has to do with routine. Leave the office at breakfast or lunch time, have meeting spaces with colleagues from other departments or companies, power that our brain stays in an active tone . If in addition to this, companies devote part of their time to promote exercise and Mindfulness, the effects would be spectacular. It already happens in companies that do so.
The reduction of the times of the interminable meetings , adjusting them to a set schedule and with a moderator who is responsible for distributing shifts, is also a powerful element to dissolve boredom. Short presentations Short questions. Short tasks cycles. This seems to be the key to keeping the happiness muscle in shape.
And smile. Doing so is intimately linked to happiness. It may seem obvious, but it is like spreading a rumor: if we smile, we are generating an effect in those around us. There will be those who resist - even actively - but will have to succumb or be isolated.
Enhancing happiness at work
Undoubtedly, we will always have someone who will tell us that if we are not happy with the work, we will leave it. It is a very respectable option. Complicated in the current times, but possible. However, it comes from a point of view according to which happiness comes from outside. Therefore, better change the air, than change us.
If your option is to try the latter, I suggest some ideas that may be valuable to begin to turn around this happiness in the workplace. This applies to any work reality that we want.In some it will be more complicated, but it is achieved with dedication and conviction. Plus, if all levels of the company are convinced of it , it will be much simpler to do it.
1. Know what makes you happy
It seems easy to assess whether or not we are happy, and in what degree we are happy. This does not mean that we do it. But what seems more complicated is define what makes us happy, personally . We are different, unique, so it seems logical that we each have, so we say, our own "happy footprint". That which makes us intimately happy.
This not only has to do with the work environment, although everything is interconnected without a doubt. Knowing what makes us happy and picking it up on a list to be aware of is one of the first exercises we propose.
Let's consider that happiness includes both pleasure and purpose , and it's not just the positive emotion we suppose. Let's write both. What makes us feel pleasure and that makes us feel actively involved in something.
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2. Build happiness actively in your work environment
Happiness does not just happen. Not only do we need to be aware of what makes us happy, passively. We need to build it. Make it happen
It is not easy, especially when we are very busy. It's like finding the space to go to the gym. But once you do it, you can not live without it! Start little by little by small things that connect you with a sense of purpose and belonging . It can be breakfast with a friend in your pause to do it, take care of a plant that you have brought to the office, listen to music while preparing a report ... they are small things that add meaning to your work environment. You make it yours.
These seemingly small changes can have a very significant impact on how you feel at work. You are building your small environment of personal happiness at work. You can start thinking about what you would like to change from now on. Make a list with what depends exclusively on you, and another that may contain proposals to reach a consensus with your colleagues, or propose it to your bosses.
3. Look for opportunities that make you feel purpose
It may be that, in most cases, we do not have the opportunity to choose what we want to do, the projects we would like, with which people we would work. Let's find a way to get involved in what is assigned to us , in addition to not stop making see who tells us what our interests would be, in what projects you would like to be.
In a way, it is about transmitting interest and involvement. If we do it in something that we have been assigned, what we will not do in something that would also excite us!
4. Know what gives you energy and what does not
In this we are also unique. Some people collaborate and work with others to solve challenges, it makes us feel alive. To others, being able to devote all the attention to the details and seeing it from points of view creates a sense of flow. Some people prefer to work as a team and who does not. Consider what makes you feel more energized, it is essential that you know. Also that which does not. Because, in some moments you will inevitably have to do it.
Paradoxically when one knows both, it yields more -and it is happier- both in the situations that we like the most and in those that we are not excited about. By being aware of the second, and eliminate negative expectations towards them , we relaxed, and we found ourselves surprisingly much better.
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5. Identify what makes you unhappy
Of course, this is not a path of roses. There are times when it seems that everything goes wrong . A bad day, marked by an unpleasant situation, can make us feel really miserable. Even if we try to change it, it will happen. But we should not think that a bad day means a bad life. On the contrary, recognizing the bad times will make us appreciate the good ones even more, and work to empower them.
