Work will always have its ups and downs. While it’s okay to feel down from time to time it’s always best to keep a positive spirit. So what does it take to have a happier workday? Since happiness is subjective it’s tough to give a definitive answer. However there are plenty of strategies that have been proven to work regardless of the person.
Here are 5 simple changes you can make daily to have a much happier workday:
Get a Full Night’s Rest
I can’t stress enough how important it is to get a full night’s rest. Sleep is the ultimate medicine. If you’re able to habitually get a full night’s sleep it will drastically improve your overall life satisfaction. If you find yourself cutting into your sleep to get other things done then your priorities are way out of order.
Practice Mindfullness
Meditation isn’t just for monks and other spiritual folk. Research shows that meditation increases daily experiences of positive emotions. This will increase your general satisfaction and help suppress negative thoughts. Meditation is all about focusing in the present. It allows you to gather your thoughts and truly clear your mind.
We lead extremely busy lives. If you take it seriously, 15-minutes of meditation a day will work wonders on your overall well-being. It may be the only 15-minutes of your day that you can truly have to yourself.
Exercise Daily
Exercise is one of the best, natural ways to energize you for the day. After a successful workout your body produces endorphins which give your body and mind a natural high. Unlike coffee or other caffeine highs, your endorphins won’t make you crash.
I suggest working out first thing in the morning for two reasons. One, you’ll get it out of the way early and will have the most energy when exercising. And two, you’ll be energized and ready to tackle the rest of the workday.
Disconnect From Social Media
It’s common for us to always feel the need to stay connected to the world around us. Whether it’s Instagram or constantly checking emails our smart phones have made it almost impossible to disconnect. When we constantly check social media we remove ourselves from the present.
If you want to be happy you need to positively engage with the world around you. If you’re constantly relying on social channels for enjoyment you’ll lose the ability to build and maintain authentic relationships.
Give Back
We all love to make money. People say money can’t buy happiness but it sure gives you a sense of security. While making money is great it doesn’t always give us the happiness we expect. So what’s better than making money? Giving it away.
It’s estimated that 78 percent of people who spend time helping others (specifically with money) actually promote their own happiness. When you see how much you can positively influence someone else’s life it gives us a sense of self worth. As you help others you’ll feel good about yourself and will improve your overall happiness tremendously.
Final Thoughts
There’s single trick to constantly having a happy workday. That said there are plenty of strategies you can take to increase your overall happiness. I suggest starting with one or all of the five ways above if you want to have a happier workday.
Renzo Costarella
Renzo Costarella is an entrepreneur, avid learner, and startup enthusiast currently living in Silicon Valley. He consults for several startups in the Bay Area and is pursuing a few ideas of his own.