Staying positive in the office can be difficult at times, especially if you have a lot of projects going on or you are stressed out. Studies have shown that only 45 percent of office employees are satisfied with their jobs. That means that over half of the workers in the US aren’t happy at the workplace. An easy way to boost happiness and productivity in the workplace is to stay positive. Here are some easy tips on how:
Keep Your Personal and Work Life Separate
When it comes to your personal and work life, having boundaries are important. Staying positive at work is the easiest when you allow yourself to have some down time at home. Try not to bring work home with you, instead leave it at the doorstep.
If you have trouble doing this, avoid bringing your work phone or computer home with you. It also helps if you finish all your projects or tasks for the day before you leave the office, that way you won’t have to stress about then when you get home.
Take Care of Yourself
Another way to stay positive at work is to make sure you’re carving out time to take care of yourself, both physically and mentally. This could mean something as simple as making sure you’re eating regularly, drinking enough water and getting exercise every day.
Taking care of yourself also means taking the time to breathe and de-stress from the hectic office life. Set aside time each day to find a quiet place to meditate or do deep breathing exercises. You’d be surprised at what a difference taking a few minutes for yourself each day can have on your stress and happiness levels.
Take Regular Breaks
Along with taking care of yourself, you should also be taking short and regular breaks from your office tasks. The Pomodoro method involves working in 25-minute intervals with short breaks in between.
This way your work day is less monotonous and you actually get more done by giving your brain a breather. Try setting a timer on your phone to remind you to take a break every half an hour or so. Taking frequent breaks helps you be more productive and happier in the long run.
Set Realistic Goals
Setting goals allows you to take control of your work life and lay out what needs to be done in an orderly manner. Try making a list of short term and long term goals so you can remind yourself of the purpose you have as an employee. You can even extend these goals to your personal life as well.
After you make a list of all the things you’d like to accomplish in the next week, month and even year, work on creating a step by step plan on how you’re going to accomplish them. Make sure your goals are realistic so you can stay positive knowing achieving them is attainable and right around the corner.
For more ways you can stay positive and productive at work, check out our latest blog post “Tips for Staying Healthy at the Office.”