How to Be Happier at Work: Six Happiness Thieves at Work That Are Making You Less Happy!
If you want to be happier more often at work (and I’m guessing you do) then I think it helps to be aware of some of the mindsets and behaviors that are known happiness thieves. And no, I’m not talking about Bob in accounting. Here are the biggest happiness-thieves to be on the look out for.
1. Constantly seeking external validation. Yes, in an ideal world we would all get standing ovations at work every day for the fabulous work we are doing, but if you come to rely too heavily on external validation, I guarantee that this will be a recipe for disappointment. Happiness is an inside job – don’t outsource your happiness to other people!
2. Unrealistic expectations. Life isn’t one long beer commercial or social media profile where everyone is ALWAYS HAPPY, HAPPY, HAPPY! Happiness is a temporary state of mind and expecting to be happy every moment and expecting to find joy in every aspect of our work is unrealistic. Aim instead for contentment, which is much longer lasting and accompanied by deeper feelings of satisfaction and gratitude.
3. Comparing yourself to others. Happiness researchers all agree that the scourge of “comparison-itis” is a huge happiness drainer. To slay the beast of comparison-itis cultivate a mindset of gratitude for what you have, learn to compete only with your former self and not with other people, and effusively celebrate the success of the people around you.
4. Over-identifying with your career. While it may be a worthwhile goal to “love your job,” if you over-identify with your work, you run the risk of prioritizing work over other aspects of your life (hello sleep), believing that your organization can’t survive without you, and again, placing too much emphasis on external validation.
5. Focusing on material things over experiences. Every happiness researcher agrees with this one. Focusing on the “stuff” your work can provide you with or focusing only on the money and not the intrinsic motivators at work will without a doubt detract your from being happier than you might otherwise be. Cultivating ways to improve your sense of meaning and purpose at work and focusing your time and energy on experiences is a proven way to be significantly happier.
6. Pursuing happiness. This is a big one that drives so much of our behaviors, yet it’s been shown that chasing happiness is akin to a tail-less dog chasing its tail. Scads of research shows that the pursuit of happiness can actually make us unhappy because we are never satisfied with where we are or what we have. We fall into the trap of constantly saying, “I’ll be happy when ______.” So, we constantly chase the unattainable because there is no finish line.
CLICHE ALERT: If you want to be happier and more content enjoy the journey! Practice mindfulness and everyday moments of gratitude. If you focus on making the people around you happy, celebrate the small stuff, and connect to a sense of purpose, happiness will be a natural by-product.
So, what do you think? What happiness thief have I overlooked? Which one do you resonate with the most? Please leave a comment or question below!
Michael Kerr is a Canadian Hall of Fame speaker specializing in workplace culture, inspiring leadership, and humor in the workplace. He is the author of 8 books including, The Humor Advantage: Why Some Businesses are Laughing All the Way to the Bank and The Jerk-Free Workplace: How You Can Take the Lead to Create a Happier, More Inspiring Workplace.
