Did you know, this month we mark International Week of Happiness at Work?
Among the many and varied awareness weeks, this one – running from September 19-25 – struck a chord with the Rombourne team. Because if there is one thing we like to do at Rombourne, that is to make sure our clients and our own team are happy.
We believe everyone has a right to be happy at work, whether they run their own business or are an employee. If you are happy at work you are healthier, more productive and more successful; you have better relationships with those around you, both in the workplace and at home.
But we know not everybody is happy at work. According to the UK’s largest study of workplace happiness – Indeed’s Work Happiness Score, carried out in January 2022 – more than one in three people are unhappy at work.
Looking at data from 1,800 organisations in the UK across 25 different sectors, the survey found real estate workers scored the lowest, followed by management, consulting, and automotive. Happiest were those working in education, followed by aerospace and defence, then government and public administration.
Dr Jan-Emmanuel De Neve, Professor of Economics at Saïd Business School, who helped develop the study, said: “Happiness at work is critical to people’s wellbeing for obvious reasons, but it is also a driver of their productivity and success.”
So, with that in mind, how can we make sure we stay happy at work? Here are our top ten tips:
1. Don’t Get Personal
If you have things going on at home, in your personal life, try to leave them at the door when you come into work. Put them out of your mind. That way, you’ll get a break from brooding about the issue, and you can focus on your work. This may not be easy, and you’ll have to be really disciplined, but it will help you feel happier.
2. Take A Break
Taking regular breaks during your working day will help relax and destress you. This could be a walk outside, or even just a quick walk around the office. The less stressed you are, the happier you will feel.
3. Eat & Drink Well
They say we are what we eat, so if we eat unhealthy processed food and drink fizzy pop, we’ll feel less well in ourselves. And if don’t feel healthy, we won’t feel happy. So, make sure you take healthy lunches, snacks and drinks (including plenty of water) to work, to keep you going during the day. Equally, don’t skip meals, or ignore hunger pangs. If we’re hangry we can’t be happy!
4. Create A Nest
Making your work station comfortable and calming will be conducive to productivity and happiness. We wouldn’t go so far as to say bring in a bed, but if you like to be surrounded by family photos, diffusers, desk toys and maybe the odd scatter cushion, then why not! But, of course, do stick to any company rules, which might include not allowing posters to hang on the walls.
5. Be Organised
If you are organised at work, then you will certainly feel happier. Lack of organisation leads to feelings of stress and overwhelm. Being organised means using calendars, diaries, planners, deadlines… all of which stand workers in good stead for being industrious and productive.
6. Cope With Annoyances
You may find you work with people who you don’t like, or who you find annoying. There’s not a great deal you can do to change this, or their behaviour. What you can control, however, is how you react. If you can learn to cope with their irritating habits, to rise above them, you’ll feel calmer and more content.
7. Find Support
There will be people at work who want to help and support you, whether they are managers, peers or those working for you. Use them to create a support system, so you feel you are part of a team and not isolated. In this way, just being at work will induce feelings of happiness, as you’ll want to be with your ‘tribe’.
8. Be Positive
Try to always look on the bright side, and stay positive and focused. Dwelling on the negative will dampen your mood, but thinking of the positive will make you feel more upbeat.
9. Don’t Bottle Things Up
If there is something you’re unhappy with at work, tell people about it. Talk to your manager or your team, and see if there is an opportunity to make changes, that will make you feel happier. You might want to look at training, or even taking a different role.
10. Reward Yourself
Go ahead and treat yourself, or plan something nice that you can look forward to. Small pleasures – maybe a meal out with friends, a walk in the countryside, or just an hour reading a book – all help you to relax, unwind and feel cheerful.
If you have ideas on how to be happy at work, we’d love to hear about them. Maybe what you need is a nice new office environment, in serviced offices, where you are surrounded by other business people? At Rombourne, we offer superior serviced office accommodation in Bristol, Cardiff, Newport and Swindon. To find out more, please get in touch.
