6 happiness hacks to try at work today

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You spend so much time at work that you owe it to yourself to be as happy as possible while you’re putting in the hours. See if these small adjustments can help you feel more fulfilled during your 9 to 5 - starting from today.

1 Get moving before work

If you know you’re going to be spending most of the day sitting down at your desk, aim to fit in some exercise in before work. Not only has getting moving first thing been shown to help boost your energy throughout the working day, but it also releases happy hormones like endorphins, clears your mind and helps you feel more productive.

2 Have lunch outside

It’s tempting to chow down on lunch at your desk, especially if you’re bogged down by a massive to-do list. But working through break-time may actually make you feel more downbeat about your day.

One study points to the fact that if you leave the office for lunch you’ll boost your overall wellbeing a favour - and you might even like your job more. If the weather lets you, find somewhere to sit outside and stock up on fresh air and vitamin D.

3 Focus on friendships

Spending so much time at work makes it hard not to form bonds - especially if you like your colleagues, and they’re people you share a similar mindset with. It turns out that forming real connections is key if you want to be happy in your job, with one study showing that people who have one or more strong friendship at work stand more chance of being engaged with their role. While close allies and be a great source of mutual support, just make sure that you still stay professional and your work responsibilities take priority over socialising.

4 Say no to negativity

Joining in with a moaning session can feel so cathartic if you’re annoyed about something at work. But regularly complaining about your boss, your company or just everyday peeves and annoyances to others is bad news.
Sure, we all get annoyed from time to time. But a venting free-for-all can actually make things seem worse than they are as you end up thinking more, not less, about those vexing issues. It’s also demoralising for everyone, including you - and especially new starters in your workplace.
Your mission? Try to let negativity bounce off you. And if you’re truly annoyed about something, take action. Your workplace happiness depends on it.

5 Help someone out

Great news for altruists: lending colleagues a hand when it’s outside of your responsibility won’t just earn you Brownie points, it can also boost your mood.
One study in 2013 showed that those who helped others in the workplace weren’t just more likely to be committed to their jobs, but long-term they were actually happier - and found more meaning in their personal as well as professional lives. So next time you spot someone panicking over an unfinished report or presentation, consider jumping in to do your bit 6 Be crystal clear about your aims

6 Be crystal clear about your aims

If you feel you’re drifting along at work with no clear strategy on where you’re heading, it’s bound to affect your sense of wellbeing. So make sure you can define your aims for the job you’re in. You might decide to focus on notching up new skills to rev up your chances of promotion, or get involved with a new project that’s outside of your normal remit to expand your experience, or simply to be able to work from home one day a week to suit your lifestyle.

An important part of HR GO’s mission to guide job candidates onto better roles is to also help them pinpoint what they want to get out of their working life in general. We know that having a well-defined purpose won’t just boost professional productivity - it can also be game-changer in how happy you feel in yourself.