If you think your happiness at work isn’t a personal finance issue,
consider this. While research shows that 2 out of three Australians is
generally happy with their management, a significant proportion is
unhappy with the amount of hours they work, with the affect it has on
activities outside of work, unhappy with job market tensions and the
stress cost of living has put on employment. Happiness at work is
increasingly pointed to as a significant marker in productivity. The
equation is simple. Happy at work= works better= greater benefit to
yourself and employer. So here’s how to improve your nine-to-five, not
just for sanity’s sake, but to bolster your personal finance. Inspired
by an article on the Oprah website, a woman who knows a lot about making
work work for her.
Have Breakkie
Yep, a serving of your Weetbix or porridge in the morning will do
wonders for your happiness at work. You won’t get the 11am crash, where a
muffin and coffee are all that sustain you, and your blood sugar will
stay constant throughout the day. Making you a happier camper.
Talk Flexibility
If you’re working overtime throughout the week, could you head off
early on Friday- time to pick the kids up from school and cook pizzas
for dinner, or to meet your mate at the park for a quick round of soccer
before heading out for festivities. Could you work from home once a
month?
Sit Properly
The initial three months in my first (and, it turned out, last) job
in an office was period of despair. I felt tired and was plagued with
headaches all the time. This meant I didn’t sleep properly, hated going
to work and would feel unmotivated to do anything outside of it. One
day, they gave me a new chair, one that had arms still attached and a
back not hanging at a 45 degree angle. Would you believe it, all of
those problems went away. Whether sitting on an exercise ball, an
ergonomic chair or one of those nifty stools where you tuck your legs
behind you, it’s crucial to sit well throughout the day.
45 Minute Movement
Every 45 minutes, peel your eyes from the screen. Walk out the front
door of the office, or to the end of the floor and back. Lower back
pain, tired eyes can all be alleviated by remembering to move
occasionally.
What’s The Worst That Can Happen?
I’ve had bosses scream at me as if the chocolate cake is a matter of
life or death. Or customers act as if being out of stock in a certain
type of French brie is going to, quite literally, ruin their lives. Stay
real about what it is we do. Should someone be pressuring you, take a
minute to chillax. Imagine a comforting colour, or your favourite spot.
Then ask yourself, what’s the worst that could happen? Someone has to
wait an extra ten minutes on a productivity report? Your boss gets
cranky?
Separate
Time-place association is one of the strongest tools in our mental
box. You get into bed, you feel tired. The time and the place are
associated. Keep work at work. Don’t do it on the train coming in, or
shoot off a couple of emails once you’re home at night. Turn up the
music, or enjoy the bustle of the city. Walk out and taste freedom to
begin the other part of your life.
Make Ten Minutes
Half an hour is better, but making ten minutes every day is essential
to workplace health. Even if it’s ten minutes in the sun, ten minutes
eating your lunch looking out a window, or ten minutes to walk up and
down some stairs. Make it happen, and make the time sacrosanct.
Ask Yourself
Is this where you want to be when you grow up? And, if not, why?
Think of what changes you can make. Delegating some responsibility is a
start. Choosing to work fewer hours is another. Taking the plunge and
working in a creative industry, your own business or self-employed.
Asking this question enables you to choose this job, and understand it’s
your choice to stay here.
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