Sunday Times (Sri Lanka)

Five daily practices that will make you happier at work

- -A.G Sonali Silva

I am sure that I am not the only one to let working conditions often influence my general mood. If something exceptiona­l happens (my boss praises my skills in public or gives me the opportunit­y to do projects), it will show how I relate to others. I may be more complacent or optimistic about most things. But if something goes wrong, I can withdraw more into my world and feel more sad.

Regardless of the quality of the exchanges, the bad days of work often occur in my interactio­ns outside the office. It’s normal and it’s true for many people. There is evi- dence that job satisfacti­on is linked to overall happiness in life. It makes sense because it is one of the places where we spend a lot of time. Although we may not be able to control everything, we can do certain things to increase our personal happiness.

These five daily practices can make you happier at work and in life:

Design your environmen­t consciousl­y

Choosing what you allow in your environmen­t and workspace can help promote positive mental and emotional health that affects your work performanc­e. Create a list of things that bring you joy, be it physical reminders ( family photos, handwritte­n papers of your loved ones, statements and visual advice, etc.) or activities ( field trips, meals with friends, etc.). ).

things are part of their environmen­t and are intentiona­l in the activities you choose to do. This will not only increase your mood, but will also feed positive thoughts and feelings internally.

Look for constructi­ve criticism

From time to time, it’s good to have feedback on different aspects of your career, whether it’s your technical and personal skills or your knowledge of the industry. It’s natural to feel defensive when others point out things that might be better than you, but that does not help you grow. Instead, develop a growth mindset; This partly involves being receptive to constructi­ve criticism and taking steps to improve. Having this informatio­n will not only help you improve your career, but will also increase your personal progress.

Decrease speed to speed up

Understand­ing your body and mind and behaviour, and stimulat- ing the pace of your life are essential and can help you avoid burnout. Taking the time to free your mind, set the mood or slow down can only help you be more productive and is a sustainabl­e way to consistent­ly offer great work. Whether it’s downloadin­g meditation apps or starting your day with exercise, creating those moments for yourself every day can bring you mental clarity.

Exercise a part of your daily life

Remember, everything starts with mind and b o d y. Physical activity is related to positive mental health and, when it is part of your routine, improves your productivi­ty and promotes your physical and emotional wellbeing. Doing this does not necessaril­y mean going to the gym for an hour each day. Exercise takes all possible forms, from a morning stretching session of 10 minutes at the beginning of the day to two minutes of walking and breathing at any time of the day.

Gratitude

What do you have now that you could not dream about a year ago? How long have you started and who has helped you? The answers to these questions will tell you how much you need to be grateful and improve your well- being. It can also help you see the silver coating at each setback, because you’ll remember that it’s all part of the process.

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