How to be Happier at Work (according to science)

Posted on 9th Jan, 2017 by Barbara Davidson

Job satisfaction is a rare and beautiful thing. You spend half your life in the workplace, yet you can feel underpaid, undervalued and overworked. What can you do to get your job working for you?

Most likely, the things that make you unhappy at work are also suffered by other people. It’s no surprise that nearly half the workforce say that being underpaid is their top complaint. Many also struggle to get the balance they need. They feel either under-challenged or overstretched.

With a healthy dose of confidence and honesty however, it is possible to rekindle your love affair with your job. If you feel overwhelmed, take a look at the way you’re working. Techniques are available to minimize distractions and prioritize your workload. You’ll soon find you’re getting out of the office on time.

When you’re unhappy at work, it takes bold action to make a change and our new infographic identifies the best things you can do.

A happy employee is a good employee and is just a few simple steps away!

Sources

 

Accenture. (2011). Despite Low Job Satisfaction, Employees Unlikely to Seek New Jobs. newsroom.accenture.com

Accenture. (2013). Defining Success 2013 Global Research Results. acnprod.accenture.com

Office for National Statistics. Does commuting affect wellbeing? nationalarchives.gov.uk

PayScale. (2015). PayScale Announces 2015 Salary Negotiation Guide. payscale.com

Triffin, M. (2014). How to ask for a raise – and get it. forbes.com

Nick M. (2015). Many Employees Don’t Know What’s Expected of Tham at Work. Gallup.com

Berson, J. (2014). Why Companies Fail to Engage Today’s Workforce: The Overwhelmed Employee. Forbes.com

Getting things done. (2011). How is a next action list different from a to do list. gettingthingsdone.com

Allen, D. (2001). Getting Things Done: The art of stress-free productivity. p. 135

Hunter, E and Wu, C. (2016). Give me a better break: Choosing workday break activities to maximize resource recovery. Journal of Applied Psychology. 101(2). pp.302-311

Jackimowicz, J. et al. (2016). Commuting with a Plan: How Goal-Directed Prospection Can Offset the Strain of Commuting. ssrn.com

Marsh, J. (2011). Tips for keeping a Gratitude Journal. Berkeley.edu

McGregor, J. (2016). Want to know what you’re worth at work? This new salary tool could help. washingtonpost.com

Grenny, J. (2015). 5 Ways to Minimize Office Distractions. hbr.org

About Barbara Davidson

Babs is Lead Content Strategist and financial guru. She loves exploring fresh ways to save more and enjoy life on a budget! When she’s not writing, you’ll find her binge-watching musicals, reading in the (sporadic) Chicago sunshine and discovering great new places to eat. Accio, tacos!