Keys to achieving happiness at work

When was the last time you went to sleep on a Sunday hoping that Monday would come to go to work? It is likely that you do not remember it or even that you have never had this experience and it seems to you an excess of optimism. However, the truth is that there are people who love their work and enjoy their workday. Although it may be hard to believe, there are professionals who are happy with the work they do, are satisfied with their career and feel comfortable in their work environment. It is what is known as happiness at work.

The good news is that happiness at work is not exclusive to a certain group of people. We can all experience that feeling of well-being and personal fulfillment in our profession and wake up every morning with the hope of enjoying a new work experience that allows us to develop our skills and grow as people. Below we show you a series of keys that have helped those people who are happy in their work and that serve to find greater motivation and professional satisfaction.

7 strategies to stimulate your motivation and well-being at work

Working in a company that encourages the professional growth of its employees, is committed to reconciling work and family, and encourages a good work environment can improve our well-being at work. However, happiness at work is also a matter of personal attitude. Therefore, if we want to feel fulfilled in our profession, it is important to be aware of what depends on us and take into account the way in which we perceive work. Some strategies that can be useful and facilitate the path are the following:

• Assume a proactive attitude. It is difficult for all of us to leave our comfort zone, that space that we know like the back of our hand and in which we feel completely safe. However, the truth is that true change and true happiness is achieved when we are able to overcome our fears, get out of that security zone and take the initiative. Having a proactive attitude allows us to glimpse possible problems and seek effective solutions to offset their effect, while helping us to see the positive in each situation to adopt a more conciliatory and resilient attitude.
• Embrace the positive side of stress. Understanding stress only as something unpleasant and letting yourself be carried away by that vicious circle of anguish and anxiety, in addition to generating more tension, prevents you from facing your work in a developing way. However, if we start to see stress as an opportunity to test our abilities and learn to value the positive aspects associated with this emotional state, we will not only feel more relaxed and confident, but we will also be more productive in our day to day. This change in mentality will help us both to improve how we feel at work and the way in which we perceive life.

• Learn to deal with pessimism. Adopting a pessimistic attitude is not only reflected in the way we face tasks, but also takes its toll on our motivation and well-being. Instead, when we assume a more optimistic attitude we become naturally solution oriented and as a result develop greater control over our environment. When we are able to distance ourselves from problems and do not lose control because we are aware that calm comes after the storm, we are prepared to better face adversities and deal with a hostile work environment. In the long run, this is reflected in our results and will allow us to feel more satisfied.

• Define a career plan. Having an established plan and a professional training project is an excellent way to stimulate our job satisfaction and happiness. People who invest in their professional growth and focus on the development of their skills not only achieve better results in their work, but also enjoy the journey and their professional achievements more. In the long term, this not only helps us stay motivated by what we do, but also allows us to feel more fulfilled in our profession.

• Surround yourself with optimistic colleagues. Working with negative and pessimistic people not only creates a bad work environment but can end up draining your energy and motivation. To prevent this from happening, it is advisable to surround yourself with optimistic, enthusiastic people who are always willing to go one step further. As revealed by a study carried out at the University of Oxford on the hormones related to happiness, having an inspiring work team will not only give us extra motivation but will help us feel better in our work environment, release the tensions and reduce stress. The secret? Having good interpersonal relationships increases our levels of oxytocin, dopamine and serotonin, a type of neurotransmitter responsible for making us feel good.

• Allow ourselves to make mistakes. We live in a world that rejects mistakes and failure, so it's not surprising that we feel guilty every time we're wrong. However, what we sometimes overlook is that mistakes are an inseparable part of the human essence. It is precisely the mistakes we make in our day to day that help us learn and grow as a person. Therefore, instead of feeling bad about our mistakes, we can begin to embrace failures in our work and consider them as an opportunity for learning and personal development.

• Embrace the balance between our personal and work lives. Most workers are aware of the importance of promoting a good work and personal balance, but the truth is that immersed in daily responsibilities, they often overlook it. However, if we want to be happy in our work and take our motivation and well-being to the next level, it is essential that we begin to take care of the fragile balance between our personal and work lives. Only in this way will we be able to feel that work does not monopolize all our time and we will be able to mark a healthy limit between our workday and our personal life.