How To Make Work Happier

By Ashley Paskill on June 11, 2021

Work is something that is inevitable since we need money to pay bills and buy what we need to live. However, work does not have to be a place where you go, get your work done, and go home without experiencing any joy. Not only are there things you can do to brighten up the atmosphere of the office or workplace, but these things may also make things more enjoyable for you as well. You may just inspire a chain of positivity.

Be distraction-free

Meetings occur often in the workplace, and while they are necessary, they are not always the most pleasant thing to sit through. This is especially true if you are not speaking or presenting or do not feel like you have a purpose for sitting in on the meeting. However, try to make the most of the situation. Mute your phone notifications and stay off social media during the meeting. Devote all of your attention to whoever is speaking. You may not know how much effort they put into working on getting the materials ready for the meeting, so the least you can do is pay attention. Also, do not be afraid to ask questions or provide feedback when necessary. This will show that you are paying attention and whoever is leading the meeting will be grateful that someone is contributing to the meeting.

Avoid calling out if possible

While things come up and people get sick, calling out can really make things difficult for your managers and your coworkers. They may be forced to pick up your slack and put in extra work in order to stay on task and make deadlines. If you have an appointment or vacation where you will need to take a day or even an afternoon off, give your manager enough time so they can have your coworkers cover your tasks without too much stress being added.

That said, there will be times where you get sick or have inclement weather and will have to call out. In these situations, actually call your workplace and tell them you will not be coming in so your manager and coworkers are in the know. If you need to take multiple days off or go to the doctor, be sure to get a doctor’s note to inform your manager that you were not just calling out for no reason. When you get back to work, make sure you put in the effort to make up for whatever time you took off.

Avoid drama

Remember back in middle and high school when people would spread rumors and talk behind people’s backs? Unfortunately, these things may not be things of school days of the past. Unfortunately, drama can sometimes trickle into the workplace. If you notice people trying to start rumors, talk behind coworkers’ backs, or escalate disputes, try your best to stay out of the drama and leave the incident in the proper hands to deal with. Do not publicly make disputes when things can be done in private. If a coworker wants to gossip about another coworker or spread rumors, politely tell them that you do not want to be a part of the behavior. Drama tends to be unprofessional and anything that is traced back to you can ultimately hurt your reputation at the job, so it is best to steer clear of workplace drama. Not only will limiting drama make you seem more professional, putting an end to it before it gets out of hand will make your workplace more enjoyable for all.

Image: Leon via https://unsplash.com/photos/vbxyFxlgpjM

Give due credit

If you have worked on a project or task with a group of people and you receive praise, speak up and mention those that were on the team with you. Even something as general as stating praise for the overall team (marketing, social media, etc.) that you worked with can work, especially if the full list of names is long. This will show that you are a team player and that you like to give due credit. Giving credit will also help put in praise for others, and hopefully, they will receive praise as well, making their day a little happier.

Write a note

In these times of junk mail and negative messages, there is nothing better than receiving a positive hand-written note. Whether you are writing to send praise to a coworker or to thank someone for their assistance, receiving a positive note can help boost the morale of your coworkers. You may also want to make a point to remember your coworkers’ birthdays and give them a (work-appropriate) birthday card. These notes and messages will be something your coworkers cherish immensely, and they may even hold onto them to read when they are having a rough day.

Work can seem brutal, but taking steps to improve the workplace and make your coworkers’ lives a little better can help make work a little bit happier. A little bit can go a long way.

Follow Uloop

Apply to Write for Uloop News

Join the Uloop News Team

Discuss This Article

Back to Top

Log In

Contact Us

Upload An Image

Please select an image to upload
Note: must be in .png, .gif or .jpg format
OR
Provide URL where image can be downloaded
Note: must be in .png, .gif or .jpg format

By clicking this button,
you agree to the terms of use

By clicking "Create Alert" I agree to the Uloop Terms of Use.

Image not available.

Add a Photo

Please select a photo to upload
Note: must be in .png, .gif or .jpg format