How to find Happiness at Work
Happiness as they say is a state of mind. Do you feel that the glass is half full or half empty? We should try and live in the moment and not think too much about tomorrow and put as much into the day as you can. Find your happiness, work out what makes you smile. It may be something as simple as watching the sun setting on a beautiful day so try to get some of that happiness back especially in your working life. Have you thought about giving yourself the same attention as you would someone you like? Be kind to yourself and listen to your inner-voice which guides you. Don’t go against your instincts as they always serve you well. Make sure you have a couple of good friends at work, people you can confide in and talk to when you feel a bit down, people to share your happiness with when something great happens too.
Try to create moments of happiness at work and at lunchtime, go take some time out and do what makes you happy. Go to your favourite coffee shop or do some window-shopping, anything that makes you feel uplifted. Try to live in the moment whenever you can and try reading books on positive thinking, they really do work! Every time you have a sad thought come into your head, remove it and put a happy one there instead and after a while you will start to do this naturally. You are the only one who can give yourself happiness, you cannot rely on anyone else. Hang around happy people, smile more at people and they will smile back.
Gradually decide to become a more cheerful person and you will attract the same back. Expect happy things and you will find them. Keep a journal and every day write down something that you have achieved at work and what made you happy that day at work. Try to do this every day. Pay more attention to the good things that are happening around you and don’t concentrate on the negative ones. Maybe you think that more money will buy your happiness and to a point it probably will, but what happens when the money runs out, you will be back to your old self again! There are poor people who are happy and millionaires who aren’t. Be thankful that you have a job when there are lots of others that don’t. Be grateful for all the small blessings in life and try to be a bit more impulsive.
Have you noticed how much better you feel when the sun is shining and everyone around you seems to be in a better mood. The person who loves their job never feels that they are working. Practise being happy at work and you will notice that more people gravitate towards you. When you are happy your immune system is also stronger and you have fewer medical problems and happy people tend to live longer. Remember the saying ‘smile and the whole world smiles with you’.
Employment Issues
If you are thinking of leaving your job – don’t burn those bridges! So you’re thinking of leaving then? How’s the best way to the go about this? First of all tie up any loose ends and be absolutely sure that this is what you want. Maybe you’re feeling fed up at work and its not the same working there anymore! Maybe you just feel like walking out because there are issues that aren’t resolved. The best thing at first would be to talk this through with your boss and then if that doesn’t resolve things then it may be time to think about leaving. It’s always best to try to resolve things first before you do decide to leave so give it your best shot.
It pays to write down all the grievances that you are having and then sit down with your boss and go through the issues. Many jobs have been saved this way. If you have any outstanding work then try to get it finished before you go. Try not to let other people down before you go and create a list of any tasks that are outstanding. You may have to show someone new how to do your job so always try to be polite and nice to them. Always try to give your boss plenty of notice. It may be hard to tell your boss that you no longer want to work there but just give a brief list of why you are feeling this way and try to leave on good terms, you never know you may want to go back one day! Remember you may need to have a reference from your last employer to give to your new one, so always best to leave on good terms if you can. When you start a new job don’t take on more than you can cope with.
If you are experiencing any problems then go straight to your supervisor and don’t sit alone trying to work things out, it will only cause more stress for you! Don’t be tempted to work earlier in the mornings or later at night and work through your lunch break. If you are having problems address them straight away. If you’re boss is aware that you are having problems with the work load then he or she may be able to give you a bit more help. Learn to prioritise your work, do what has to be done straight away and leave the non-essentials for later in the day. Being organised really does help. Set yourself some daily goals but make them within your reach and when you reach them, reward yourself in some way! Learn to delegate, you can’t do everything yourself so if you can get someone to help out with the small jobs while you concentrate on the big ones then get that help. Remember that people usually want to help so let them!!
Thinking of Working Abroad?
Working abroad can be very exciting, and a very rewarding experience; and if you take the time to plan ahead carefully before you go, you can make this a smooth transaction.
If you’re considering relocating overseas or you’d like to move abroad permanently and find work, then there are three main aspects that you need to think about before you decide to make your move. First of all you have to choose your location carefully. It’s a big world out there and you need to know where you want to go when considering which country best suits you and your employment requirements. Think about the location’s distance from your home country and your family and friends, because there could be times you want to return home or to catch up with familiar faces. Of course your friends and family could always visit you but for the most part you will be staying there possibly on your own.
Think about what type of weather you can deal with, do you like the hot weather or are the cooler countries more of an option for you? This is the first thing you must give careful thought to. You also need to think carefully about the healthcare facilities available overseas and also about getting any insurance needed in place before you go. Remember that some countries are more expensive than others so give this plenty of thought. Better to be safe now than sorry later! Then its time to think about the language and if you need to learn another language before you go and if the country speaks English. Have a think about what sectors you would like to work in, and in which countries you can find work in a profession that agrees with you. Next, if you’re moving overseas on a permanent basis you need to be realistic and consider what the long-term employment prospects are for you. Are you also thinking about taking some of your family along with you or maybe a friend? because they will have to make enquiries too.
You should then think about your desired location carefully and whether or not you need any work permits, visas or permission to work and live abroad, if you are still up for it, then get the ball rolling and apply as soon as possible and always allow for delays in paperwork. Have you thought about the taxation of working abroad? Remember that if you’re moving to a low cost country then you may find that your wages are lower than you’re used to. Then you may have to find somewhere to live before you go and you need to examine the property market and if it’s easy and affordable to rent accommodation when you arrive. Do you want to buy a home abroad? If so make sure you find out all the legal requirements before you go. Remember that the trouble that you take to find this out before you go will ensure a smooth ride while you are out there.
Career Change
There are many reasons that you may want a career change. One could be that you are just fed up with your present career and want to move on and the other is that is has been forced on you due to circumstances. It may feel that you are turning your life upside down but it could also have an upside where you will feel more fulfilled and contented so always try to view this from a positive angle if you can. This could be just the thing that you need in your life and you could be moving in the right direction. First of all have a good think and see if this is definitely the right thing for you and then if it is, go full steam ahead. You will have to learn all you can about your new career field and you will know that you have the necessary work experience and skills. Then be ready to take the next step and if this means that you have to retrain or get a degree or work experience then start the ball rolling without delay.
Try to put together some sort of plan that you can work to and this will make your transition to a new career much easier for you. It’s time for a change. But what about all that valuable experience you’ve been building up while working away at your job and the jobs that came before it? Do you really have to throw it all away and start from scratch? No you don’t. That’s where your old skills come in. This is called transferable skills. Moving between jobs is much more commonplace now that a few years ago when workers often stayed in the same company for most of their working life. The key thing to remember is that you will have no doubt picked up many transferable skills during your career that will be applicable for a number of job functions. How about starting with a Recruitment Agency. Find a recruitment agency that covers lots of industries rather one that specialises, that way they will be able to let you know how the skills and experience you’ve gained can be used in your new role, and also advise you on the best way to adapt your CV to get the best job.
Before you jump headfirst into a new career, it may be worth looking at taking on a short-term temporary role till you find something that you really enjoy doing. Temporary work can give you a great insight into what it might be like to work in a particular company and you may be able to turn it into a permanent position in the end. So always remember that this could be a change for the better for you so try to make it work and stick it out until you settle in. You may be surprised that you have skills that you didn’t even know you had. Either way look at this as a step in the right direction and be positive.
Try to have Fun at Work
Work takes up most of your life. You usually start around 16/18 years old and end up working until retirement around 65 years old. It’s a big bonus if you can enjoy your work whether part or full time. When you are at school you think what shall I do when I leave, what sort of job will suit me? Then usually you go out and find a job that you love. However these days it is much harder to find the work that you want due to the Credit Crunch starting to hit so many people. So either you feel that your job could be at risk or you just can’t find the job that you want and this makes you feel very unsettled. If you are lucky enough to be in a job that you love then enjoy it first and foremost. Do you wake up in the mornings looking forward to starting the day ahead or do you sometimes dread that Monday morning feeling? Either way, try to make you day more interesting, even on the way to work, try to enjoy the ride there and take a newspaper or have a read so the time passes quickly until you reach your destination.
How do you feel about your job? Do you find it a challenge and the time goes quickly or is it too easy and you find the time drags? Either way try to find something positive about your employment. What about your co -workers, do you like them? Do you socialise outside office hours with them or don’t you really get on and just keep yourself to yourself? Work means a lot of different things to different people. To some its just a way to pay their cost of living and they go through the motions every day, but to others, they really enjoy their work and can’t wait to start the day and sometimes work really late, not because they have to but because they want to. You will find that when you start work you tend to make a lot of new friends but later down the line, due to people leaving and other circumstances they tend to dwindle down.
Do you have fun while you’re at work? Always try to be bright and cheerful if you can as it makes other people feel much better around you, someone happy rather than someone who is like a bear with a sore head! Try not to spend all your time at work and remember that you have other responsibilities outside work too, so just aim for balance and you should be able to have a good working life with enough money to get by and perhaps have a few luxuries along the way, then when you get to retirement you can look back and feel that you had a rewarding job during your working years.