Work | Live Happy

Your Company Is Having the Wrong Conversation

How often do you have conversations about strengths in your workplace? Researchers suggest most workplaces spend about 80 percent of their time pointing out weaknesses and ways to fix them, and only about 20 percent of their time spotting strengths and ways to build on them. But should this number be flipped? Research also shows that when you have the opportunity to use your strengths—those things you are good at and enjoy doing—at work each day, you are much more likely to feel engaged and energized in your job because you believe you’re making a difference and that your work is appreciated. And, most importantly, you feel that you are flourishing at work. So, over the last two years Live Happy, the VIA Institute on Character and my company have run a one week Global Strengths Challenge to give people across the world the opportunity to find ways to consistently put their strengths to work. Our participants took the free VIA Character Strengths Survey to help them identify their top five signature strengths, and then we used our knowledge about a simple neurological habit loop to give them an easy way to design an 11-minute “busy-proof” strength habit. This habit consisted of a: 30 second ‘cue’ which triggered the habit (e.g., arriving at work) 10 minute ‘routine’ (e.g., reading a new interesting article, for the curiosity strength) 30 second ‘reward’ (e.g., getting a morning coffee) We found that after taking part in our Global Strengths Challenge approximately a third of the participants reported feeling more engaged and energized (37 percent), making a difference (30 percent), respected and valued (30 percent), and flourishing (38 percent) at work. Consistent with other findings, people reported that the opportunity to use their strengths at work each day made the biggest difference in terms of feeling engaged and energized on the job. This result was amplified when employees were also able to engage in strengths-related discussions with their supervisors. Managers play an important role in helping make workplace conversations more strengths-focused. For example, The Corporate Leadership Council found that when managers focus on the strengths of their employees, performance improves up to 36 percent; whereas when they focus on their weaknesses, their performance declines by up to 27 percent. So how can you make conversations more strengths focused while still addressing areas for improvement? Try these three simple steps: 1. Look for people’s strengths Look for the moments when people are more engaged, energized and enjoying what they’re talking about or doing. Often their bodies will start to lean into the conversation, body language may become more animated and the tone of voice and pace of speech tend to be uplifted. Can you see their curiosity, creativity, humor, honesty or perseverance in action? If you’re not sure, ask your people to complete the free, 10-minute strengths survey atviacharacter.organd have a discussion about the results. 2. Develop people’s strengths: Give employees the opportunity to develop their strengths as they go about their job each day. Help them to use their strengths intelligently by showing them where they might be underplaying, overplaying or getting their strengths just right. Being strengths-focused doesn’t mean you have to ignore weaknesses or poor performance. What it does mean is that you have other tools, like looking for ways to dial an existing strength up or down to make performances a little easier and more effective and enjoyable. 3. Give strengths-based feedback: We all share a deep psychological need to be respected, valued and appreciated. So instead of just saying “Thanks,” and leaving someone wondering what they did right, try to tell them which strengths you saw them using and why you valued what they did so they feel confident to replicate the behavior again. For example, “Thanks for your curiosity (one of the 24 character strengths) in that meeting; the questions you asked helped us to have a more robust conversation.” What can you do to create more strengths-based conversations in your workplace? Michelle McQuaid is a best-selling author, teacher and coach with a masters in applied positive psychology from the University of Pennsylvania. She has written extensively on well-being in the workplace.

Smiling woman with colleagues in an office.

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Use Positive Words to Communicate Better at Work

Before you send off a work email during a moment of frustration, keep in mind that positive exchanges are less dramatic and enduring than negative ones. Bad moments simply outweigh good ones. Whether you’re having a one-on-one conversation with a colleague or a group discussion, keep this simple shortcut in mind: At least 80 percent of your conversations should be focused on what’s going right. Workplaces, for example, often have this backward. During performance reviews, managers routinely spend 80 percent of their time on weaknesses, gaps and “areas for improvement.” They spend roughly 20 percent of the time on strengths and positive aspects. They need to flip this around. Any time you have discussions with a team or group, spend the vast majority of the time talking about what is working, and use the remaining time to address deficits. Use positive words as glue Most of the words you use carry either a positive charge or a negative charge. Fortunately, there is what researchers call a “positive bias in human expression.” In large-scale studies on this topic spanning multiple countries, roughly four out of every five words used in writing were found to be positive. Positive words, whether spoken or written, are the glue that holds relationships together. Most conversations, letters and emails are overwhelmingly positive. They need to be so the heavily weighted negative words do not counteract them. Words with a negative charge have roughly four times the weight of those with a positive charge. If you type a note to a friend and make one negative remark, it will take approximately four positive comments just to get that person back to neutral. If you have an online debate with a colleague, every sentence the recipient perceives as negative will increase the deficit. Read more: 5 Ways to Spark Joy at Work When you need to challenge someone, address difficult issues or deliver bad news, just be sure to mention a few positive things as well. Balance the overall conversation with far more positive than negative words. Then try to close with specific and hopeful actions. Help the other person see the positive consequences of any changes you discuss. If you bombard the recipient with negative remarks, he is more likely to shut down and not listen. Any time you are communicating with another person, be mindful of the importance of using positive words to hold things together. It may seem inconsequential in the moment, but subtle messages stick in a person’s mind. If friends know they can count on a message or phone call from you to boost their moods a little, it will strengthen the bonds of your relationships. Adapted from Are You Fully Charged? by Tom Rath for Live Happy. Listen to our Live Happy Now podcast with Tom Rath here. TOM RATH is a researcher, filmmaker and author of six international best-sellers, including StrengthsFinder 2.0, Eat Move Sleep, and Are You Fully Charged? His most recent work includes the feature-length documentary Fully Charged, a film featuring many of the world’s top social scientists.

Colleagues exchanging presents at a meeting.

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Try These 5 Better Ways to Celebrate at Work

This year when you celebrate the holidays with your colleagues, try putting the focus on experiences instead of gifts. With the five options below, you’ll not only have more fun, but you’ll spend less money, too. A win-win! People derive more satisfaction from experiences than from material goods, according to research by psychologist Thomas Gilovich and his colleagues at Cornell University. Their study found this happens for three reasons: Our identities are more tied in with experiences than with things; when we receive an experience, we don’t tend to compare it to other experiences; and when we enjoy an experience together it reinforces a positive relationship more than when exchanging gifts. 1. Group Adventure Alternative to the Traditional Party The usual: Your boss schedules the traditional holiday party, catered or at a restaurant. How to shake it up: Take a group cooking class. Nothing creates a strong bond like making chocolate éclairs with Delphine in accounting. Bring in a laughter yoga or balloon-making instructor. 2. Experience Gifting Alternative to Secret Santa The usual: The $10 or $20 Secret Santa exchange. How to Shake it up: Make it a “Secret Santa Scavenger Hunt.” Leave clues for a few days for your recipient with a meaningful quote or a book as the last present. Give mini-experiences. Employees visit colleagues’ work spaces on a designated day to receive gifts of fun or knowledge such as the reading of a motivational quote, a lesson about art or yoga, or a game of Nerf basketball. 3. Free and Meaningful Activity Alternative to Overspending The usual: An overpriced company dinner out at a restaurant. How to shake it up: Arrange for a taco truck to come to the office for lunch and let everyone go wild trying out new combinations. Volunteer as a team at a local soup kitchen or food distribution center. 4. Socially Responsible Shopping Experience Alternative to Buying for People Who Need Nothing The usual: You buy an expensive gift for your boss, even though she’s the proverbial woman who has everything. How to shake it up: Shop for a family in need. Your local fire department, shelter or religious institution will collect and distribute your gifts. Organize a “field trip” with your team to your local toy or discount store and have a blast picking out items. Savor how good it feels to give to others. 5. Positive procrastination Alternative to Squeezing in One More Thing Before the Holidays The usual: The holidays can be a crazy time of year with parties, decorating, shopping, school events and other commitments. Sometimes another evening out can feel overwhelming. How to shake it up: Agree with your co-workers to celebrate the holidays in January, taking extra stress off everyone’s shoulders. Give your team something to look forward to that will re-energize everyone after the New Year. MARGARET H. GREENBERG and SENIA MAYMIN, Ph.D., are sought-after executive coaches, speakers and positive psychology practitioners, and the authors of the book Profit From the Positive. Find more information about their coaching and certificate programs at ProfitFromthePositive.com.

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5 Habits to Make You Happier on the Job

When it comes to our work, most of us long to be a little happier. But changing jobs, changing bosses, or simply finding more joy amid all the tasks on our to-do list often feels beyond our grasp. Many of us are so busy that we are just trying to keep our heads above water. We don’t have the time, let alone energy, to improve our current situation. I get it. Keeping up with life can be a full-time job. But what if there were a busy-proof way to start doing more of what you do best each day, regardless of what your job description or your boss might say? Use your strengths A growing body of research suggests that developing your strengths—the things you’re good at and enjoy doing—can leave you feeling more confident, energized and happy at work. The key I’ve found was to create an 11-minute daily strength development habit by harnessing my brain’s neurological habit loop of cue, routine and reward. And I’m not alone. With the help of Live Happy and the VIA Institute almost 4,000 people around the world have joined us for the free global Strengths Challenge with many reporting this small daily practice has left them feeling more energized and engaged, respected and valued and feeling like they were flourishing at work. All from just 11-minutes. But what are the strength development habits that might work best for you? Here are the five habits that have helped the most people create significant changes in both their performance and wellbeing at work: Creativity: When I wake up (cue), I will spend 10 minutes writing out any problems I’m facing as concisely as possible and then list as many possible creative solutions as I can before identifying one to try that day (routine). I will then place a sticker on my reward chart and when full treat myself to a massage (reward). Hope: Each morning when I go to get my morning coffee (cue), I’ll take 10 minutes to check in with one of my more hopeful colleagues and see what they’re excited about at the moment (routine). Then I’ll finish my coffee (reward). Diligence: When I get to work (cue), I’ll review my to-do list to ensure that I can still deliver on each of the tasks and if changes need to be made, I’ll update all concerned so people know they can trust my word and plan accordingly (routine). My reward will be my morning green tea (reward). Love of Learning: When I sit down in front of my computer in the morning (cue) I’ll watch a 10-minute video that teaches me something new (routine) and then post what I’ve learned on social media (reward). Social Intelligence: When it’s lunch time (cue) I will sit in the staff room and take the time to have a meaningful conversation with a colleague, by asking genuine questions about how it's going/what’s going well (routine). I’ll celebrate by eating my lunch (reward). Could a small daily strengths habit help improve your work? If you’d like some help developing a strengths habit for your work then join us for the next free global Strengths Challenge. Find out more at strengthschallenge.com, where you’ll be guided step-by-step through creating you own 11-minute habit and be given free resources and access to online strengths coaches to help you put your strengths to work. Or if you're interested in pursuing a new position or career path, visit Jooble. Michelle McQuaid is a best-selling author and coach with a Masters in Applied Positive Psychology from the University of Pennsylvania.

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5 Ways to Spark Joy at Work

In Marie Kondo’s best-seller, The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing, she asks us to place our hands on each thing we own and then ask ourselves, “Does this spark joy?” From our T-shirts to our teacups, from our books to our pocketbooks—if the item sparks joy, keep it and store it in a place that’s accessible. If it doesn’t spark joy, Marie advises we get rid of it. Now, imagine if we asked ourselves this same question—does this spark joy?—when it comes to our jobs. For some of us, work and joy in the same sentence may seem like an oxymoron, but it doesn’t have to be. Ask yourself these questions: Where do you gain meaning? What at your work leads you to do your best? Where do you have joy? As executive coaches and authors of Profit from the Positive: Proven Leadership Strategies to Boost Productivity and Transform Your Business, we believe your job can spark joy for you. When we asked people we were coaching or have coached what brought them joy at work, here were the top five responses: 1. HELPING OTHERS Be it solving a customer’s problem, coaching an employee or collaborating with a teammate. “There’s nothing better than helping someone to reach their full potential and then watching them shine!” What can you do? Lend a helping hand. Don't ask, “Can I help?” Instead ask, “How can I help?” Offer your guidance not only for work that needs to be accomplished but also for career advice. 2. GIVING AND RECEIVING RECOGNITION Whether it’s giving positive feedback to colleagues or receiving it. “The icing on the cake would be that my work is appreciated and valued by others.” What can you do? Recognize co-workers for a job well done—it not only brings them joy and boosts their productivity but also makes you feel good. 3. MAKING FRIENDS Building relationships with people at work: “Colleagues who have become friends” and “people who care about your well-being and your work.” What can you do? Connect with people you enjoy. Seek out people who fill you up rather than those who drain your energy. 4. FEELING A SENSE OF ACCOMPLISHMENT Making a difference by “delivering on a commitment that meets or surpasses the customer’s expectation,” and “creating something bigger than myself.” What can you do? Recraft your job. Recrafting means any change—large or small—you can make that allows you to use your strengths even more. 5. WORKING WITH A TEAM “Joy is being on a team that has a common mission and everyone is giving of themselves to accomplish the same goal.” What can you do? Look for opportunities to collaborate with others, even if you work remotely or solo. And remember, if no joy can be found in your current job, it’s time to put on your explorer’s hat and see what else is out there. Life is too short not to find joy at work. MARGARET H. GREENBERG and SENIA MAYMIN, Ph.D., are sought-after executive coaches, speakers and positive psychology practitioners. Find them at ProfitFromthePositive.com.

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Let Happiness Impact Your Bottom Line

Recently we caught up with one of our Live Happy "Positive Work" columnists Margaret H. Greenberg for a discussion of how incorporating positive psychology into your company can make a big difference in the way you work: Live Happy: Your book, Profit from the Positive, was the first book we featured in our very first issue back in October 2013. Since then, I understand you and your co-authorSeniaMaymin, Ph.D., have been speaking to businesses, organizations and universities around the world about how they can create more positive work environments. What have you learned over the last three years? Margaret: Employees and managers are thirsty for a more positive approach to running their organizations. While fixing problems and shoring up weaknesses are important to the success of any business, if that’s all you focus on, it can be a drain of energy. A fix-it mindset also causes you to miss out on an important part of the equation—focusing on what’s going right and leveraging people’s strengths. Live Happy: Why should organizations care about creating more positivity at work? Margaret: It’s quite simple. More positive work environments create more positive, engaged employees, and more engaged employees create more loyal and happier customers. For example, in my research study at a large financial services company, we found that managers who gave more frequent recognition and encouragement had teams that were more than 40 percent more productive compared to managers who gave little or no feedback. Live Happy: What’s the best way to keep meetings positive and productive? Margaret: First, start with a sizzle. Begin your meetings by asking a positive question such as, “What’s the best thing that has happened since we met last week? or What are you most proud of?” University of North Carolina psychologist Dr. Barbara Fredrickson has found that when people are in a positive emotional state they are more open to possibilities and more creative, and we all know we could use more of those qualities in the workplace, especially when we’re trying to solve complex problems. Live Happy: How do you keep one team member’s negativity from dragging down the group? Margaret: Dr. Sigal Barsade from the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School of Business has found that it only takes one person out of five to “infect” a group with a positive or negative mood. Remember this the next time you find yourself in the company of a negative person. Imagine a shield or cape that is protecting you from getting “infected” and be that one person who infects the group with some positivity. Live Happy: One of our favorite questions you and your co-author Senia Maymin, Ph.D., ask at the end of every chapter in your book is: What is one small change you can make that will have the biggest positive impact? What would you advise for our Live Happy readers? Margaret: Be mindful of the mood you are projecting when you walk into work or return home at the end of the day. Psychologists call this contagion theory. We call it the “The Achoo! Effect.” Your emotions, both positive and negative, are contagious. Be sure you are spreading more cheer than fear. Be a positive deviant! Right now, get a 40% discount on Margaret and Senia's 10-week Profit From the Positive certificate program by registering here! Save more than $1000 on the course when you use the promo code: LiveHappy 2017. Margaret Greenberg is an experienced executive coach and author of the book Profit from the Positive: Proven Leadership Strategies to Boost Productivity and Transform Your Business.

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Americans Set Record High for Engagement at Work

Employees in the United States reported a record level of engagement at work in March at 34.1 percent, the highest since the research company started polling the topic daily in 2011, according to Gallup. Overall, employee engagement has been on an upward trajectory since 2013. While this may offer a glimmer of hope for the American workplace, 49.5 percent of workers polled are still “not engaged” and 16.5 percent are “actively disengaged.” Billions lost because of low engagement Ed O’Boyle, one of Gallup’s Global Practice Leaders, said in a webinar on employee engagement earlier this year that $1 billion is spent on engagement programs every year trying to figure out how to keep employees happy and satisfied with their jobs. “Those efforts are falling short and, based on our estimates, it is costing us immense amounts to our economy,” Ed says. “In the United States, we think it is a half-trillion dollars (annually) in lost productivity, creativity and innovation.” Engagement = productivity + happiness at work According to Gallup’s research, employers and employees alike benefit from an engaged workforce. Engaged workers are more likely to show up for work, are more enthusiastic about the work they are doing and had about 37 percent higher overall well-being compared to actively disengaged employees. This can lead to an increase in productivity and customer satisfaction, which in turn can lead to profitability and success for the company and an opportunity for financial success for the employees. What are some ways companies can make sure they have engaged employees? Gallup says: Employees need to know what is expected of them They need opportunities to learn They need to know their opinions count They need to believe in the mission of the company Jon Clifton, managing partner with Gallup, says that people will quit higher paying jobs for lower paying positions that offer more purpose and the opportunity to use their strengths. He added, “the single most driver to a life well lived is one’s purpose in life, and most people manifest their purpose through their jobs.” Chris Libby is the section editor at Live Happy magazine.

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33 Ways to Be Happier at Work

1. Commit a random act of kindness for a co-worker every day. 2. Watch Working Girl. 3. Take a five-minute meditation break. 4. Read Real Happiness at Work by Sharon Salzberg. 5. Write down three things you love about your current work situation. 6. Fact: Individuals who are flourishing at work are more productive. 7. “Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.”—Confucius 8. Listen to “Roar” by Katy Perry. 9. Meet a friend for lunch instead of eating at your desk. 10. Read Flourish: A Visionary New Understanding of Happiness and Well-being by Martin E.P. Seligman. 11. Watch Jerry Maguire. 12. Smile. Right now. Even if nobody is looking. 13. Set five work goals you’d like to accomplish this month. 14. Fact: Cheerful workers earn 30 percent more than their less cheerful counterparts. 15. Read Creating Your Best Life: The Ultimate Life List Guide by Caroline Miller. 16. “Far and away the best prize that life has to offer is the chance to work hard at work worth doing.”—Theodore Roosevelt 17. Read Take Your Soul to Work by Erica Brown. 18. Post positive images (or pictures that make you smile) in your workspace. 19. Watch Erin Brockovich. 20. Fact: Individuals with a positive work identity show high levels of flourishing. 21. Listen to “Eye of the Tiger” by Survivor. 22. Enroll in a seminar on a topic you find interesting. 23. Fact: Happier workers make better decisions. 24. Read Flourishing in Life, Work and Careers by Ronald J. Burke. 25. Gather a team of co-workers and sign up for a Habitat for Humanity project. 26. Listen to “Welcome to Wherever You Are” by Bon Jovi. 27. “This is the real secret in life—to be completely engaged with what you are doing in the here and now. And instead of calling it work, realize it is play.”—Alan W. Watts 28. Fact: Employees who score high in the area of life satisfaction receive higher feedback ratings from customers. 29. Take a break at least once every 90 minutes to stretch and get away from your desk. 30. Read The Sweet Spot: How to Find Your Groove at Home and Work by Christine Carter, Ph.D. 31. Watch Joy. 32. Mentor a younger co-worker. 33. Fact: Workers who are engaged and flourishing are more likely to participate in pro-social activities. Paula Felps is the science editor for Live Happy magazine.

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How to Survive a Workplace Bully

According to the U.S. Department of Labor, many adults spend more time at work than we do with our families. With so many hours spent at work, one would hope the time would be filled with relative peace and happiness—that we would be surrounded by friendly co-workers in a supportive environment, and that productivity and good relationships would be a priority. Sadly, that is not always the case. According to the Workplace Bullying Institute, at least 27% of American adults have experienced bullying at some point. Workplace bullies almost never resort to physical violence—they use psychological and verbal attacks in order to gain a sense of power and cause emotional trauma. Typical bullying behaviors, according to the Institute, include verbal abuse; threatening, intimidating or humiliating behaviors; and work interference, including sabotage. What workplace bullying looks like Victims of workplace bullies often find that they are impacted both at work and away from work. Bullies have the unique ability to get under their victims’ skin in a way that is hard to shake off. Often even the most positive and emotionally healthy person will find him or herself feeling defeated, angry and even helpless. Victims can become depressed, anxious or suffer from lack of sleep. Psychologist Noreen Tehrani, Ph.D., wrote Managing Trauma in the Workplace after conducting research that showed bullying creates similar psychological and physical symptoms to those of soldiers who have returned from combat overseas! Interestingly enough, the targets of workplace bullying are not typically passive, insecure people who are inexperienced or new—much like we might see when we are talking about a school age bully. Instead, workplace bullies prefer to target employees who they see as a threat: someone who is competent, well liked and experienced. Their goal is to attempt to intimidate and gain power over the person in order to feel better about their own insecurities. How to handle the workplace bully As adults, bullies tend to be more subtle and passive-aggressive than the schoolyard variety. They are often driven, powerful individuals who at their core have similar emotional issues as child or teen bullies. They may behave this way out of low self-esteem, insecurity and a need to feel powerful by bringing others down. My experience as a therapist has taught me that it can be ineffective to try to get the bully to change unless he or she wants to change. As a result, my advice focuses on what the victim can do for him or herself. If you are being bullied at work and for whatever reason you need to stick with your job, you must focus on protecting your emotional state and preventing this person from emotionally and psychologically impacting you. 1. Do not let the bully impact your well-being. While it is natural to be rattled, hurt and angered by your treatment, it is important that you not allow the bully to take your emotional power away. Focus on the positive things in your life. Remind yourself that the fact that you are being treated badly does not have anything to do with who you are as a person. Redirect your emotions by doing things you enjoy that are away from work. 2. Distance yourself both emotionally and physically, if possible. It is important for your well-being to limit your interactions with anyone who is bullying you at work (or anyone who brings negativity into your life, for that matter). If you are forced to be around that person, limit the time you spend with him or her as much as possible and tell yourself to emotionally disengage. The less time and energy you invest in your relationship, the better. If you are in a frequent work relationship where you cannot disengage, consider talking to your manager about the situation or going to the Human Resources department for help. 3. Give back to those you feel deserve your time and energy. When you are feeling besieged at work, one way to increase your sense of well-being and self-worth is to give back to a worthy cause and remind yourself that you are a powerful positive force in this world. Donate to a favorite charitable organization or volunteer to help a friend with a challenging project. Then focus on the good you are doing to help offset the negativity coming at you at work. 4. Lean on your support system. When a person treats us in a way that is unkind, we often have a tendency to retreat and isolate. From a psychological point of view it is important to do the reverse: Bring people you love and care about closer, spend time with them, call them on the phone, and share your story and let them lift your spirits. It doesn’t matter how old you are, what city you live in, or where you work—you’re bound to encounter toxic people who treat others in a cruel and demeaning way. Since it’s nearly impossible to change these folks, your goal should be to minimize the impact they have on you. Make a pact with yourself that you will not let the bullies bring you down! Stacy Kaiser is a successful Southern California-based licensed psychotherapist, author, relationship expert and media personality. She is an editor at large for Live Happy, and the author of How to Be a Grown Up: The Ten Secret Skills Everyone Needs to Know.

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5 Tips to Make Work Your Happy Place

When you think “happy place,” your mind probably conjures up a sandy beach or a quiet mountaintop, an elegant outdoor café or maybe just your cozy bed on a cold winter morning—pretty much anywhere but your workplace. A happy place is where you feel the most calm, comfortable and at ease. Even if you love what you do, the deadlines, duties and long hours spent at the office (or wherever you work) can result in stress, which in turn wreaks havoc on your body and mind. We can’t turn work into play, but we can uncover little tweaks and easy practices that will make your workweek a whole lot brighter. 1. Make friends—it's worth the effort No matter how much you love your job, the daily grind can grow dull. Our minds crave novel experiences and when you do the same thing day after day at work you’re bound to experience some unhappiness. Shake up your work life and increase well-being by creating fresh relationships at work—either with someone new to the office or someone you haven’t gotten to know yet. Invite a coworker to lunch or schedule a coffee date. 2. Keep track of the good stuff It’s often easier to focus on what’s going wrong than what’s going right at work, creating a cycle and culture of complaint. To remind yourself to take note of the good things, put a jar (or coffee mug) on your desk; every time something good happens—your boss says “Great job!,” you land a new client or you complete items on your to-do list—write it down on a slip of paper, fold it up and tuck in the jar. At the end of each month, read the “good moments” for an extra boost of happiness. Then empty the jar and begin again. 3. Create a chain of kindness Acts of kindness can inspire more kindness. Studies have shown that those who experience kind acts are likely to do something kind to others. Creating a chain of kindness at your workplace can start with you! Commit one small act of kindness¾email your boss about a colleague’s great work, offer to help with a project in another department, bring your coworker her favorite cup of coffee—every day for a week. You’ll be surprised by how much happiness you’ll experience! 4. Re-think your workday routine We often fall into a workday routine out of convenience. Take stock of your day, from when the alarm goes off until you come home in the evening: What could you change that would have the greatest impact on your weekday happiness? Ask to move your desk in order to get more sunlight? Tidy your office before you leave each day? Keep the office refrigerator stocked with green tea instead of Diet Coke for a healthier afternoon pick-me-up? Set a goal to make the necessary changes and you’ll see huge improvements to your week overall. 5. Spice up your workspace Most workplaces are designed for utility, not beauty. To make your office or cubicle more of a happy place, liven it up and make it yours. Family photos are just the starting point. If you have a favorite color, flower or theme that you love, go to town. Love owls, pugs or Captain America? Hang artwork and images to reflect that. If possible, bring in a small plant or something else to remind you of the natural world beyond your office; a beautiful desktop wallpaper is the next best thing. Happy working. Dani DiPirro is an author, blogger and designer living in a suburb of Washington, D.C. In 2009, she launched the websitePositivelyPresent.comwith the intention of sharing her insights about living a positive and present life. Dani is the author ofStay Positive,The Positively Present Guide to Life, and a variety ofe-books. She is also the founder of Twenty3, a design studio focused on promoting positive, modern graphic design and illustration.

Your Company Is Having the Wrong Conversation

Use Positive Words to Communicate Better at Work

Try These 5 Better Ways to Celebrate at Work

5 Habits to Make You Happier on the Job

5 Ways to Spark Joy at Work

Let Happiness Impact Your Bottom Line

Americans Set Record High for Engagement at Work

33 Ways to Be Happier at Work

How to Survive a Workplace Bully

5 Tips to Make Work Your Happy Place

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