Happiness at work: 5 strategies to increase it immediately
In search of happiness. You may not be able to imagine something more important to your life, yet it is not so obvious that your existence must necessarily turn towards this goal. What is certain is that well-being is something that the more there is, the better it is, in every area, including work.
They know this well at the Department of Psychology of the University of Turin where it started in a laboratory entitled “Contexts and tools for well-being and happiness” , held by the Psychologist Marta Casonato, the head of the study office of Mezzopieno and Semi Onlus, in collaboration with which it is organized.
An initiative that imports into Italy some traits of the most popular course ever at Yale University, “Psychology of Good Life” .
One of the objectives of this project is to train critical thinking about the forms that happiness and well-being can take in the different areas of our life. Thus, in the article of Vanity Fair, Marta Casonato spoke about it in an interview.
Many argue that we have become “slaves” to the concept of happiness; what do you think?
«Happiness has become a fairly mainstream concept in recent years and the way in which it is narrated has made it almost a” must “, an additional item on our to-do lists, another thing of which take care. If we are not happy we feel dissatisfied, especially if we are confronted with the image they “sell” to us. This charges the well-being and happiness of a counterproductive pressure, which distances us from the true goal: it is not a question of being happy at any cost but of allowing yourself time and space to listen and understand what could really make us feel better “.
This workshop also aims to make people understand what the real needs are at work: what are they?
«Needs are extremely subjective and vary according to the stages of life. Research, however, teaches us that there are aspects that if cultivated make everyone happier: feeling involved, feeling positive emotions, building and cultivating good relationships, giving meaning to what we do. A very wide range that ranges from more factual aspects to other more spiritual ones. In the laboratory we try to bring the students’ attention to these issues ».
But why do we neglect our needs at work, devoting energy to secondary aspects?
«The reasons can be many. First, not all workplaces promote the organizational health and well-being of their employees. In these cases, even those who would be inclined to listen to their needs are put to the test. In other cases we let ourselves be absorbed by performative dynamics without cultivating the other dimensions, even where this would be possible. But in the long run this drains all energies, both mental and physical, and leads to phenomena of addiction to work or progressive exhaustion “.
If you were to define happiness at work, how would you do it?
«Happiness at work is not limited to satisfaction with what you do. It is also being able to manage hitches and setbacks without too much stress and being able to relate in a serene way with colleagues and customers. But in addition to these dimensions linked to pleasantness, we must not forget that it is crucial, to be happy at work, to feel that our work is important for us and for the company in which we do it. Be careful though! Each of us can and should feel our contribution valued, in whatever field we operate “.
What elements has your laboratory changed about the Yale course and which ones does it differ in?
«From the Yale course we have changed the centrality of the work that each student has to do on himself to get involved on issues addressed inside and outside the classroom. Whether we are talking about gratitude, savoring the positive things that happen to us or taking care of our relationships, the issue can only be addressed from a theoretical point of view but necessarily requires you to work on yourself, to experience it, feel it and make it your own. . The innovative aspect that we have included is that of the comparison with people who work in various contexts and who have invested a lot on this issue “.
Happiness at work: 5 strategies to increase it immediately
Help out a colleague or client
gestures of kindness are a great source of happiness, as many studies show, and those in the workplace are no exception. Offering a small gesture of help makes us feel more useful, enhances our contribution in the work team or with the client and allows us to connect more with others.
Bravo! Brava!
The awards, not just financial, are extremely important. But when they are late in coming to your superior you can assign them yourself! When you feel you have given your best, give yourself a reward and compliment yourself. Little things, however, that won’t make commitment and success go unnoticed in your mind.
Multitasking yes, but not too much …
When you are busy with multiple tasks at the same time, you can’t pay the right attention to every detail. This inevitably risks lowering the quality of your work and, above all, it makes you consume a greater number of mental energies. Better to determine in what order to face the different tasks that await you, defining priorities and necessarily learning to say no.
“Order” is the password
It is true that creativity and imagination are often associated with disorder, but not all of us are able to handle it, especially in times of greatest pressure. Clutter creates confusion and chaos, so it should be avoided. So a tidy workstation helps prevent distractions, helping you to clear your head and give you a feeling of greater clarity and control, limiting the feeling of unmanageability of what you do.
Stop: take some breaks
Working continuously, without stopping, puts a strain on the brain and the senses (especially sight), thus giving way to unproductiveness and anguish. Take small breaks and, especially if you do sedentary work, make sure you make some small physical movements (even just getting up from your chair) and take your eyes off the screen (yes, even the cell phone).