Popular 3 Easy Ways To Be Happier At Work Marianne StengerKelly KuehnJenna ArcandJune 28, 2024 Bigstock

It's no secret that many people wish they could be happier at work. So, what's the solution, if any?

Money is often thought to be the biggest predictor of job satisfaction, but a survey from the BBC that ranked nearly 300 jobs from most to least satisfying shows that although money does play a role, it's not the only motivator.

For instance, internet technology and telecommunications professionals ranked at number 147 on the list, while farm workers were rated as the 23rd most satisfied workers, despite earning only about half as much as IT people.

Arnold B. Bakker, professor of Work and Organizational Psychology at Erasmus University Rotterdam, has found that job resources can have a hugely positive effect on work engagement and, more importantly, there are practical changes that employees can make to increase their job satisfaction.

"Job resources, such as opportunities for development and growth, social support, skill variety, and performance feedback, are the most important predictors of both job satisfaction and employee work engagement," says Bakker. "Our research clearly shows that employees can 'craft' their own jobs so that they become more satisfied and engaged. Job crafting refers to changes employees can proactively make in their own job demands and resources. It can take the form of increasing one's job resources, decreasing one's hindrance job demands, or increasing one's challenges."

Professor Jane E. Dutton from the University of Michigan and her colleagues Justin M. Berg from the Wharton School and Amy Wrzesniewski from Yale School of Management have also done extensive research into the effects of job crafting. One interesting finding is that people in low-status jobs, which are arguably also the least satisfying, are actually in a better position to craft their jobs than people at higher ranks.

Their research outlines three broad ways in which employees can shape their own work experiences and find value in just about any job.

1. Change The Way You Work

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Although it's probably safe to say that most of the time you would prefer to be doing something else, there are likely at least some aspects of your job that you do find enjoyable. To increase your overall job satisfaction, you can emphasize the tasks you enjoy by spending more of your time and energy on them.

For instance, a professor might feel most fulfilled when interacting with students. So, in order to increase their job satisfaction, the professor might decide to limit the time they spend contributing to university committees and spend more time working with students instead.

Another way to make work more meaningful is to take on an additional task that you find fulfilling. Even if this increases your workload, it can still be beneficial if it helps you feel happier about heading to work every day.

Finally, if you can't emphasize or add tasks, it might be possible to re-engineer existing ones by introducing an element that inspires you. If you could use some help figuring out what jobs you'd feel truly happy in, take our free Career Decoder Quiz!

2. Change Your Workplace Relationships

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Another way to create your own happiness at work is to create meaningful relationships with your colleagues. Research on employee interactions indicates that even short-term connections, especially when they are high quality, can be reinvigorating. So, taking the time to build up relationships with colleagues, customers, and overseers can be another way to increase job satisfaction.

For example, you could spend time mentoring a less experienced co-worker, or get to know some of your colleagues on a more personal level. Even just making a point of chatting with customers and getting to know the regulars can help you derive more meaning from your work.

3. Reframe The Way You Think About Work

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The way you view your job and the tasks you perform on a daily basis also affects your engagement and satisfaction in the workplace. Crafting your perceptions about work, or "cognitive job crafting" as the researchers refer to it, isn't as physical as building relationships or performing specific tasks, so it can be more difficult to do. But the goal is to help you to find more meaning in your job as a whole.

"The more you look for the benefits of what you're doing, the more it feeds you psychologically," explains Dutton. For example, although zookeepers spend much of their time cleaning out enclosures and feeding animals, they tend to view their work as a way of ensuring that the animals receive proper care, rather than as a series of menial tasks, which helps them find meaning in it.

By doing these three simple (but important) things, you'll improve your job satisfaction and find happiness at work. Don't wait to be happier at work today!

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career happiness Partner Boost 11 Ways To Enjoy Summer When You’re Working A Full-Time Job Ariella CoombsJenna ArcandJune 13, 2024 Bigstock

There you are: sitting on the beach, covered in sunscreen, reading your favorite book, drinking your favorite drink under the cool shade of an umbrella. Life doesn't get any better than this. Suddenly, a door slams, a phone rings, a printer turns on. You jolt back into consciousness. You're at work, sitting in your cubicle, without even a hint of sunshine streaming in from outside.

When you're working a full-time job, finding time to enjoy the warm, bright summer weather can be a challenge. This is especially true for young professionals, as many of them are used to having summers off (or, at the very least, having a flexible summer schedule). But there's no need to feel trapped behind your cubicle walls. Go out and enjoy summer!

Here are a few tips for making the most of your summer while working full time.

1. Grab Some Foldable Chairs

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Keep a couple of foldable camping chairs at the office so you and a co-worker can catch some rays during lunch—whether it's in the park or the parking lot.

2. Keep A Beach Bag In Your Car​

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Keep a bag full of summer supplies for your favorite summer activities. Having a bag (or, in my case, a backseat) full of towels, sunscreen, and swimwear keeps you prepared for anything. Friends hitting up the pool after work? You're covered. Once the clock strikes five, you can head to your destination of choice immediately.

3. Plan An Office Outing

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Plan an office field trip to the beach, the park, or the pool. Just do something fun so your brain can recharge and refresh!

4. Organize Group Walks

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Get a bunch of co-workers together and go on regular walks around town during lunch. (Or you could suggest a quick jaunt over to the ice cream shop.) This is a great way to get some fresh air, sunshine, and exercise.

5. Eat Lunch At The Park

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When you find yourself eating out, hit up places with a deck, porch, or patio of some sort. Obviously, eating out every day isn't really a feasible option for most of us, so look into alternative ideas as well. Pack a lunch and hit the park for your own little picnic.

6. Organize Office Sports

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Whether it's setting up an official office sports team or just hanging out with your colleagues a few times a week, playing sports is a great way to get out and enjoy the weather. Have a field nearby? Try setting up some slow-pitch softball games. Or see if you can get a basketball hoop for the office so you and a few co-workers can shoot some hoops at lunch.

7. Join A Professional Group

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During the summer, professional networking groups often have fun events like harbor cruises, pub crawls, and outdoor mixers. Find a professional group in your area and make networking fun this summer.

8. Have An Office BBQ

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Get your grill on! Talk to your boss about setting up an office BBQ. Ask everyone to contribute their favorite dish, side, or drink. Fire up the grill and relax! Hey, it's summer after all.

9. Wake Up Early

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Yes, yes, I know...waking up early is an incredibly painful and unbearable experience for some of us, but waking up even an hour earlier has its benefits—especially in the summer. Go for a morning run, putter around in the garden, or watch the sunrise with a loved one. Talk about starting the day off right!

10. Strategically Use Your Time Off

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Strategically use your vacation days around holidays. This way, you can make a potentially long weekend longer without having to use too much of your precious vacation time. Half days are also pretty awesome. It's amazing how much you can do with four extra hours! If you want an early weekend but don't want to burn up your vacation days too quickly, try taking a half day on a Friday instead of using a full day off.

11. Bike To Work

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If you're one of the lucky few who live within walking or biking distance of work, take advantage of it! Not only will you get plenty of fresh air, but you'll also save money on gas, which is always a plus!

There are plenty of easy ways to enjoy summer when you work a full-time job. So this summer, try out a few of these ideas and make the most of the sunshine and warm weather—while they're still around!

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