3 Steps to Enjoying Your Job
Every day when I drop my kids off at school I tell them two things: I love you and have fun at school. To me it is important for them to know that even if I’m not there, I’m thinking of them and that I love them. This is even more important on the days we have frustrating mornings. But that second phrase “Have fun” is just as important. I know that school can be demanding, frustrating, boring, and downright a drag to go to. But just as it’s important for them to know that someone else loves them, it’s even more important for them to find joy and happiness in their everyday lives. “Have fun” to me is not just a way for me to send them off. It’s a reminder to be aware of their feelings and how life can impact our views.
So one day when I was dropping them off and my 6 year old said to me “Mom, there’s one question I want you to answer while at work.” I was thinking she wanted me to think about what we’ll have for dinner or if a friend could come over and play or maybe even what we’ll dress up as on Halloween. “What’s that baby?” I asked her as she pulled on her backpack to start walking to the school door. She leaned into the window, looked at me with a big smile, and said “Mom, how do you have fun at work?”
Wow! What a great question!
As moms we tend to think about others way more than we think of ourselves. As working moms we have more people demanding different things from us. If you don’t enjoy your job it’s a tough row to hoe as a working mother. Being joyful, happy, and full of gratitude in life makes those demands a little less stressful; it can change the perspective on whatever is going on in your life.
Life should be fun. We should be doing things we enjoy. No one enjoys every moment of every day. But you should feel fulfilled in some way with what you’re doing. If you take a moment right now and are truly honest with the way you show up to your job – are you having fun or are you grumpy; are you full of joy or regret; are you happy or frustrated; are you fulfilled or on autopilot? If you have more days of the negative feelings than the positive, it’s going to make life overall more unsatisfying. But don’t fret, we can change it without you even needing to get a new job (even if you desperately want one).
How to have fun at work in 3 easy steps.
Step 1 Be Grateful
Can you have fun when you’re in a bad mood? Not likely. So let’s start there. The very first thing I do when I realize I’m in a bad mood is to think of as many things I am grateful for as quickly as I can. I once read that if you can come up with 100 things you’re thankful for in 10 minutes or less then you land pretty high on a gratitude scale. I came up with 105 things in under 8 minutes. It wasn’t always like that for me though. I used to have a hard time coming up with even 20 things. Gratitude is a skill and because it’s a skill you can practice it and get better at it.
I suggest testing yourself. See how many things you can come up with that you are grateful for in the next 10 minutes. Go ahead, I’ll wait. You can count thinks like your paycheck, your co-worker who always brings in donuts, your kiddo’s smile, your husband’s hug, the green grass, the snow (yeah, that’s not on my list either!), an easy commute this morning, the radio show that made you laugh, really anything. The point of this exercise is that you cannot be in a bad mood and a state of gratitude at the same time; it’s impossible.
Get in the habit of saying “thank you” before you open your eyes in the morning and after you close them at night. This habit alone will change your life. I’ve taught my girls to come up with 3 things they’re thankful for every day and we tell each other the best part of our day. It’s easy to focus on the bad, but when we report the good things. it sets our mind up to look for the positive.
Step 2 Serve Others
Humans are interesting creatures, we tend to thrive the most when we are serving, or bringing value to, others. It can be something as simple as showing a customer where the bathroom is or giving your boss a really great report you put together or giving a glowing recommendation for a friend. Whenever we bring value to other people, it lifts us up.
You can bring value to others even when they aren’t around. The next time you hear “water cooler gossip” do something radical – give a compliment about someone. Just like negative gossip, compliments can catch on and pretty soon everyone will want to chip in with something positive to say. This will also make you look and feel better mentally at work. It’s exhausting being negative.
Step 3 Smile and Have Fun
Studies have shown that the mere physical act of smiling can cause your brain to release pleasure chemicals, making you happier. So start practicing serial smiling. Whenever I realize I feel some sort of negative way or apathetic, I immediately add a smile to my face as my first defense. I’ve noticed that when I smile I tend to roll my shoulders backwards as well – creating better posture and physically putting me in a more positive state.
One of my favorite poems about smiles is shown in the graphic. The last line about giving smiles is so very true and ties in with all of these steps – be grateful you have a smile to give, serve others by giving something of value to others (especially those can’t even muster a smile of their own), and spread happiness through a smile.
As you continue being grateful, of service. and smiling, you will find that fun is all around you. Others will be drawn to you and you’ll be more apt to find little pleasures in your work.
Afterthought
As women we all know of and have probably been in at least one toxic work environment. These tips I’ve shared will work momentarily if you find yourself in a toxic work environment but don’t require yourself to stay in a role with an abusive company or leadership. More articles on work environment will be posted to the WMC blog and we encourage you to come back to read more. However, some may find that what some view as unbearable working conditions really is in their own heads and when they practice gratitude, joy, and have fun that life changes, even when the environment doesn’t.