How to be happier at work -

How to be happier at work - Since you spend so much time at work, its a real drag if youre miserable the whole time youre on the clock. Do you need to love your job? It would be great if everyone could get paid to do what they love, but until you can achieve that elusive goal, what can you do to make the 9-to-5 more pleasant? What can you do to be happier at work? How to be happier at work Finish the drudgery first. Whatever you dread every day, get it done as soon as you can so that you dont need to worry about it the rest of the day. In general, try to organize and plan your time to suit your own needs. Its not always possible, but sometimes, handling the little things that you hate can make the day a little easier to get through. Stop complaining about what you cant change. Its easy to get caught in a rut and to complain ad nauseum about a colleague whos not pulling her weight or a boss who should have been let go in the last downsizing. However, complaining about things you cant change only contributes to your misery. Dont give in to the temptation to drone on and on about the negatives; instead, focus on what you can change, and spend your energies there. Make friends at work. Theres no question that everything is better when you have a friend in your corner. You dont need to be besties with everyone at the office, but having one or two colleagues who are always happy to go to lunch or catch a quick coffee can make all the difference. Give compliments. Look for opportunities to tell other people what theyre doing well; it will make their day, and will give you a boost, too. Plus, you never know: If you begin to pass around kudos in the office, it can affect everyones mood and perhaps improve the overall office culture. Dont fall victim to the myth that you can only help improve things if youre a supervisor or have authority; take initiative and you could really make a difference for your colleagues. Keep track of good things. Every time something happens at work that makes you happy, make a note. Maybe it sounds a little corny, but if you can remember the good times, it could help make the challenges easier to overcome. Take breaks. Theres nothing worse than sitting at your desk, staring at the computer all day long. Its bound to make you feel draggy and depressed. Get up and move around. Stretch, take a walk, go find a window and check the weather. Daydream a little. Mental and physical breaks can make a difference in your day and make you feel better, no matter what else is going on. Give yourself the opportunity for a new perspective and you may see a difference in your day Reward yourself. If no one else is paying making a point to recognize and reward your efforts, create your own system of rewards and treats. After you finish a particularly onerous task well, do something special for yourself. Find something redeeming about your job. Even if you really dont like your job, or the people you work with, try to find some redeeming features about how you spend your time. Think about how you can be even better at what you do. Make plans. Think about whats next. Especially if work doesnt make you happy, begin to plan how youre going to transition to something new. Review job descriptions and decide what youre most qualified to do. (Dont conduct your job search at work, though!) Start to plan how to add the skills and experiences you dont have on your resume. Update your resume. Plan how to expand your network and consider if it may be time to change careers. The more plans you make, the easier it will be to influence a change in your work life. This originally appeared on AOL Jobs. Photo by @Doug88888