If you are a relatively junior employee at your company, though you carry out a very important role, you may not always be recognised. You might also face some of the following challenges:
Little fulfilment at work
Long working hours
Conflicting demands on your time and loyalty
Little balance between personal life and work commitments
Tight deadlines
Management pressures
Strained relationships with the important people in your life
Tight personal finances
Lack of any say at work
Internal politics and a rigid company structure
Bullying within the workplace
Few promotional opportunities
You are therefore faced with a number of dilemmas in your workplace.
On the one hand you want to be involved in rewarding, enjoyable and fulfilling work, get recognition and promotion for your efforts, and be appreciated for the key role you play in the company.
On the other hand you want a balanced life with time for the things you really want to do with a full and interesting social life. Of course you want to have clarity about your career, job duties and you want to continue to be healthy, fit and stress free.
So what’s the best way forward?! How can you too achieve a zen like Happiness at work?
One key to resolving these seemingly conflicting challenges is to get clear about just how much you love the work you do. Is what you do something you jump out of bed every morning, or would you rather be doing something else?
How motivated are you with your work? And how do you cope with the day to day routine office work?
A UK survey last year found that almost 2 out of 3 people are dissatisfied with their jobs. And I am sure there is a similar situation in the USA and other parts of the developed world. This means that they are either apathetic about finding what they really love doing or they are resigned to being in this situation.
No matter how good things are in other parts of your life such as family, social life and relationships, work is a major part of your life, and not to be neglected.
Since for now you have chosen to be in the job you are in, it is up to you for the time being to make the most of what you do. Of course in the long term, you can either change your job or even embark on a new career. But for now, you can get to love more of what you do right now.
Assuming that in the short term you are not able to change jobs, there are a number of things you can do to begin enjoying more of what you currently do. Ask yourself - is it the job or is it you? And what can you do to make your current work more enjoyable?
Stop acting the victim. YOU are responsible for your life and if you can’t immediately change the job you are in, then it is up to you to make the most of it.
Here are some simple tips for getting to enjoy your current job.
1. On the way to your workplace, get yourself motivated to face the day. Think of how the work you have allows you to have your life outside of it, such as a great social life. A positive attitude will make the day more pleasant and productive.
2. Keep your work in perspective. You can only do the best you can in each situation. Look beyond yourself and your work, and consider the bigger picture. Do some voluntary work to gain a broader outlook. Find a way to contribute to society in general.
3. Remember that you are more than your work. Do not have your identity too strongly tied to the job you do. Give up thinking that your work life “should” be a certain way. Such expectations of what you were supposed to be, as set by your parents and teachers, stop you from enjoying what you currently do.
4. Plan your time. In your to-do list include long term projects as well as the more imminent things that need doing. Prioritize your to-do list - do the most important things first. When performing any task, ask yourself - is this the best use of my time? Schedule in enough time for your studies etc.
5. Concentrate on the task at hand. Do not let yourself be distracted by worrying about all the other things to be done or losing energy over the undesirable situation you find yourself in. Stay in the moment.
Be ruthless and take care of a task before it gets on a possible procrastination list. For example, sort your morning post immediately in one go – open it, file it, act on it or bin it there and then.
6. Clarify anytime you are not sure or where you are faced with conflicting demands. The more clear and upfront you are with your manager and the other people you work with, the better it will be for you in the long term.
7. Delegate wherever appropriate. Decide if there is anything that can be delegated, or that more fairly belongs to someone else’s work load. Always remember the “3D” rule – do it, dump it or delegate it - never handle a piece of paper twice.
8. Have regular breaks. Get away from your normal workplace even if only for five minutes. Try taking a break from the laptop , emails and do leave the mobile behind. Make sure that you do have that lunch break – it is not just for food but also for fresh air and a mental break.
Eat a healthy lunch and if you must snack, make sure it is healthy too – an apple rather than a bag of chips. Look for ways of energizing yourself other than from adrenaline and caffeine.
9. Learn to relax no matter how challenging the work gets or how demanding your bosses become. At the end of the day it is only a job, and you are much more than that. In years to come, you will look back and wonder what the fuss was.
10. Contribute towards creating a pleasant work environment. Do not gossip in the office as it just creates negativity all around. Do not listen to any gossip either. Minimize your time with people that you do not resonate with or like.
Learn to have more fun at work. Laugh more and chill out. Perform with a more fun orientated approach.
11. Review your day before you leave for Home. Look at what worked well, and what could be improved the next day. If you feel satisfied with the day’s work, then why not reward yourself later that day. You deserve it.
12. Switch off once you leave work. You are already at work a third of your time, so do not continue to keep it buzzing in your head during your supposed free time. Mentally say good bye to your work space the moment you leave for Home.
See your work as a game. life is meant to be fun and if you are going to spend a third of it at work, you might as well enjoy the game.
译文:
快乐工作
如果你刚进公司不久，即便你身担要职，但也很可能难以得到认可。而且，你还常常面临以下一些挑战：
工作上没有成就感
工作时间长
工作时间和工作虔诚度之间的需求相矛盾
个人生活和工作之间难以达到平衡
得在短时间内完成任务
管理压力
和自己家人或爱人关系紧张
个人财政紧张
在工作上没有发言权
内部政策和古板的公司制度
在公司内受到欺凌
没有什么晋升机会
因而工作中总出现令你两难的境地
一方面，你希望能在富有回报的，愉悦并让你有成就感的环境中工作，自己的努力可以得到认可从而赢得晋升机会，而且因为自己在整个公司内担任要职而受人赞赏。
另一方面，你又想维持平衡的生活状态，有个完整而幸福的社会生活。当然，你也想把自己的工作做得井井有条，并且保持健康，不受压力的干扰。
那么最好的方法是什么呢？你又能怎样达到“快乐工作”？
解决所有这些看似相互矛盾的挑战的关键之一就是要弄清楚，对于自己所做的工作，你到底有多热爱。是你早上一起床后就想做的，还是你想做些别的什么的？
对于自己的工作，你有多少动力？而且你是如何处理这日复一日的日常工作
去年英国的一项调查显示，几乎有三分之二的人对自己的工作不满意。我想这在美国和其他一些发达国家的饿情况也应该是相似的。这也就意味着，他们要不烦于找到自己真正喜欢的工作，要不就是屈服于现状。
不管你的生活的其他方面已经多么令人满意，像幸福的家庭，和谐的社交生活和人际关系，工作仍是你生命中很重要的一部分，所以不要忽视。
既然是你自己选择了现在的工作，那么现在就看你怎样把当下的工作做到最好。当然从长远的角度来看的话，你可以换工作或是重新开始自己的事业。不过现在，你还是得尽可能多地喜欢自己现在在做的工作。
假设你在短期内无法换工作，那么你可以做很多事情，染自己现有的工作更加有趣。问问自己---是工作还是自己？要怎么做才能让现有的工作更加令人愉快？
不要再装得自己像个受害者。是你，要对自己的生活负责。所以你如果不能马上换工作的话，就得靠你自己让现在这份工作变得更有趣。
现在为大家提供一些建议。
1. 在去上班的路上，要让自己有足够的动力来面对这一天。想想看，现在这份工作，除了其本身，还让你获益多少，比如说因此而有了强大的社交圈。积极的态度能这一天多得更有意义，也更充实。
2. 从一定的角度来看待你的工作。无论在哪一种情况下，你能做的也就是尽自己最大的可能将其做好。视眼要放得远一点，不要只限于眼前的工作。经常性地做些自愿者工作，拓宽自己的视眼。总之要找到能为整个社会服务的方式。
3. 要记住，你的生活里不是只有工作。不要老把自己和工作中的身份紧紧捆绑在一起。也不要再想着你的工作应该是什么样子的。像这些由你的父母和老师给你定的目标，会让你无法从现有的工作中享受到应有的乐趣。
4. 安排自己的时间。在你的备忘录中，不仅要写急需完成的事情，还得包括自己的长远目标。把最重要的事情放在你备忘录的第一位。当你做任何事情的时候，问问自己看---这么做是不是最合理地利用了我的时间？比如说，要排出足够的足够的时间让自己学习。
5. 把精力集中到手头的工作上。不要老是让自己为其他要做的事情而分心，也不要在无须花费精力的地方过于劳神。只要活在这一刻，足以！
要一鼓作气把事情做好，以免它落入被耽搁的命运。比方说，早上查看邮箱就该一次性完成---先打开，归档，接着要不立即回复，要不就立即扔掉。
6. 明确自己所不确定的，以及在有冲突时做出选择。和上司跟同事之间弄得却清晰明了，从长远的角度来说，对你越有利。
7. 在适当的时候委托别人做。先要明确这些事情能不能让人代做，或则说由某个人来完成更合适。要牢记“3D”原则---要么做，要么不做，要么委托别人做---不要画蛇添足，做无用功。
8. 要有规律地休息。离开自己工作的地方，哪怕就是5分钟也好。把什么笔记本电脑，邮件，手机都抛开。确保自己得到了午休---那不仅是用来吃饭的，也是用来呼吸新鲜空气，得到精神上的休息。
午饭一定要吃得健康，如果你一定得吃快餐，那也要选对身体有益的---最好吃个苹果而不是一包薯条。应该让自己恢复活力，而不是借着咖啡因让自己暂时兴奋。
9. 不管工作多么具有挑战，也不管老板有多么苛刻，都要学会让自己放松。一天结束了，你要告诉自己，那不过就是份工作，人生可不是只有工作的。到以后你回想起来，你就会觉得，那都是些多么无关紧要的琐事呀。
10. 致力于为自己创造令人愉快的工作环境。不要在办公室里闲言碎语，那只会无事生非。也不要听信什么流言蜚语。尽量少地和那些道不同、志不和的人呆一起。
要学会在工作中享受到更多的快乐。要多笑笑，不要老扫兴。要以风趣幽默的方式来为人处事。
11. 在下班回家之前，要回顾一下这一天的情况。看看自己今天哪些方面做得最好，哪些方面能在明天的工作中得到改进。要是对自己当天的工作十分满意，那干嘛不奖励自己一下呢？你应该得到奖赏。
12. 一下班，就完全扔开工作。你已经花了生命中三分之一的时间来工作了，所以在休息的时间就不要再让它们扰乱自己了。一旦可以下班回家了，就从心中和自己的工作说拜拜吧。
要把工作当作游戏来看待。人活着本来就是为了寻乐，既然你都花了三分之一的时间来工作了，那么你不妨好好享受这个游戏。