There are countless benefits to finding a job that makes you happy, not the least of which is not having to suffer from the Sunday night blues, the Monday morning misery, the Tuesday terrors or…well you get our point. Furthermore, being happy at work is critical to your success.

A recent study by staffing firm Robert Half, which evaluated the happiness levels of more than 12,000 working professionals, shows that happier workers also perform better, have closer relationships with co-workers, and take more pride in their work than their less-jubilant counterparts. Figures, right?  “When people are more excited about their work, they invest more time and energy into their job,” says Atlanta career coach Hallie Crawford.

Here are five quick ways we have found to make work a little more happy for ourselves and the hires we place:

Smile – It seems so simple, but smiling is a natural cause for releasing endorphins that increase your mood and help lift your mind to a positive perspective.  Just try it.  Smile when walking into work, smile when leaving for lunch, smile at co-workers whose names you don’t even know.  Attitudes are contagious, you have the power to reflect a positive or negative one among your workplace.

Plus, smiling...it cannot be bought, begged, borrowed, or stolen, it's just all something you can give away freely just when you feel like it.

Find purpose – Maybe your job is managing a team of employees which seems to hold great power and purpose in the eyes of the world, but maybe your job is stapling and filing papers away in a busy office.  Whatever your daily job task maybe, find purpose in doing them.  See the bigger picture of the mundane task and how the small projects make the big mission go and goals succeeded. 

Leave personal problems at home – Whether going through a divorce, happily married with three kids or trying to plan your neighborhood’s next BBQ, check it at the door of your workplace.  Being focused on work, when at work will lead to a clearer mind and happier experience. 

Put the social media away – Focus on the task to complete at work by blocking out distractions that can be avoided.  Social media consumes hours of the day and often creates a false sense of identity for followers – chances are, that photo of the beach you are jealous over? -- It was posted by someone sitting at their desk wishing they were on vacation rather than the beach.  In essence, the grass is not always greener on the other side; likewise, someone else’s life on social media is probably not all it appears to be.  Focus on work when at work, check in on Instagram during lunch or after – keep your mind focused. 

Spend 10 minutes at the end of each workday to reflect – Not liking how the workweek has been going? Take ten at the end of each day to evaluate your productivity, recap on goals met and plan for a better tomorrow.  Just by spending a few minutes each day reflecting you’ll feel less stressed.

If you're not happy at work, well, you're not alone.

We are Direct Hire Placement specialists with an expanded range of specialties including, Mechanical, Plumbing, HVAC, Electrical ~ Residential, Commercial & Industrial.  Project Management, Estimating, Coordination/Drafting and so much more.  Combine that with our state-of-the-art technology and key connections within niche communities and you will position your company above your competition.

Barclay Personnel is local and woman-owned. We know the people and we know the community. Our connections are your advantage.  Candidates can expect to work with a recruiter that will listen and work with you to find not just a job, but an opportunity that will take your career to the next level.