Those days where everything that could go wrong, does—they have happened to all of us, but what if you never had to experience that again? Okay, maybe not never (we’re not magicians) but far, far less frequently. There isn’t a professional out there that would turn down more good days! With that said, consider us your workday sherpas, guiding you through how to have a great day at work while avoiding the most common bad day causes.
Last night before going to sleep, you probably brushed your teeth without even thinking about it. You may have even changed clothes, said goodnight to the dog, locked up—all without a second thought. Habit is a powerful thing! Now, leverage it to create a rock star morning routine that puts you in the right mindset for a successful, enjoyable work day. It could be something as simple as:
Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, for instance, begins every day by having breakfast with his family, and pushes meetings until later in the day. Considering his company is now worth more than €400 billion, it sounds like he knows a thing or two about having great work days.
Have you ever done something that wasn’t on your to-do list, only to retroactively write it on your task list just so you could check it off? Us too. Completing to-dos just feels good, like you’re accomplishing big things one check mark at a time.
On the other hand, leaving the office with a loooooong list of to-dos can make you feel like you toiled all day without even making a dent. Help yourself to a great day at work by limiting your project list to just 1-3 items—the most important and urgent things for the day. A smaller list will keep you hyper focused and on a roll to accomplish more (and then check those items off your agenda!), so you can walk out the door feeling on top of the world.
In a survey conducted by Woohoo Inc., 67% of employees said that they have at least one bad work day per week. One of the most common causes: negative coworkers.
Since coworkers are basically your office roommates, it’s not surprising that their negativity can cause you to have a bad day at work by (forced) association. A negative cubemate doesn’t have to spell disaster, though.
Did you know that receiving a compliment is nearly as good as receiving money? That is what researchers at the National Institute for Psychological Sciences in Japan discovered, which means that compliments are worth their weight in gold. Go out of your way to say something nice to at least one person every day and watch their face light up like they just received cash! Realizing that you have made someone else happier may make you feel better, too.
73% of employees who work at a “purpose-driven” organization are engaged in their jobs, versus 23% of employees who do not. A company could have the best perks like free doggie yoga and catered lunches, but the truth is that what every employee wants most is to feel that their work matters.
Take the time to remind yourself why you do what you do every day. How does your work help your organization reach its mission and vision? How do you push your team and yourself to become a little better? By clarifying the purpose of your job every morning, you can set yourself up for a fulfilling, fantastic day at work.
Understanding where you fit into your company’s purpose starts during onboarding. Feel free to get in touch with us if you feel like your onboarding could use some improvement in the engagement section, or if you and your HR department have any questions about onboarding best practices.