4 easy things to do before 10am for a happier day at work

DO YOURSELF a favour. Do these four easy things before 10am and you’ll have a happier day at work.

SOMETIMES it feels like our work days have trajectories, established in the first one to two hours of the day, a tone can be developed, acting as a precursor to not just your mood, but also translating into outcomes, and more importantly, successes.

So then, what can we do to ensure that we have started in the best headspace, pointed firmly in the right direction?

LOOK UP, AND FIND SOMETHING NEW

It is truly a wonder that more people are not crashing into each other on their way to work. With our noses buried in our phones, we are missing an opportunity to learn something new about our surroundings. From your parking spot, bus stop, train station or home, put your phone away and notice something new on your commute to work.

It can also apply once you arrive at work. My best friend took a Buddhist approach, philosophising each morning that his desk was in fact different to the desk he sat at the day prior. Idealistically and literally speaking, he was right.

PAY SOMEONE A COMPLIMENT

Elle Woods always had a sunny disposition and a kind word for everyone.

A compliment is a shared gratitude. Similarly, compliments can be perceived as gratitude 2.0. Layered with a sense of philanthropy, you not only notice something good (gratitude), but also giving, as you go out of your way to enrich the life of someone who means something to you.

Like with most things, there is a good way to give a good compliment. Consider the following three step approach:

i) Point out the good thing someone has done in a general way

“Hey Jeff, I really appreciated how you went out of your way to help me the other day”

ii) Then, be specific about the qualities that person exhibited

“You showed great patience and understanding throughout your coaching, as well as an expertise in putting together PowerPoint presentations”

iii) Be honest with how it made you feel. Be descriptive and honest

“I felt really well supported and empowered, and now feel confident moving forward to put together presentations at a high level”

Give it a go. Compliments are infectious.

HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH A COLLEAGUE

It doesn’t have to be a full therapy session with Freudian and Jungian theories but a real conversation will go a long way.

No, “how’s it going?” does not count. At least, not in and of itself.

You know that feeling of appreciation you get when it becomes clear to you that someone genuinely wants to hear about how you are, or how your night/weekend was? Such clarity can be perceived through their eye contact, and/or follow up questions.

If we can all invest a little bit more in actually caring about “how’s it going”, then it may not remain such a meaningless phrase.

TAKE A MOMENT FOR YOURSELF

It can be very easy to fall into the slipstream, shifting into two, three and four gears unconsciously as the day unfolds. And poof! Before you know it, 5pm has arrived and you have been sitting at your desk all day.

Ideally, we would all be taking regular breaks throughout the day. Set an example for yourself, and have your first one early. Self-care is the cornerstone to happiness; don’t lose sight of this in effort to “get ahead of the day”.

I promise, there will always be more work waiting for you.

Yanni Kyriacos is a content campaign strategist at LinkedIn. This article was originally published on the LinkedIn Publishing Platform and has been reproduced here with permission.

Originally published as 4 easy things to do before 10am for a happier day at work