Happiness at work week – Doz

It’s ‘Happiness at work week’ and I’ve been tasked with writing something about what this means to me. This task has really given me time to reflect and acknowledge just how happy I have been since being in this role. I’ve been here for two years now and during that time I haven’t had to take a single day off due to struggles with my mental wellbeing. Any of my previous employers would be very surprised to hear this as this is a first for me. But I just haven’t needed to be away from my role.

That’s not to say these two years haven’t been challenging, anyone who interacts with the Recovery College will know we’ve faced many challenges personally and professionally as a team over these last two years but overall, our happiness has remained. And I think that’s a testament to the level of communication we’re able to share amongst us.

I’m able to maintain my happiness because I know there’s no pressure to do so. I can be honest and open about how I’m feeling both at work and outside of work with my manager and my colleagues. And when I’m not feeling so happy, there are eight other people there to listen, empathise, and lift me up when I’m feeling low. And I’m able to do the same for those people and that makes me feel valued and impactful improving my sense of self-worth.

On a more practical level, I stay happy at work by primarily working from home. As someone with a disability that causes me chronic pain, working from home allows me to manage my pain and comfort more directly which minimises any additional pain I would experience were I having to sit in an office for 8 hours a day. I’m able to work comfortably from my armchair with easy access to replenish my hot water bottle as regularly as I need to.

And as I continue to explore my potential neurodivergence, I am endlessly grateful for a job that allows me to work from home as this allows me to be more in control of my working environment. For example, I start each day by lighting an incense stick, and I light another whenever I feel I need to feel calmer. I usually start my day listening to a podcast while I work and as the day goes on, I listen to music when I feel I need to be energized and can work in perfect silence when I’m feeling overwhelmed. I’m able to take my lunch break whenever feels right for me and eat in the comfort of my own home, often sitting out in my garden where I can enjoy watching the birds at my bird feeder and if I’m lucky, I’m visited by my regular Robin which pops by to say hello and always brings a smile to my face.

Whether you’re working from home, working in a shop, an office or wherever you may be; I hope you’re able to find happiness in your work. We spend a huge portion of our lives at work and whilst we can’t always love the job we’re in, making little changes to the environment you’re working in can hugely improve your happiness at work. Can’t light an incense or a candle? Why not bring along your favourite perfume so you can give yourself another spritz to ground yourself when things are feeling a bit stressful. Can’t eat lunch at home? Why not find somewhere nearby that you can sit outside during your lunch break, you’d be surprised how quickly a change of space can improve your mood. And if you’re not feeling so happy at work, find someone you can confide in. That might not be your manager or your direct teammates but whoever you feel you can trust. They say a problem shared is a problem halved and I truly believe that.

Maybe you can focus on one thing to improve your happiness at work this week, one change this week might form a habit and before you know it you might surprise yourself with a few extra smile lines – how lucky we are to get them.