Do you sometimes find it hard to find joy in your work?
As an entrepreneur, business owner, or freelancer, it can be easy to gloss over the wins, instead focusing on upcoming work, firefighting problems, and feeling stressed.
At Calmer, we believe a happy mind makes for a happy business. With it being the International Day of Happiness today, we wanted to define what that really means - and how you can find that joy again.
What defines happiness for you?
The first question to ask yourself on your journey to finding happiness is what makes you happy. Is that time with family, friends, or a loved one? Is it time doing a certain activity, such as painting, cycling, or cooking?
Give yourself permission to schedule these moments of happiness into your life on a regular basis - it’s a great way to start on your path to work-life balance.
Contentment > happiness
Many of us set off on a quest to reach exhilarating happiness highs on a regular basis, and this often ends in disappointment. Instead of happiness, try focusing on contentment.
Contentment is a mental or emotional state of satisfaction, often drawn from being comfortable in your mind, body, and surroundings. Do you ever have moments where you find yourself thinking “this is just right”? Perhaps you have experienced this on holiday, sitting back in a cosy armchair, or having a cup of tea in the sunshine.
Finding your contentment takes practice, so give yourself time to practice feeling good in your body, mind, and with your business. That may be on a 11am tea break, or perhaps after submitting a project you worked on.
Sit back, breathe, and appreciate your hard work.
Five lessons on finding happiness in your work
Alongside the practice of finding contentment, you can also try these lessons to find even more happiness in your work:
1. Find your purpose
A purposeful business is one that combines selling a product/service with tackling a problem or challenge in the world. Aligning your business with a higher purpose, such as protecting the environment, or providing jobs to disadvantaged members of society, will give your customers an additional reason to shop with you, as well as a higher job satisfaction.
2. Reflect on your entrepreneurial journey
As an entrepreneur, you can learn a lot through reflection. Understanding the factors that led to certain decisions will enable you to increase the reaction speed of your business, as well as reduce your stress levels.
Ask yourself these questions on a regular basis:
How do I feel?
What seems to be working well and which areas may need improving?
How might I go about that and who may be able to help me?
If you find these useful, why not try our intensive reflection exercise for the whole of your entrepreneurial journey?
3. Maintain a healthy lifestyle
Maintaining a healthy lifestyle is vital for good mental health, and as an extension, clarity at work.
Take a bit of time out each week for leisure and self-development. This can boost your productivity, enhance creativity, and keep you feeling centred. Remember: your health is your number on priority.
If you find this difficult to do, or that stress is currently overwhelming you, be sure to come along to our Be More Productive, Be Less Stressed event with Abigail Ireland.
4. Practice gratitude
Practicing gratitude essentially means being thankful for the good things you experience. A good way to do this is to document the good things that happen to you each day.
Start a journal, or store individual notes in a jar and see how the jar fills up with positivity over time!
5. Recognise when you feel anxious
If you feel anxious, try to accept that feeling without any self-judgment. Remember the mantra:
Stop
Breathe
Trust
Read more tips on finding happiness.
The Reignite Project, our 10-week e-course, aims to quell anxiety, stress, and burnout. You can sign up for free here.
Come along to a Calmer Event
Expand your business skills and network at our upcoming events. Our events feature expert speakers in the field of entrepreneurship, business development and mental health. Come along to one of our events for fresh ideas and perspectives on growing a business while nurturing your wellbeing.