by Sara J. Petersen

Created on: November 11, 2009

The daily humdrum can really get you down if you let it. These are some ideas to help you keep your sanity in any state of economy.

The first thing you have control over is valuing the people around you. Try to see everyone you come in contact with as a worth while human being that you have the opportunity to serve. It's much easier to provide service to people when you value them and believe they are worth your time and effort. Everyone has something to offer, and you have something to offer them. Seeing them this way is best, but if you really can't, at least see your customers as a walking talking money machines.

Choose not to be offended. Yes, being offended is a choice. When things are rushed or crazy at work, everyone can tend to get a bit grumpy. Take this into consideration when people say something that might offend or hurt your feelings. Analyze what was said. If it is useful criticism that was just said in a moment of frustration, glean what you can do better from it and forget about the rest. If the comment can not benefit you in any way, just throw it into the imaginary trash can in your head, and decide the person is just having a bad day or a bad attitude in general. It is not your problem, it's theirs.

Another thing that will make work happier is to show appreciation to others even if you are not often the recipient of appreciation. Acknowledge when your boss, co-workers, or customers do something you can admire. You could even leave anonymous notes on co-worker's desks to let them know they're doing a good job. In short, if you can't stand the environment do everything you can to change it for the better.

Whistle while you work. Walt Disney was not exactly 'off his rocker' when he included the song "Whistle While You Work" in the movie Snow White. Having a tune you like running through your head can really help the day go by. Also, if you work in a place where whistling and singing out loud is something you can get away with, it can relieve some of the stress and tension of monotonous work, and keep your brain functioning.

The biggest thing you can do to make work a happier place, is change your beliefs about work. It's been said that happiness in our lives is mostly attitude, and only partly what happens to us. If we see work as a chance to make money and help people it will automatically become easier to deal with.

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