The office is stereotypically a stressful place, but it doesn’t have to be. After all, your attitude is everything when it comes to your happiness. Make a promise to yourself now to make a small change and increase your happiness while you’re at work. You may be surprised how much difference even small adjustments can make in your day to day life.

Here are five small changes that you can make to increase your happiness while at work:

1 – Limit your Goals

Once you resolve to improve yourself, it’s easy to go overboard. You see it every year around the first of January – people make New Year’s Resolutions to lose weight, to eat better, and to save money. Usually, their new lifestyle lasts a month before it falls to pieces. You can avoid this by making one or two small goals that are specific and time sensitive. When those are accomplished, move on and make more small improvements.

2 – Get up and Move

It’s easy to get absorbed in your work, but make it a point to get up from your desk a couple of times every day. Sit in the break room for lunch, or just take a stroll around the office. Sitting in a chair may be hurting your body, and staring at a computer screen can cause eye strain or computer vision syndrome.

3 – Socialize More

This tip goes hand in hand with the last one – while you’re up and about stretching your legs and resting your eyes, make some friends in the office. It never hurts to have a few more contacts, and you never know – being friends with people in other departments may pay off in the future. It especially helps to make new hires feel welcome. So ask the new guy out to lunch, or bring the receptionist a coffee… you never know where it may lead, whether it be additional professional contacts or new personal connections.

4 – Go Green

If you’re interested in respecting the environment, a little effort can go a long way at the office. Start small – use a reusable water bottle instead of disposable cups, and shut off your computer when you leave instead of just putting it in sleep mode. When you’re the last person to leave a conference room, turn off the lights. If you want to make a bigger impact, think about starting an office recycling program.

5 – Be Open to Change

One of the best tips that we have for being happier while at work is to be ready for anything, and to be adaptable. Every workplace has its challenges and pitfalls, and you’ll be less stressed if you’re able to roll with the punches and be flexible in your plans.

If you make even a few of these changes while you’re at the office, you may find that you are happier at work. If you want to learn more about how Vargas and Vargas Insurance Agency can help you do more with the money you earn, just call 617-298-0655. We have financial planning professionals on staff that will help you allocate your assets so that you are ready for retirement.