We all have bad days at work…
You know; those days when you just can’t seem to pull yourself out of that slump.
Never fear; there are ways and means of beating those blues!
Behold; 50 quick tips on how to cheer yourself up, when you’re feeling low…
Seek Human Interaction
1. Surround yourself with positive people.
Negativity is infectious, so make sure you’re surrounding yourselves with positive people. If you know there’s a moaner in the office, avoid them!
2. Have a chat with someone.
If you get on well with someone at work then visit them, have a chat and see how they’re doing (whilst remaining positive). They’re bound to cheer you up.
3. Contact a loved one.
Of course, if it’s the people at work who are doing your nut in, you might prefer to call or email someone outside of the office. Hearing from a loved one will perk you up instantly.
4. Hug someone.
Sometimes you just need a little bit of human contact. Warning: the appropriateness of this one really depends on your office and co-workers. Could get awkward…
5. Make a joke.
Make sure it’s a good one though… Getting a laugh out of other people is always fun and is bound to make you smile too.
6. Say thank you to somebody.
Gratitude will distract you from your own bad mood and remembering the good things will make you feel all warm and fuzzy inside.
7. Make amends with somebody.
Is there someone you’ve fallen out with recently? Clear the air, make amends and get closure; that’s one more little thing off your mind.
8. Re-connect with somebody.
Have you been meaning to text Jack for like weeks? Do it. Re-connecting with new friends is fun and exciting.
9. Do something nice for someone else.
Whether you take a couple of minutes to donate to a charity, help someone in the office out or buy someone you love a gift; altruism makes everyone feel good.
Procrastinate
10. Watch funny videos.
Take a quick break and watch something online that makes you smile; crazy cat videos, hilarious gifs or funny memes; whatever it takes to put a smile on your face!
11. Take a break.
Go for a wander, get yourself a brew, check your personal email; it’s ok to take a break at work! In fact, it actually makes you more productive in the long run!
12. Play a computer game.
This should chill you out and cheer you up. (Perhaps you could catch yourself a Pokémon…)
13. Look at some pictures of puppies.
Pictures of puppies and other cute animals have been shown to cheer people up and make them more proactive! Win-win.
14. Read some positivity quotes.
Some of these are great and very uplifting. Check them out.
15. Play a workplace game.
You could always play a secret game. How many times does your boss say “touch base” in the meeting? How long can you hold your breath for? Get someone else involved, too!
16. Read some sort of funny blog.
There are plenty of funny articles and blogs (like this one) out there. Have a browse.
17. Look through your old photos.
It’s lovely to look back and reminisce on the good times. (Steer away from photos of ex-partners and ex-friends; they’ll probably not go down too well!)
Play Mind Tricks
18. Force a smile.
Studies suggest that when you smile, you trick your body and brain into thinking you’re happy; you’ll actually become happy.
19. Force a laugh.
The same thing works with laughter, if you laugh, the happiness will follow.
20. Think happy thoughts.
Think of a wonderful thing… and just feel those positive juices rushing through your body.
21. Quit moaning.
Challenge yourself to not moan, grumble or groan for a whole day! Click here to check out some of things we think constitute a ‘moan.’
22. Put on a happy song.
Creating a “happy playlist” is a great way to boost your mood and productivity during the working day.
23. Scare yourself.
You don’t have to watch a scary movie to scare yourself. Perhaps there’s someone at work you’re shy around or a nasty client you need to call… you’ll feel exhilarated and a sense of accomplishment when it’s all over!
24. Meditate
Take ten minutes to sit quietly, breathe and meditate. Click here for some tips.
25. Look back on your “happy list.”
I’ve talked about the happy list before. It’s basically a collection of the nice things clients, co-workers and managers have said about you. Store it somewhere safe, add to it when you receive any praise and when you’re feeling glum, have a read.
26. Go outside.
Fresh air has a profound effect on humans; it refreshes us, clears our mind and rejuvenates us for the rest of the day.
27. Buy a plant/ flowers.
Plants give you something new to look at and something to care for. This will boost your mood and make you feel more proactive.
28. Straighten your posture.
According to studies, straightening up your posture can actually perk you up. Again, it’s all about tricking your brain (and body) into thinking you’re happy, awake and confident.
29. Get some perspective.
Remind yourself from time to time; there’s always someone out there who’s worse off than you.
Be Productive
30. Tidy
Cleansing your desk of clutter will help you to clear your mind and start work afresh.
31. Quit social media.
Hate to say it; but social media can be so negative!
Perhaps it would help to just ban it for the day and see whether things improve.
32. Write a list.
When I feel stressed, I write down a list of everything I need to do and tick each task off as I complete it. This helps to focus my mind; I feel less stressed and get a sense of achievement at the end of each little task.
33. Do something creative.
You could write a poem, create some origami elephants or even write a blog post! You’ll feel enthused, inspired and sense of achievement.
34. Do some exercise.
Exercise will make you feel great and productive and you don’t even have to get up from your desk! Check out this blog post to find out how.
35. Purge your inbox.
Got thousands of unopened emails (probably spam)? Clear them out and move everything into neat little folders. It feels so GREAT when it’s done!
Treat Yourself
36. Have (a little bit of) chocolate.
We all know about the endorphins in chocolate. Have a little nibble to perk yourself up (try not to gorge… this can have the opposite effect)!
37. Drink fluids.
You’re not you when you’re dehydrated. Make sure you drink plenty of water throughout the day.
38. Take a nap.
A power nap could be just the ticket to waking you up and making you more productive/happier!
39. Have a Coffee/Tea.
Caffeine actually does help to give you a mood boost, in small doses.
40. Reward yourself.
Set yourself little checkpoints throughout the day and reward yourself when you get to them. These rewards could be anything from a quick break to a cup of tea.
Be Weird
41. Dance!
You’re going to feel a little bit silly, but you’ll (probably) have a smile on your face anyway.
42. Daydream.
Go off into your own world. Imagine yourself as a superhero, a rock star or a footballer – whatever floats your boat. It's good to get some escapism some times.
43. Change your passwords to funny words.
Swap “password123” for weird and wonderful ones that’ll make you smile, like “bananasplit,” “minimalism” and “winteriscoming.” Make sure you jot them down somewhere if you’re likely to forget.
44. Learn to speak Pirate, Dothraki or Shyriiwook.
Silly; yes. Fun; heck yes!
45. Spam a work friend.
Email them repeatedly with the lyrics of a well-known song, one line at a time and see if they end up singing it! Childish? Maybe a bit…
Give Yourself Something to Look Forward To
46. Make a plan.
Organise to see friends, family or to go out with your partner that evening, so you have something to look forward to for the rest of the day.
47. Book a day off.
The light at the end of the tunnel.
48. Book a holiday.
The even brighter light at the end of the slightly longer tunnel!
49. Remember that it’s FRIDAY!
And if it’s not Friday… remember how quickly last week disappeared. The weekend will be upon you soon.
50. Make a Change.
Are you unhappy at work, most of the time? It’s time to make a change.
We’ve said it before, but I’ll say it again: life (really) is too short to be unhappy at work.
Recruiter Pro Tip Seriously, you spend most of your life at work; it’s such a waste if you’re unhappy. If you don’t think these tips (or any others) are going to make things any better, you should seriously consider whether this is the career for you. Check out our Candidate Tips blog for advice on everything from making that all-important decision to leave to finding the job of your dreams (and getting it)!
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