I am already getting a head start on my goals for 2013. 2012 has been crazy busy and overwhelming at times so it is a good time for me to think about the things that really make me happy. Since I write a blog about being happy, successful, and balanced, I need to model each of these for you right! So, I am focusing on happiness today.
“Each morning when I open my eyes I say to myself: I, not events, have the power to make me happy or unhappy today. I can choose which it shall be. Yesterday is dead, tomorrow hasn’t arrived yet. I have just one day, today, and I’m going to be happy in it.”
– Groucho Marx
What Makes Me Happy at Work?
Things that usually don’t make people happy are money and material things. Things that do make people happy are having meaningful relationships with friends and family, helping others, making a difference, exercising, searching for personal growth and becoming the person you were meant to be. These are the things that make me happy.
So, this coming year will be focused on these things that make me happy. I decided to make a list of everything that makes me happy in my work. Hopefully, it will inspire you to also think about your life and work and focus on the things that do make you happy in the upcoming year.
1) Using My Interests
I discovered my interests in an assessment I took at my company a year ago. My high interests are coaching, mentoring and influencing others. Easy to see that on this blog, right? I love that I am doing more of what I am interested in now but I do know that it took me a long time to figure it out. Your interests stay with you since you were a child so I can remember times as a child when I was always the go-to person in my group of friends to help them get through through relationship problems. I was always helping my friends with their college applications and improving their grades.
I remember trying to influence others when I started the save the earth club in 2nd grade and I told my family that they needed to make their showers shorter and turn off the lights because I was saving the earth! It’s fun to be able to go back to your childhood and make that connection from who you were then to who you are today. For a long time, I wasn’t happy in my job because my career interests didn’t match my job.
2) Having a Career that Motivates Me
The other thing that makes me happy is when my job fits my motivations. My motivations are altruism (helping people), autonomy and lifestyle. I love being trusted to complete a task on my own which is great because I now work for my client from home most days of the week. I am also motivated by helping people which I get to do every day on this blog!
3) Exercise
Towards the end of this year, I did a 60-day Insanity challenge and right now I am working on a P90x 90-day challenge. It’s amazing how much happier I get just from working out every morning. I always used to work out in the evening after work and then I would be so tired when I would get home from work that I would fail miserably at keeping a workout routine.
This summer, I challenged myself to work out every morning. Now I have been working out at 6 am every morning for three months and it has literally changed my happiness and energy level. I am more energized even by doing some simple stretching and yoga poses in the morning than I have been in the past.
4) The Sunrise
This summer we also moved to a third-floor apartment unit in San Diego and every morning I get to watch the sunrise while I workout. This is my view from my window every morning. How could this not make you happy!!?? There’s something about starting my workout when it is pitch black and finishing my workout when the sun is shining. It just makes me ready to start the day!
5) My Quiet Time Every Morning
Before I workout every morning, I have some quiet time to start my day. I would love to learn how to meditate and I think that is one of my goals for 2013. Right now that time is used for waking up, eating breakfast and getting a head start on the blog post for the day so that I don’t have to worry about it later. Fortunately for me, I am a morning person. I don’t even need coffee in order to concentrate on something right away.
The mornings are when I get my best writing done. I have an urge to write every morning and then by 2 pm that urge is just gone. I can’t concentrate at night or in the afternoon. My brain is dead. Mornings are my time and they make me happy. Once you start waking up early and having time for yourself every morning, you can never go back. Best decision I ever made.
6) Checking Off My To-Do List
My to-do list makes me happy. The other day, I set an alarm for an hour and turned on some dance music and completed everything that was on my to-do list in one HOUR! Normally that would have taken me all day because I would have been distracted by Facebook or email. I really need to do this more often! Maybe even once a day to knock out as much of the to-do list as I can. Then I will have more time for writing!
7) ‘Thank You’s from Clients and Readers
Remember when I told you that one of the things that I am motivated by his altruism and helping people. What could be better than wonderful emails like this? I am motivated by helping others so simple words like “thank you” or “good job” really goes a long way.
“I enjoyed listening to your advice. I am also revamping my career path and its refreshing to hear the thoughts and opinions from the working “girl next store”. Your advice and your website, has given me a boost of confidence. Thank you Anna.”
