According to an article by the Business Insider, the average American spends about 90,000 hours at work over the course of a lifetime. We tend to see more of our coworkers than our actual families due to work hour obligations. So why not make the best of it and create a positive environment where you spend most of your time at? Even when you don't posses the authority to make changes in the work place, you do have authority over your attitude and how you choose to approach the day. Your mentality paves the way for a successful day or a stressful one.
In order to create a positive environment in the workplace, try this:
Give Thanks
Show gratitude to your coworkers by thanking them for something they weren't expecting to be recognized for. Let them know why their actions were important or helpful. Every one likes to be recognized for their efforts, no matter how big or small. If you're expressing gratitude via email, go the extra mile by copying their boss so they're aware of their employee's helpful actions.
Seek Motivation
Decorate your work space with positive things like quotes, posters, or images which inspire motivation. Place them somewhere that others can see in order to hopefully evoke motivation within them as well. Surrounding yourself with a positive space can lift your spirits and improve your productivity.
Celebrate Accomplishments
Start off a meeting by announcing exciting projects and positive things going on within your department, group, or office. Encourage others to do the same in order to celebrate and recognize everyone's hard work and how it's benefiting the company overall. Teamwork makes the dream work.
Have a Work-Life Balance
Sometimes we tend to bring our personal issues to work, which we then use as an excuse to lash out at our coworkers. Not being able to separate the personal from the business can also hinder our productivity and the quality of our work. Although it can be hard, make the effort to leave your issues and worries at home and make time to deal with those issues once you're out of work.
Promote Positivity
Share a smile, say hello and good morning. Help a coworker overcome a difficult task by sharing tips that have helped you in the past. Offer a lending hand and handle a difficult situation with a positive attitude. Kindness goes a long way.
Celebrate with your Work Family
Use birthdays, engagements, company anniversaries, or personal milestones to celebrate with your coworkers. Include balloons, a cake, or a card and have every one sign it. We all like to be appreciated and what better way to bond with your coworkers than by celebrating important dates.