5 Habits That Will Make You Happier at Work

“But when we really delve into the reasons for why we can’t let something go, there are only two: an attachment to the past or a fear for the future.” ― Marie Kondo

Marie Kondo has taken over everyone’s homes by advocating for getting rid of things that no longer spark joy in your life. Sure, cleaning out your house of physical items is refreshing, but have you inventoried your work habits lately?

As entrepreneurs, we seem to accumulate a lot of useless habits that drain us. We have friends, families, and media shouting conflicting messages in our faces consistently; be this, do that, sit down, stand up, relax but get shit done. It can be exhausting, overwhelming, and not spark an ounce of joy.

It’s time to clean out your habits! Here are 5 habits that will make you happier at work. 

1. Stop Seeking Perfection

Every business and human life is an experiment, not a recipe. You are still creating your life; it may be delicious, but it is not a cupcake. There is no perfect ratio or amount of ingredients you can add to your business, schedule, or life to make it perfect. 

So, it’s time to let go of this unrealistic idea of needing to be perfect. There is not an overarching “right” way to do anything. Make the choice that you feel is best for you and your work, then move on.

2. Limit Your People Pleasing

The added stress of trying to make everyone happy will leave you feeling strained, drained, and unhappy. There will be times when you will need to choose your sanity over someone else’s happiness. You cannot do all of the things while offering all of the programs while being in all of the places. 

Choose projects and opportunities that align with your goals, mission & vision. Say no to the rest.

3. Don’t Compare Yourself to Others

We all tend to go to an irrational place in our mind that tells us our lives are not measuring up; it is time to let that shit go. You are not inadequate as an entrepreneur – you are just comparing yourself to the fakeness social media presents. 

Create short-term and long-term business goals & work towards them with small steps. 

4. Use Systems and Technology

Maybe your systems and organization are relaxed right now because it’s a small team, and you run the show. But what happens when you want to go on vacation? Can you go on vacation? If you can’t unplug and walk away, you have a problem. 

Slow down, so you can speed up. Systems and technology can be your friends if you take the time to set them up correctly. So take the time, and stop delaying.

5. Value Yourself

When is the last time you evaluated your worth and paid yourself? Stop using the excuse that you work because you love it. Instead of accepting whatever is offered, decide what your time, effort, and energy are worth. Then you have a starting point and a reference to return to when compensation is involved. 

Also, keep in mind that compensation can come in many forms. Perhaps it’s not just direct-pay, but trades, publicity, and complimentary access can make something worth your energy. 

BONUS Tip: Ditch the Word Balance

Have you heard of work-life balance? Sure, but have you experienced a work-life balance? No! There is no such thing. Balance means “an even distribution”, which puts a lot of pressure on you to be split in the middle perfectly. Instead, use the word harmony. It’s ok to spend more weeks focused on life than work, just like it’s ok to spend some weeks focused more on work. It should ebb and flow. If you are constantly striving for even distribution, you are never going to find it.