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Wellness Wednesday: PERK Up Your Work
We can’t always whistle while we work, but there’s wisdom in that old Disney song. Work makes up a large portion of our lives, so finding ways to cultivate happiness and contentment while working is crucial to keeping yourself happy in all aspects of your life. If you’re sad in one portion of your life, that misery will spread across the others like a small crack in your windshield will eventually spider-web itself across all the glass.
Research compiled by the UC Berkeley’s Greater Good Science Center led them to create a formula for being happy at work called PERK. The PERK model focuses on four qualities that can help people find satisfaction and success at home and at work.
PERK
Purpose. What makes your work meaningful? Does your work feel valuable? A key to happiness is feeling that you can make a positive measurable impact on the world through meaningful work.
Engagement. Are you able to immerse yourself in your work? Do you have ownership over your schedule, your tools, or anything else you need to succeed? The engagement part of PERK asks us to consider what obstacles are in our way, and what best practices we can implement that can make our work and lives easier for us.
Resilience. Are you able to bounce back from unexpected setbacks and challenges? Another crucial component of happiness is being able to roll with life’s punches. They call stress the silent killer for a reason. Developing coping mechanisms to keep your equilibrium and stay focused on your goals will lead to greater happiness in the long run.
Kindness. Are you a good listener? Do you practice empathy when building relationships with others? If you want to be happy, making others happy in turn can create a loop of positive reinforcement. You get what you put into your relationships. The kindness you show today can come back to you tenfold when you need it most.
Occupational Wellness
Happiness at work is also an important part of Occupational Wellness. Occupational wellness is about fostering happiness in the workplace and how it can benefit the organization as a whole. When employees feel happy and engaged, they’ll produce a higher quality of work and be more productive. This presentation by author Zack Friedman offers some insights on tools we can use to achieve greater happiness and engagement in the workplace.
Self-Care
Happiness comes from within, so it’s important to supplement your PERK with some self-care. Consider making some of these a part of your self-care work routine:
- Schedule time for micro-breaks: a quick walk or a few minutes of meditative breathing in a quiet place can really recharge your inner battery.
- Opt for a healthy lunch: a light, healthy lunch can give you the energy you need to power through your day without weighing you down like richer, heavier food would.
- Make connections: take a moment to share kind words with a co-worker or check-in with someone who’s struggling. Caring for others is good for us - it satisfies our primal need for connection as social animals. No man is an island, as John Donne once wrote.
Want more wellness tips? Check out these stories:
- The Healthy Living Switcheroo
- Your Health and Wellness Myths Busted
- Essential Elements To Keep You Going
Story by Austin Brietta