Whether it is to increase your sales, get a promotion, create better partnerships or overcome a challenging task, nothing is more effective or more powerful for improving productivity, than having a good attitude.

The more positive you feel about yourself, the more confident you are. The more confident you are, the more people want to work with you. The happier you are, the more inspiration you have. Solutions to challenges are more readily available.

 

Happiness Creates Productivity

The more you enjoy your work, the greater your productivity (In fact professor Andrew Oswald and other economists’ research found a large increase in productivity from happiness).

It doesn’t matter the kind of work you are doing, it’s all about you. Indeed, you are in charge here.

Yes, life can throw you curves. The economy, other people’s dispositions, rising gas prices. None of those really matter when it comes to accomplishing your goal.

 

The more you focus on your distractions, the less joy and excitement you have for your projects. And productivity wanes.

 

Let’s face it, sometimes your emotional buttons and triggers can really hook you into conflict or frustration. You know what? It may not even be your issue; it could be someone else’s. As long as you get pulled into it, however, you are being pulled back into a pattern that controls you.

 

The truth is, it is difficult to be happy all of the time. But what if you could learn to shift out of your stresses?

 

Happiness Triggers

The more you know yourself, the easier it is to take charge of your thoughts and emotions. For example, everyone has negative emotional buttons. Did you know, you also have positive emotional triggers? A phrase or a thought, an image, sound, song. Something that when you connect to it, you go to a place of joy and happiness immediately.

 

For example, one of my favorite emotional triggers, is the smell of fresh baked chocolate chip cookies. I don’t even have to eat them, just the smell of them makes me happy. I have so many positive emotional memories connected to them.

 

Another positive emotional trigger is puppies. And who doesn’t love the smell of puppy breath?! If they could bottle it, we’d be buying it. Perhaps it triggers our maternal instincts. I don’t know.

 

What emotional triggers do you have?

 

The smell of oranges, for the majority of people, immediately calms the nerves and brings a sense of hope. Jasmine creates a sense of peace. While these are great for reducing stress, we want to take it up a notch and have joy and laughter.

 

Music is often great for that.

A phone call, to someone you care about. Perhaps a child. Whatever you use, it has to be personal to you. So take some time, do an inventory of the things that bring you joy and trigger your sense of happiness. Studies have shown that plants and flowers in a work environment, not only improve the oxygen levels, but also create an environment that is soothing and relaxing (remember to water them).

 

Create a happy work environment

Here are some tips for making your work environment a happy place:

  • Eliminate clutter.
  • Have personal items that give you a sense of ownership of your space. Make it more like home. No tv.
  • Have plants.
  • Surround yourself with bright and cheerful colors (move away from pastels).
  • Take breaks. During every break, get out of the work space. If you can go outside and breathe the fresh air, that’s even better.
  • Cut the caffeine. Increase your natural vitamin intake and hydration instead.

You know what…I’m going to go bake some cookies. I will eat one for you.

 

Share one of your positive emotional triggers in the comments below!

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