Not many people say on their death bed that they wish they’d spent more hours at work. This is one of may favourite quotes (not that I know who said it first). I use it to justify my constant need to get on a plane and see the world. Others use it as a reality check when they catch themselves rolling from one crazy week into another.
It would be great if we could all come and go from work as we please, making lifestyle our top priority. Put friends, family, training and travel at the top of the list. But the reality is that any style of life needs to be funded. Bills need to be paid and hungry mouths need to be fed. So how do we keep on working hard and keep happy at the same time?
- Get to know the people you work with. 1/3 of working Aussies spend over 45 hours a week at work. That is more awake time than you’re likely to spend with any other group of people. So take the time to get to know them and do your best to enjoy their company.
- Claim your space. You want to sit down at your desk in the morning and smile. Pot plants, photos, quotes… anything that makes you laugh or smile is a great addition to your space.
- Eat, drink, move. Regularly. It takes a little planning to have quality snacks on hand. Try these snack options. As for drinking and moving, it’s simple. Drink from a glass. So that you have to get up and re-fill it at least every hour (to drink 8 glasses a day). If you tend to forget, set an alert.
- Ask. Whatever you want from work, ask for it. Because chances are no-one else is thinking about you. Do you want flexible hours? The option to work from home once a fortnight? To switch your most dreaded client for one you’d love to work with? Just ask. If you get a no, you’ll be no worse off than you are right now.
- Keep it in perspective. You are you. You are not your job title. It’s great to challenge yourself at work and to push for more and more. As long as there is a life outside of work. If you look after your relationships, you’ll have friends and family around you for a lot longer than you’ll have your career.
