Simple ideas for a happier work life | Pat Perry

We tend to make our daily work lives much more complicated than they need to be.

Keeping life simple is not an easy task, especially at work. But by focusing on the following ideas, you may find that you can condition yourself to manage everything at work and outside of work with a healthier perspective:

•Live in the present. You may have heard this idea before, but it works. Regretting something that you did yesterday and/or worrying about tomorrow is simply wasted energy. Yesterday is gone and tomorrow is not promised. The next hour is not even promised. Make the moments count as you can never have them back.

• Don’t stay in a job that is not a fit. Regardless of whether it is your boss, the workplace, or the work itself, if you dislike what you are doing it may be time to move on to the next opportunity. Try not to “quit” and stay at a job that does not work for you.

• Take on one task at a time. Multi-tasking is a nice buzzword but can add immeasurably to stress and job dissatisfaction.

• Turn your phone off when you get home. Emails, texts, and other posts can wait until tomorrow. It may be tough at first, but try it for a week. Unplugging is a great way to simplify your life.

• Every day attempt to make your focus to positively impact your family, co-workers, customers, and the community. This is the important stuff.

• Make today better than yesterday and repeat this approach tomorrow. Don’t live for the weekend as living two out of every seven days is a horrible way to exist.

• Be home for dinner each night if you can (and don’t forget to turn off the phone).

• Work hard at working smart.

• Hang out with people that make you better.

• Once you recognize there is truly no time to waste, you will make better decisions about how you spend your time.

• Don’t hit the snooze button in the morning. Those extra minutes lying in bed add up. Think of the time you will be giving yourself to enjoy life!

• Ask yourself each morning – “how can I change the world today?” Then do it.

• Exercise, get enough sleep, and eat healthily. The benefits of doing all three well can be incredible.

• Allow yourself to laugh and have fun each day.

• Focus on the positive whenever possible.

• Be grateful. Be generous. Be humble.

• Find and then live your passion.

• Remember, you can re-boot your life any time you want.

You probably have some basic rules you live by. Perhaps some of these might help support your journey along the way.

We make the life we lead, so why not make the very best day today that you can despite any hardship you may be facing.

Every day is not promised to be a bowl of cherries. Quite the contrary. As we get older, we realize that moments of happiness are fleeting.

Seek to maximize those times and multiply those special moments.

When you look back and judge your life, hopefully, you can say that each day, you gave it your best, regardless of the outcomes. When you do that, you will most likely have lived a life that had meaning, purpose and made a difference.

Don’t ever underestimate your importance in this world. Towards the end of your career, you may realize that success was never about job title, money, or status. These are all artificial and in the end, are meaningless. True life fulfillment and happiness result from being true to yourself and giving your time on Earth 100 percent effort.

You’ll see.

Pat Perry is ERC’s chairman and author of “Re-Shape Re-Define Re-Imagine.” (www.PatPerryBook.com)