Start Your Day With an Attitude of Gratitude
Is the routine and repetition of your average workday starting to get you down? Well, it might just be time to shake things up and inject a little more gratitude into your day.
Fortunately, you can have a far more enjoyable and less stressful time in the office, without making tons of major changes. In fact, there are a few simple habits you can implement to make your workday a little more cheerful, rather than a total chore.
Like what? Here are five things you can do to begin your day with an attitude of gratitude.
1. Stay Away From Your Phone
What’s the first thing you do when you wake up in the morning? If you’re like most people, you probably grab your phone off your nightstand and begin scrolling through your emails and messages.
But, throwing yourself directly into your inbox isn’t really an effective way to get your day started on the right foot. So, make your best effort to stay away from your phone first thing in the morning (get a real alarm clock if you have to!).
It’s a small change, but it will give you a much-needed opportunity to ease into your day. After all, it’s tough to feel grateful and positive when you’re bombarded by work while you’re still tucked into your sheets.
2. Take Five Minutes
If you aren’t going to scroll through your phone immediately after you wake up for the day, that gives you a couple of free minutes that you can dedicate to something more productive and positive.
Use those first few moments of your morning to reflect on a few things you’re grateful for that day. Perhaps you’re going to wrap up a big project that you’ve worked really hard on. Or, maybe you feel lucky that you’ll get to meet a close friend for lunch.
Whatever it is, taking some time to think of the positives that are coming down the pipeline that day will empower you to start things off with a much improved attitude.
3. Pay Someone a Compliment
The second you step foot into the office, it’s easy to get swept up into the hustle and bustle of your workday. You’re eager to get to your desk and begin cranking through that day’s to-dos.
That’s great—you never want to waste too much time on small talk. But, there’s nothing wrong with stopping for a brief morning chat with one of your co-workers, especially if you use that opportunity to offer a genuine compliment.
Research shows that generosity actually quells your own stress and anxiety. So, dishing out some praise might be just what you need to get your day started on the right track. Good deeds accomplish the same thing, so don’t hesitate to bring in some extra coffee or donuts every now and then as well. Your colleagues will appreciate it, and it’ll give your own mood a boost!
4. Get Clear on Your Goals
Nothing kickstarts your day better than getting clear on exactly what you want to accomplish over the next several hours. Setting your objectives and intentions will keep you focused, motivated, and ideally, enthusiastic.
So, rather than getting to your computer and diving straight into your inbox, take some time to jot down three major things that you want to get done during your workday.
Why three things? It’s ambitious enough to be motivating, without causing you to frazzled and like you’re spread far too thin.
5. Be Conscious About Complaining
You’re tired. The breakroom coffee is too weak or too cold. The office is too stuffy. Your schedule is packed full with way too many meetings. It’s true—you can find plenty to complain about during the course of the average workday. But, airing those grievances isn’t doing you any favors.
In fact, science says that complaining is really only dragging you down. By continuously whining, you rewire your brain to make complaining your default behavior. Before you know it, you’re far more negative than positive—which is going to be tough to reverse with just a few simple habit changes.
Nip that issue in the bud and try to keep your venting to a minimum. You’ll preserve your own positivity, while avoiding the risk of becoming the Debbie Downer of your entire office.
Over to You
We’d all like to feel a little more energized and enthusiastic while at work. Fortunately, there are a few small and easy habits you can implement to start each day with gratitude.
Put these five tips to work, and you’re sure to see a noticeable difference in how you power through each and every workday (with a smile, no less)!
