Happy August! No, we’re not just saying that because we want to celebrate the fact that it’s almost time for the kids to get back to school, or because your annual leave is finally rolling around - August is actually Happiness Happens Month (it’s also the month to celebrate International Cat Day and Rice Pudding Day, but we couldn’t think of a work-related spin to put on those).  Created in 1999 by the Secret Society of Happy People, this holiday is all about celebrating the little things that make us happy in a bid to improve our mental health - and of course, this all has a positive knock-on effect when it comes to work.

 

But first let’s take a step back to ask - what actually is happiness?

 

Happiness isn’t some intangible thing that’s impossible to achieve - there are a specific set of chemicals that need to be present in the brain in order for us to feel that rush of glee, and once we understand what they are, it can be easier to get there.

 

First off, we’ve got dopamine, also called the ‘reward molecule’. We get a hit of this every time we achieve a goal, so a simple way to ensure we keep these levels high is to set small targets for yourself throughout the day. Your dopamine levels may wane if you’re more of an introvert than an extrovert, as evidence suggests that more outgoing people have naturally higher amounts of this chemical - nothing a little brain training can’t fix though.

 

Serotonin is another name we’re probably all colloquially familiar with, though it’s more multifaceted than you might believe. Not only does a stable level of this regulate mood and keep us feeling calm, it’s also integral to our digestive function, sleep, bone health, blood clotting ability and more. We can increase serotonin levels by maintaining a healthy diet and sleep schedule; but you might also feel a boost of this in bright light, so try and spend 10-15 minutes a day in the sun (or invest in a light therapy box if you live in cloudier climes).

 

In an increasingly digital world, oxytocin (a.k.a. the bonding chemical) is hard to come by, but it has a dramatic effect on mood. We feel a rush of this when we’re spending time with people, so it’s more important than ever to maintain face-to-face communication even if you’re working remotely. Luckily, working in serviced office spaces like the ones we offer through NearU is the perfect way to get a quick hit of this chemical, as you can easily meet people who are probably all looking for exactly the same social connection.

 

Of course, there are plenty more chemicals involved when it comes to a happy brain; these are just some of the key ones we can start actioning today. Plus, doing so won’t only improve our mental health, it will also boost our work performance. 

 

That’s right - according to a study by the University of Warwick, happy employees are 12% more productive, while unhappy employees are 10% less productive. Not only this, but happier companies grow faster - just take Google, known for its fun company culture, as an example. But work, by nature, isn’t necessarily something everyone takes joy in - so how can we make sure we’re encouraging employee happiness.

In a 2016 study by BambooHR which surveyed over 1,000 business professionals, employees were asked how often they received positive recognition from their employers. 40% said that they were only given such recognition a few times a year, and as a result, half of those respondents said they were not satisfied with their job.

 

In contrast, of the employees who said they received daily positive encouragement from their boss, 94% reported being happy at work. This could come in the form of public (e.g. awards or certifications) or private recognition (e.g. direct praise from their employer), promotion, or monetary reward.

 

Shawn Achor, a psychologist and CEO of GoodThink Inc, may actually have the solution for positive thinking. In a 2012 TED Talk he told the audience that taking 2 minutes to write down 3 things that you were grateful for that day could actually ‘rewire your brain’ after 21 days, allowing you to think more optimistically, more successfully, and thus, more productively.

 

Encouraging your employees to do the same, or perhaps even making it a policy, would mean that in just a few short weeks your company would reap the rewards of a happy workforce for years to come.

 

Even before the pandemic, researchers were already beginning to realise that the key to long-term happiness at work was flexibility. A 2018 survey of 1,500 staff members in the UK conducted by recruitment company, Badenoch and Clark, found that (other than salary) flexible working topped the list when participants were asked what would make them happy at work, with over ⅓ giving this as an answer. This ranked above workplace benefits like gym access, holiday entitlement and career breaks. 

 

However, despite flexibility being the most sought after benefit, it is the one that employees are most uncomfortable asking about in interviews. Without these kinds of policies being prompted by decision-makers, companies could become plagued by a silent epidemic of unhappy workers.

 

Luckily, the tide is changing. The pandemic has opened us up to new ways of working and some of the biggest brands, from Twitter to Apple, have very publicly announced their plans for flexible working policies, meaning smaller companies are likely to follow suit. And NearU are here to make the transition easy, connecting you (or your employees) to flexible desk spaces so you can stay connected (and boost those oxytocin) even when you’re not working in the office.

 

Download our app now via the App Store or Google Play, and start feeling happier at work today.