A recession? Seeing friends and loved ones can be like getting a pay rise

The disastrous events in the world of international banking and finance over the last week have caused feelings of insecurity and fear. Institutions thought to be safe have crumbled and we have all had reason to think of how to make sure what we own is safe.

Studies show that despite rises in standards of living in the last generation, we are not necessarily any happier and more media time has been devoted to the concept of happiness over recent weeks with a good example by BBC political reporter, Brian Wheeler who suggests that now might a be a good time for our politicians to focus on our general well being.

There are many things that we think will make us happier and most of these will cost money and more importantly require us to take on debt to buy them. Debt is something we are told is almost unavoidable once we become adults, from the point we go to university to our first car or that expensive long haul holiday. A quick phone call and the quote of a 16 digit number on a plastic card and we have that new opportunity to improve our mood.

What if we tried to think differently about what makes us happy? What are the simple changes we can make to recognise where we are already happy and also where we can do things that are within our grasp and do not require us to build our mountain of debt. Research by Nattavudh Powdthavee suggests that our communities and friendships can be measured financially and contribute hugely towards our mood and confidence. Going from seeing friends and relatives once or twice a week to seeing them more often can be worth an additional £15,500 per annum. Dr Powdthavee points out that this impact on mood suggests the need for government policies to encourage greater social interaction. The modern drive to work longer hours and to travel further to do so is contrary to the assertion that we need only make more time to spend with loved ones or to make new quality relationships to increase our fulfillment in life.

As we know, work life balance is not easy to achieve, however, small changes in what we do during our week such as making time for a coffee with a friend, or watching a film on T.V. with a loved one can contribute in a gradual way to shifting mood and demonstrating the way to keep improving our happiness.

Lunchtime Playtime

Imagine a playground at work!

 

 

When you were at school the day would be broken up with breaks in the playground where you could talk to friends, play games, have a run and generally let off steam.  In the world of work it’s not so easy to find a chunk of time everyday where you can do your own thing but it maybe possible to dedicate one lunchtime to doing something that will relieve stress and allow you to recharge you batteries instead of eating at your desk, in the staff restaurant or rushing to the bank. 

Making a change to your routine by carving out one hour in the middle of one of your work days to do something different will give you something to look forward to and may yield great benefits in reducing your stress and tension levels  making you feel more able to deal with the demands of work.  Here are 3 suggestions to try one day this week:

Walking club

Why not start a walking club with some colleagues, where you can agree in advance a series of walks in the local area lasting for about 40 minutes allowing some time at the end to eat.  The walks don’t have to be particularly vigorous but the club do need to take responsibility to take part consistently. The benefits are numerous but will include, getting to know colleagues better, increasing fitness levels and reducing tension. 

Start or join a games club

This can be a simple yet very effective idea where a few of you can decide on a game such as scrabble and arrange to play every week for an hour over lunch. The group can remain small but if more colleagues show interest then perhaps go to your employers and present it as a morale improving initiative for staff.

Start or join a book club

Workplace book clubs are gaining in popularity and are again an effective way to do something completely different from your work while getting to know the people who work in your organisation. The concept is very simple and will mean the group decides on the title of the book for the month and you all then buy a copy and then meet back at regular intervals to discuss the story. In some cases book clubs will arrange to watch a stage or screen adaptation of the story adding another feature to the social aspect of the club.

The workplace ‘playtime’ is an opportunity to use some of the valuable time you have in the middle of your day which may teach you something new, improve your health and help you to make new friends all of which are excellent ways to improve confidence and reduce stress.