The Meaning Of Work
MOW_S.jpg

The science of happiness at work

"If you find a job you love, you'll never work again."
Winston Churchill

 

If 1/3 of my waking hours are to be spent at work, it's important I find a job that makes me happy.

Not buying the hippy mumbo jumbo that all I need is a grass skirt, good vibes and flowers in my hair, I turned to science for some answers. I discovered a new field of science called Positive Psychology. Here, happiness has been scrutinised in methodical studies. 

Here is what I learned...

 

Conclusion

"Once you don't believe in an afterlife and you realise how very short and tiny life is then the ultimate purpose of life is to experience as much joy as possible. That's the thing that we can do. That is the thing that elevates us above everything else on this planet."

Caitlin Moran

 
reflection (1).jpeg
 

Summary of Key Points:

 

  1. Money: More money makes us happier but there are diminishing returns

  2. Relationships: Meaningful relationships are the number one indicator of happiness. We need these at work. We need to make time for them outside of work.

  3. Hours: Limit your hours. Working long hours shuts down our neocortex (human brain) and our limbic system (mammal brain) takes over. In this state, we are less creative, less productive and make poorer decisions.

  4. Simplicity: Focusing on fewer things increases our chance of happiness and success.

  5. Exercise: Exercise is often more effective at raising our mood than anti-depressants.

  6. Flow: Flow is an optimal psychological state during which we feel complete absorption. Experiencing flow at work has a huge impact on our happiness and productivity.

  7. Meaning: Doing meaningful work has a huge impact on life satisfaction. The key is to combine both pleasurable and meaningful activities.

 

This list of 7 outcomes has transformed my entire outlook on work. No longer will I be rating job opportunities based on things like social status or whether I get a company car. Instead, I will be basing career decisions on what I now know about money, relationships, hours, simplicity, exercise, flow and meaning. 

Matthew Simmonds