When you reflect on your day, do you feel a sense of accomplishment? Whether at work or in your personal life, how much of your time is spent doing things that feel meaningful to you? For some people, the workday is something to get through, and their free time is meant for relaxation and entertainment. While downtime is essential to recharge from daily stresses, doing nothing for long periods does not support your happiness.
Hungarian psychologist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, known for his study of happiness and creativity, particularly the flow state, has recognized the happiness that even subtle feelings of accomplishment can generate. He suggests that even menial chores can be turned into a game where we challenge ourselves and measure our success. This is one ingredient to experiencing the flow state. When we find ways to be more engaged in the things we are doing, regardless of the task, we feel better about our efforts by generating a sense of accomplishment.
There is a reason people like to check off tasks on a to-do list. It can cause the brain to produce dopamine when we complete tasks, similar to the dopamine spikes we experience when we accomplish things in a video game. It is the psychological and physical reward for getting things done or being productive. Unfortunately, many of us work in jobs were it is not always obvious what we have accomplished in the way that an artisan might.
I have observed and worked with people whose objective seemed to be doing as little work as possible. These individuals were often unhappy and complained frequently. Laziness is truly unfulfilling and undermines our happiness, just as working at a job that feels futile or meaningless does. Even if you aren’t working at your dream job or your job is just a means to an end, it is important to find meaning and satisfaction in what you do. Each of us can add value to our work, and recognizing this is important.
If you struggle to find a sense of accomplishment at work, try turning it into more of a game and aim for a high score. Reframing how you see your role at work can also be helpful. Spending your time avoiding work and pursuing convenience does not support your happiness. There is a strong link between feeling productive and your level of happiness.
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