Here’s the second part of last week’s interview with happiness expert Gretchen Rubin, who has a terrific blog called The Happiness Project and is currently working on a memoir about her own quest for happiness.

Alex:  Is happiness overrated?  If not, why is it so important?

Gretchen:   I don’t think happiness is overrated. Not only is life much more pleasant when you’re feeling happy, but happy people are actually more helpful, more creative, make better leaders, are more effective, are better liked, healthier, give away more money, and are more altruistic. So trying to be happier isn’t a selfish goal.  One of the best ways to make yourself happy is to make someone else happy;  One of the best ways to make someone else happy is to be happy yourself.   In fact, I argue we have a duty to be happy (or at least to try).

Alex:  How can people find happiness in their work without making a drastic career change? 

Gretchen:  Well, sometimes people need to make drastic change. One of the challenges of happiness is to remember that you shouldn’t let anxiety about making a big change stop you from making small changes that would make you happier, but also, to remember that you shouldn’t let your ability to make small changes deter you from making a big change, if necessary. 

But if you’re not going to make a drastic change, I’d recommend the following basic steps, for happiness at work:  1) Get enough sleep!  Lack of sufficient sleep, along with tight work deadlines, is one of the top two causes of bad moods at work.  2) Exercise.  Exercise is one of the quickest and most effective ways to give yourself a mood boost in the short term and also to maintain your happiness in the long term.  3) Make time for fun. People who have fun at work are happier.  Don’t get so caught up in efficiency or anxiety that you don’t allow yourself to goof around a bit.  4) Tackle something that’s been weighing on your mind. Long-dreaded tasks drag you down and drain your energy. Commit to getting something crossed off your to-do list. You’ll be amazed by the jolt of energy you’ll get.  5) Don’t gossip. Saying mean things about other people isn’t nice, will lower your feelings of self-esteem, will make you paranoid, and all too often backfires in your face.

 
Thanks, Gretchen!