The Zen of work
You're grateful to have a job, but your morale is in the gutter.
The past year has brought layoffs, furloughs, pay freezes, increased health care costs and heavier workloads. And it's starting to eat at you.
You can't control these factors, but there are things you can do to improve your outlook on work. From sprucing up to setting goals and being more positive, here are 10 tips to improve your workplace in 2010.
1. Examine your job and look for ways to become more efficient and organized, says Julie Cummings, director of HR for BKD.
Search for ways you waste time, think about what can be consolidated and look for mundane tasks that may be outdated in this work environment. If you find something that is bogging you down or a task that could be eliminated, talk to your manager. The more organized you are, the less stressed you're likely to be.
2. Focus on your strengths and passions and build on them, says Sheri Phillips, director of career development at Evangel University.
Everyone has something individual to contribute to the workplace. Look at your skills and the aspects of your job you love the most and find ways to increase the work you love to do.
3. Tell a co-worker you appreciate their work, suggests Emily Marshall, counselor and clinical director for the Center for
