Happy Hormones at the Workplace!

We always tell ourselves that when we achieve things or meet an important checkpoint in our career progression, that’s how we know we have a great career. But did you also know that work isn’t just about achieving things or having a great performance? It’s also about going in every morning, Monday till Friday, with a big, big smile on your face!

In fact, being happy at work is what contributes to your success and performance! Imagine not liking the place you work – chances are you won’t be bothered to go the mile to make things work for you, your team, and the company.

But if you go in, feeling great about yourself and loving the work you do, we bet you that whatever you set your mind to do will come to you easily!

So we say: DOSE on your happy hormones while at work! And we’re talking about the four happy hormones that are responsible for your daily positive moods: Dopamine, Oxytocin, Serotonin, and Endorphin. Here’s how each one works to boost the happy mood at the office.

Dopamine
Think of Dopamine as your achievement hormone – the more you have, the better your alertness, focus, creativity, and concentration. Dopamine is what drives you to achieve your goals and do what it takes to be successful. It also helps you interact better with others, making teamwork a breeze, not a chore.

Another way to describe dopamine? The high you get when you do a really difficult task! Hence why it’s important to trigger dopamine at the workplace so you are motivated to stay on course.

What are the best ways to produce dopamine? This is the reward chemical so anything that makes you feel rewarded – trying something new, doing something creative, ticking a to-do on your list. Another easy but fun way to up your dopamine is to listen to your favourite songs while completing your task to enhance your mood. Try it!

Oxytocin
Ahhh, the love hormone. Or at the workplace, the hormone that helps you bond better with your colleagues. Like how it is useful in a relationship, oxytocin helps you create better bonds with your colleagues, building on trust and connections. It also lets you manage your stress levels better and boost that feeling of contentment at work, which is really great because you mostly feel unsatisfied and unhappy at work when you feel like you’re not getting what you should be.

To increase your oxytocin levels, make sure to sign up for all the team-building activities either at work or after work to encourage more trust and cooperation. Try to make it for all the lunch invites – there’s no better way to get to know your colleagues than in a more casual setting. Also, play your part as a valued team member to foster positive relationships.

Serotonin
We all know this as the “feel good” hormones. At work, it is all about how you feel when you are there. Some people also call it the leadership hormone as it boosts power, self-esteem, and inner satisfaction. When your serotonin levels are up, your stress level goes down – which is a great thing, especially when crunching numbers and meeting deadlines! Serotonin is also a great hormone to boost as it sets you apart as someone to aspire to – everyone loves a confident and low-stressed friend at work, which works in your favour if you’re gunning for that top position!

To boost serotonin, exercise! Go for a short walk during your lunch break and make sure to stretch every hour. Try to get as much natural light as possible. Also, having a neat and comfy workplace will do wonders to your serotonin level – so bring on the plants!

Endorphin
Our final happy hormones at work, also the one most related to feeling happy and great about yourself. Endorphins play a role in reducing pain while enhancing feelings of well-being. It literally makes you feel good at work, and yes happy too! It’s a mood enhancer, and we all need that when the going gets tough! You know how you laugh at a joke or funny moment with your colleagues? That’s endorphins at work!

To boost your endorphins, go on and watch that funny video your colleague shared. Have a quick, casual chit-chat with your colleagues to make work not all that serious, all the time. Sign up for the sports club! Not only is it a great way to connect with your colleagues, it’s essentially perfect to boost not just your endorphin but the other happy hormones too!

Photo by D Jonez on Unsplash.