“Americans have never been the happiest bunch, Gerzema says. In the nine-year history of the happiness poll, the highest happiness index was 35% in 2008 and 2009. Close to 40% of Americans said in 2017 that they rarely engage in hobbies and pastimes they enjoy…” (Time)
“… 2017 turned out to be the worst year for well-being on record.” (Washington Post)
20 ways to be unhappy:
The following list is given in appreciation of Dostoevsky’s statement, “The greatest happiness is to know the source of unhappiness.”
- Focus on what others should do.
- Think about yourself most of the time.
- Expect others to make you happy.
- Move less. Don’t exercise.
- Ruminate on things you can’t control.
- Spend lots of time on Facebook. (Psychology Today)
- Engage in “If only think.” “If only I had a better team.”
- Engage in “If then thinking.” “If I get a great job, I’ll be happy.”
- Compare yourself with others.
- Eat junk food.
- Don’t get enough sleep.
- Talk about problems, but don’t design solutions.
- Replay your screw ups, but don’t learn from them.
- Worry about what others think of you.
- Wait for permission before you take action.
- Speculate about the thoughts of others. (Especially thoughts about you)
- Worry about the future.
- Try to be happy. (If you want to be happy, forget about being happy. Focus on meaningful service.)
- Lose yourself in work and neglect your family.
- Don’t include others in your work. Do it all yourself.
5 ways to lead a happier team:
- Adopt a community project.
- Exercise together. Take walks during lunch.
- Learn from mistakes. Ask, “What are you learning?”
- Complete something today.
- Have a conversation instead of sending an email.
With “20 ways to be unhappy” in mind, what are some ways a leader can elevate the happiness quotient on their team?
