Rihanna's doing it, so why shouldn't you? Working hard has serious payoffs. Money in the bank is the first benefit of having a good paying job that gives you a lot of hours. With all that money stacking up in the bank, it's hard to seem unsatisfied. But for some reason, you remain unhappy. Without realizing it, you are sleep deprived and emotionally drained from your job. Your patience is at an all time low and you can't remember the last time you've seen your friends. You know you're overworked when you would rather nap than go out on a pizza date with your friends. That's pretty sad.
But when you see how much money is in your pocket, it's so hard to stop working long shifts. Working hard is a good way to spend your time, but learning to balance happiness and career success is when the hard work pays off.
In the long run, you will live a much happier life if you learn to prioritize your happiness. Get started in the right direction with these 11 ways to get your priorities straight while smiling more.
1. Wake up earlier
Training yourself to wake up an hour before work may be the best thing you do for yourself. Instead of feeling rushed to beat traffic, you give yourself time to relax before you head into a jam-packed day.
2. Find your happy place
Painting, drawing, yoga; whatever gets your creative juices flowing. Find time to do what makes you, you.
3. Eat a healthy breakfast
Find your fix. Maybe it's oatmeal with yogurt and fruit, or a fresh omelet full of broccoli and spinach. Either way, starting the day off with a healthy meal will lead to an entire day of good choices.
4. Start the day with exercise
Working out early is always hard but it will boost your endorphins and will kick up your energy for the whole day! When you are able to find a half hour to work out, try the Kayla Itsines Workout Program !
5. Make a playlist for your drive
Having a playlist full of your favorite songs for your commute will definitely put you in a better mood no matter what. I highly recommend investing in a Spotify Premium Account so your music can travel with you easily. It's $10 a month, but buying Spotify with your hard earned moolah is worth it.
6. Make a priorities list
When you feel like you don't have enough time for everything you want to do, figuring out what is wasting your time is a good place to start. Always prioritize your happiness!
7. A friendly workplace
Make sure wherever you are working is a positive environment. If you find yourself leaving work upset or stressed out, maybe it's time to find a new job. Whatever rate you are being paid should not come before your own sanity.
8. A good work space
If you work at an office keep your desk clean! Any disorganization will clutter your work and life. Keep it neat!
9. To-Do list
A cute agenda book is the way to go. Writing down all of your daily to-do's will help you maximize your down time. There are really cute ones at Calendars.com that aren't too big or too small!
10. Keep your friends close
In times of frantic running around and a tight schedule, it's important to stay in touch with your people. If you don't make time for quick coffee dates or forget to shoot them a "hey have a great day!" text once in awhile, they won't feel important. Plus hanging out with your BFF's can be an easy way to de-stress.
11. But keep your favorite foods closer
Busy times call for more snacks than ever before. (Yes, it's OK to order pizza for dinner a lot, but no, you cannot skip leg day.)
Don't ever forget what is most important. Your happiness should not come second to anything. No matter how busy you are, how broke you are, or how appealing it sounds to just sleep the day away, take charge of your life and prioritize what is most important: you.
