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Finding Joy in the Chaos

November 14, 2016 Rachel Alldis

Working in higher education can be overwhelming at times.  There are always more students in need of care and support, one more roommate conflict that needs immediate attention, a report you have to get in by the end of the day, the training session you need to plan, the program you want to attend, the supervision meeting on your calendar, and the parent phone call that needs to be returned.  In between all of this you have meetings, committees and work to be done, not to mention your email inbox to tackle, which inevitably will add to your to do list for the week.   And many of these issues are taxing on your well-being.  It is hard to always be “on” for meetings and events or to not become drained by the student crying in your office or the twentieth person who tells you they NEED a single room. How do you find joy in your job when your work seems to be driven by chaos all the time?

Throughout my years in student affairs, I have had many days like the one described above.  It can seem overwhelming and it has made me forget why I chose to be in student affairs.  When I am feeling this way, I like to turn to a fun TED Talk or read a book that helps me see a different perspective.  That is when I stumbled upon Shawn Achor.  If you haven’t seen his TED Talk, “The Happy Secret to Better Work,” it is worth the twelve minutes.  If you prefer books, read his, The Happiness Advantage.  This talk and book got me interested in Positive Psychology and now I try to read and watch all I can on this topic.  This exploration has given me some great ideas and tips on how to find happiness on even the most chaotic day.

  1. Give thanks.  When you get to your office, let the first email you send for the day be one thanking or acknowledging somebody for their influence in your life.  Let them know how they have impacted or inspired you.  This can be short or more detailed, it can be about how they made you laugh the other day, or a quick thanks for help on a project.  There is no wrong way to let someone know you value and appreciate them.  Not only will you feel better, you will bring them joy and give them a great start to their day. 
  2. Smile!  Studies show that the act of smiling actually tells your brain you are happy, then you actually feel happier.  Also, sharing a smile with another colleague can bring them happiness.  The contagion effect can change the entire mood of your office and those you are meeting with.
  3. Take a deep breath and meditate.  When I first read about this, I thought, “I can’t waste five minutes of my day this way.”  But, five minutes a day of intentionally relaxing, clearing your mind and focusing on your breath can help you get focused and be more productive with the rest of your day.  So when you hit that post lunch crash in your day, just take five minutes, close your eyes, breathe and try to clear your mind.  When you come back to work you will be refreshed and ready to tackle the next challenge in a more positive mindset.
  4. Commit an Act of Kindness.  Do something nice for someone else.  You see the person behind you in line for coffee getting anxious about the line and checking their watch, let them go in front of you.  Buy a flower and give it to a friend, just because.  Bake something at home and bring it to the office.  Thinking about ways you can bring a little joy into other people’s lives is a great way to bring some joy into your own as well.  Spread kindness, it will catch on.
  5. Have gratitude.  At the end of day, write down at least three things for which you are grateful.  Everyone who talks about or teaches positive psychology mentions the importance of gratitude.  It helps us start looking for the good things in our life and focusing more on the positive around us, than the negative.  Make this a daily habit.

Hopefully these tips can bring a little more joy into your work life and help you break though the chaos.  Try these five things for one month or focus on one each month for the next five months and see how you personally react to each tip.  Doing this will help make each of these tips a habit in your life.  You may enjoy some more than others, but each have the ability to bring you to a greater level of happiness and that makes the work day feel much more manageable.

Do you have thoughts on this blog post? Share them with us on Facebook @NPGSKC, on Twitter @npgs_kc, or on Instagram @npgs_kc!

Rachel Alldis serves as the Assistant Dean of Students and Director of Residential Life at Mount Holyoke College.  She is actively involved with ACUHO-I and chairs the annual conference Program Committee.  Rachel can be reached on by email at [email protected].