A recent Gallup poll showed only 32% of employees are actively engaged at work. It turns out that 50.8% were “not engaged,” and still 17.2% more were “actively disengaged.” WTF people, right?! That means we’re spending 1/3 of our waking lives, if not more, unhappy. And I’m sure the happiness scales probably show even less satisfaction once we’re outside of work. Too many people are getting sucked into their phones, their addictions, their sports, and the thousand other ways to check out of life. Life is way too miraculous to check out.
It’s time to check back in folks. Life is too short and I’d hate to see you wake up someday and think, oh crap! Where did my life go? Don’t let it happen to you as it’s happened, and will continue to happen, to so many others.
Here are a few tips on not just staying engaged at work, but living a kick ass life and being excited about every moment (or at least as many moments as possible)!
Savor Each Moment
This seems to be so difficult for people, but the moment truly is a gift. The next time you’re in traffic or in line at your coffee shop, just stop and take a breath. Imagine how many trillions of moments had to come together to get you where you are today. It’s mind boggling and awe-inspiring. Let that sense of awe seep throughout your being for a while and live in a sense of awe for each moment!
Stay Connected
Regardless of what you may think, as humans, we need to stay connected to each other. The disconnection of people and isolation of individuals is the precise reason for increased addiction. A study in Finland showed that heroin addicts stopped overdosing after getting jobs, having mentors, and receiving love. Science also shows that there is nothing more directly related to our happiness as our relationships. Check out the Grant and Glueck study. It’s one of the longest studies about happiness, crossing many generations, and is very clear that staying connected with our loved ones is key to our happiness.
Focus on your Strengths
I know the obstacle is the way these days, but sometimes we can get caught up in what’s wrong with us and forget what is incredibly awesome! If you look at people who are at the top of their industry, like athletes, musicians, artists, and even business people, they definitely work on their weaknesses, but they flaunt their strengths. Find yours, use them to help build your confidence, and get out their and conquer! Gallup Strengths Center has helped over 18 million people improve their lives and become more engaged by pointing out their strengths and working to improve them.
Be Grateful
Gratitude is the best medicine for boredom and most any other psychological or emotional issue. It’s the cure for what ails you. I know we can get caught up on our high horse at times, or self righteous and entitled. I’m sure you’ve seen the person who is so upset because they feel like the world owes them something. We can all get that way sometimes, but when you begin to adopt an attitude of gratitude, things begin to shift.
The young man in the photo above is Leonce, he decided to jump off the rock on our hike because he wanted to fly. He’s from Tanzania and currently goes to private school in Hawaii. While there are many cultural differences, he has a deep sense of gratitude for all the experiences he’s having. And this is not just because he was given a gift, it’s because that is how he was raised, to be grateful for everything.
When you stop for a moment and realize that those trillion cells and even more trillions of moments have come together to present you with this moment, give it the respect it deserves and you will find not only more happiness, but a deeper sense of joy and engagement in your life, work, and relationships. Then you become that beacon of light that gallivants through life having a positive effect on others and changing the world. If you’re having trouble finding your way, please reach out for help. I’m always here. @teddymcdonald.
Originally published on the author’s website.