Want to get more done at work? The productivity gurus out there will tell you that it’s all about having the right system: Prioritize your tasks, keep detailed time logs, make to-do lists, learn to structure your calendar …

But a system isn’t where you should start. You should start by liking what you do.

The single most efficient way to increase your productivity? Be happy at work! Why is happiness at work the #1 productivity booster? Here are 8 reasons:

1: Happy people work better with others

Happy people are more fun to be around and consequently have better relationships at work. This translates into:

• Better teamwork with colleagues
• Better employee relations for managers
• More satisfied customers for service professionals
• Improved sales for salespeople

2: Happy people are more creative

If your productivity depends on being able to come up with new ideas, you need to be happy at work.

There seems to be a cognitive process that kicks in when people are feeling good that leads to more flexible, fluent, and original thinking, and there’s actually a carryover, an incubation effect, to the next day.

3: Happy people fix problems instead of complaining about them

When you don’t like your job, every molehill looks like a mountain. It becomes difficult to fix any problem without agonizing over it or complaining about it first. When you’re happy at work and you run into a snafu – you just fix it.

4: Happy people are more optimistic

Happy people have a more positive outlook, and research shows that optimists are way more successful and productive.

5: Happy people are way more motivated

Low motivation means low productivity, and the only sustainable, reliable way to be motivated at work is to be happy and like what you do

6: Happy people get sick less often

Getting sick is a productivity killer, and if you don’t like your job you’re more prone to contract a long list of diseases including ulcers, cancer and diabetes. You’re also more prone to workplace stress and burnout.

7: Happy people worry less about making mistakes – and consequently make fewer mistakes

When you’re happy at work the occasional mistake doesn’t bother you much. You pick yourself up, learn from it and move on. This relaxed attitude means that fewer mistakes are made, and that you’re more likely to learn from them.

8: Happy people make better decisions

Unhappy people operate in permanent crisis mode. Their focus narrows, they lose sight of the big picture, their survival instincts kick in and they’re more likely to make short-term, here-and-now choices. Conversely, happy people make better, more informed decisions and are better able to prioritize their work.

So how do you get to be happy at work?

Get happy in the job you have. There are about a million things you can do to improve your work situation – get proactive! Or if your current job is not fixable, find a new job where you can be happy. Don’t wait – move on now!

Need help finding that job where you can truly feel happy? Contact PACE Staffing Network today!