Finding Happiness in Your Work

Often, job hunters are so busy looking for a job that they neglect to fully consider the impact of that career on their lives. You will spend many hours each week at work, and what you do on the job will have a profound effect on what happens "on your own time." The number of hours you work, where you work, and the responsibilities and stresses of your job will inevitably shape who you are and how you behave. By consciously integrating your personal and professional lives, you are more likely to find happiness in both.

The First Step: Test for Stress

Begin by evaluating your present stress level. Complete the questionnaire below to determine whether your life has become unduly pressured. Respond to each question with a number from zero to four (0 = never, 1 = seldom, 2 = sometimes, 3 = often, 4 = always).

1. Do you frequently arrive at work frazzled or late?
   ________
2. Do you often have to cancel personal plans or commitments because of unexpected demands at work?
   ________
3. Are you having difficulty performing in either the public or private areas of your life?
   ________
4. 4. Have family members or friends suggested that your personality has changed?
   ________
5. 5. Do you have the nagging feeling that "something has got to give"?
   ________
6. 6. Do you arrive home after work with little energy for anything else?
   ________
7. 7. Do you have trouble concentrating at work?
   ________
8. 8. Do you bring work to do at home or on vacation?
   ________
9. 9. Do you feel guilty for neglecting important personal relationships?
   ________
10. 10. Would you describe yourself as unhappy?
    ________

Total: ________

Scoring

0-7.  Congratulations! Your life is remarkably stress-free, and you have managed to easily meet the responsibilities you face.

8-14.  Your stress level is moderate and manageable. Although your job and home life may occasionally be challenging, these challenges are not overwhelming.

15-21.  Your stress level is high. Consider evaluating which aspects of your life are causing you to feel most pressured. It's time to make some changes in order to improve the quality of your work and your relationships.

22 and above.  You face some extremely difficult situations on a daily basis, and it is possible that your physical and emotional health have begun to show signs of the strain. It is essential that you evaluate the career and personal choices you have made in the past and carefully examine your options now. It's time to focus on what changes you can make in order to continue to be a healthy, productive individual-both on and off the job.

At Home

If you must work so many hours that you feel stressed about handling your responsibilities at home, evaluate which of your duties you could delegate or hire out to others. Some of the suggestions listed below may make your juggling act a little easier.

1. Could you arrange a baby-sitting swap with a friend or neighbor so that you can spend time maintaining your relationship with your spouse or significant other?
2. Could you hire a friend, neighbor, or local student to perform a little part-time housekeeping or yardwork so that you could spend more time at home with your children?
3. Are you committed to projects, committees, or clubs that have begun to make your life more stressful than pleasurable?
4. Is there a way you could squeeze more into the time you do have? For example, could you use your lunch hour to exercise? Could you use commuting time to make mental notes, dictate ideas into a tape recorder, or listen to books on tape?
5. Simplify, simplify, simplify. Are there any other tasks that you could remove from your daily "to do" list? Cull your responsibilities to the things you truly enjoy or absolutely must take care of, and determine which things you can eliminate or have someone do for you. Barter with friends and neighbors, negotiate with family members, delegate whenever possible, and hire some of the myriad of local services designed to make your life easier.

For some, the need to control all aspects of life at work and at home creates a miserable existence. If you are one of these people, work on accepting the fact that you just may not be able to do it all and that all tasks may not get done perfectly. Let some things go completely.

At Work

If your own soul-searching reveals that no other changes can be made at home, perhaps it is time to examine what changes can be made on the job. Here are some questions to ask yourself:

1. Can you choose a position at a branch office that involves less commuting?
2. Can you propose a part-time, telecommuting, or flex-time arrangement?
3. Can you arrange to work a different shift?
4. Is it time to look for a new position within the company or a new career -altogether?

A little self-examination and some appropriate changes can work to create a more harmonious blend of your personal and professional lives.