6 Ways Youre Making Yourself Miserable at the Office

6 Ways Youre Making Yourself Miserable at the Office6 Ways Youre Making Yourself Miserable at the OfficeFeeling a little grouchy? There could be a reason that mid-level manager in marketing is irritating you to no end and the customer who just called has put you on edge. Staying productive at work is sometimes challenging enough, but your mood could be influenced by a few of these environmental, ergonomic, and health-related causes. Change these variables and you might see an uptick in your overall happiness during the day.1. Choosing to Always Email Instead of Calling or Meeting in PersonStudies have shown that email can cause stress. It turns out some of us might even stop breathing when we read and process email. Theres also something about the flickering light from a laptop screen, the hyper-focus on digital data on your phone, and the fact that our brains need to see multiple levels of perspective and not just one during the day (if you must know, its called a lack of sensory dy namism).Give yourself a break. By walking over to the desk of a co-worker or picking up the phone, youll avoid being locked into email.2. Working With the Lights DimmedWorking in a low-light situation works fine for videographers and photographers, who need to the screen to pop a bit mora as they make fine edits. Were not all Photoshop gurus. If you spend most of your day with the lights dimmed, it can make you depressed. I like this study from way back in 2008 that found our brains need a shock of light to help curb depression. Ironically, when you pull that blind in your office to get more work done, you are probably inhibiting your productivity. Let the sun shine in Grab one of these air and light sensors to see if you need to bump up the brightness in the room.3. Keeping Your Desk Perfectly Straightened and CleanedTake a close look at your desk right now. Do you see a white or brown desk with nothing on it but a laptop and a monitor? Oh, maybe you have a coffee cup and a notepad , but otherwise you like to keep things as clean as a plate after washing the dishes. Bad idea. Having absolutely nothing on your desk is not an organizational technique, its just depressing. Go ahead and add a few knick-knacks like a flower pot, a few pictures of the kids, or maybe a Stormtrooper statue. Youll feel more inspired.4. Leaving at the Same Time Every DayIts true that, in many professions, you are required to leave promptly at 5 PM. I get that. For office workers, thats rarely the case. If you are so rigid about your schedule that you always leave at 430 or 6 PM every day, you might be missing out. Leave early once in a while and go for a stroll in a nearby park. Stay late and shoot the breeze with someone from accounting. Hey, you might become fast friends.5. Drinking Coffee When What You Really Crave is WaterIm mentioning this one from personal experience, so I wont get into the science. Im a coffee fanatic, and I use the magic elixir to pump up my spirits and give me a boost to work harder. Im not about to change my strategy.Yet, fremdartig from the health issues, its often true that what Im really craving is water. In the end, sipping water throughout the day can re-hydrate you and give you a better boost in the long run.6. Finishing Every Item on Your Task ListWant to get yourself into a funk and feel even more down? Make sure you always finish everything on your task list every day. Be completely rigid about it even if you have to stay late or arrive early. What happens when you finish every task is that you become hardened to the cold reality of your task list that dictates your every move rather than, ironically, getting more work done. The truth is, not every task is worth completing. Its better to prioritize your work and finish the important tasks.mora From Inc.What Pop Tarts Can Teach You About LeadershipStop Reading and Start Learning How to Absorb Information BetterHeres the Language You Need to Say No NicelyPhoto of sad face courtesy of Shutterstock.