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In search of happiness at work

Figure 1 - Retrieved from redbooth.com

We spend so much of our daily lives at work that we must enjoy what we do. Indeed, our happiness at work can determine overall happiness in our lives (De Neve & Ward, 2017, para. 1).

When I began my post-secondary education, I studied what I truly enjoyed. I graduated with an Honours Bachelor of Arts from the University of Toronto, with a Major in German Language and Literature, and Minors in Business German and Russian Language and Literature. I never gave a thought to how I would put my degree to good use. Teaching was not something of interest to me, but what else could I do with languages?

I was fortunate to have landed a job at the front desk of one of the largest hotels in Toronto during my university studies, where I used my languages to assist hotel guests. This led to a full-time position with a German tour operator in Toronto, where I gained valuable experience in tour planning.

After my marriage, a new life experience awaited me in the UK; I started working for a Destination Management Company in London; this new role consisted of organizing five-star hotels, conferences, tours, and special events for corporate groups visiting the UK. It was a rewarding position, in which attention to detail was crucial for the success of the programs. I LOVED my job! It was a challenge, and long hours of work were required, but the benefits of the position far outweighed the drawbacks. The directors of the company and my colleagues made going into work each day a joy.

Figure 2 - Courtesy of Getty Images retrieved from istockphoto.com

After six and a half years of living in the UK, my husband and I decided that it was time to move back to Canada with our young son. We settled near family, and unfortunately, there were no positions comparable to my employment in the UK. I eventually found a position with a local tour operator and was with the company for several years. However, the tour industry was experiencing a shift due to increasing online bookings, and I found myself unemployed. I also had three young children at this time; therefore, it was necessary to have flexibility with my employment.

I found a position that enabled me to be accessible for my children. However, it was sporadic hours and a physically demanding job. I didn’t have much energy once I finished work. It has been reported that employees in physically demanding jobs describe a lower level of overall happiness, in comparison to those in clerical positions (De Neve & Ward, 2017, paras. 3,4). I can attest to this.

Figure 3 - Courtesy of Offset by Shutterstock retrieved from offset.com

The Covid-19 Pandemic has given us time to examine our lives in more detail and has moved me into action; I made the decision to return to studies for a certificate in Office Administration. I already possess many of the skills required for the position, including experience in an office environment, communication, research, and customer service (Randstad, 2019, paras. 6,11,12). I have strengthened my computer literacy, and previous employment has helped me gain experience in required organizational skills, strategic planning, and attention to detail (Indeed, 2021, paras. 6-8, 13).

My ideal position would be with a government organization or with a German corporation, but I understand that I may need to gain further experience to achieve my goals. My hope is to return to that feeling of happiness in the workplace that has been missing for some time.

Figure 4 - retrieved from digite.com 

References

De Neve, J. & Ward, G. (2017, March 20). Does work make you happy? Evidence from the World Happiness Report. Harvard Business Review. https://hbr.org/2017/03/does-work-make-you-happy-evidence-from-the-world-happiness-report

Indeed. (2021, May 24). 8 office skills administrative employers are looking for. https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/finding-a-job/administrative-office-skills

Randstad. (2019, 20 January). What skills are office administration employers looking for? https://www.randstad.co.uk/career-advice/job-skills/what-skills-are-office-administration-employers-looking/

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Social Media: Is it a positive or a negative way to connect with others?

Figure 1 - courtesy of Stux via pixabay.com retrieved from themontclarion.org

Social media was originally created for people to connect online with friends, family, colleagues, and peers (Maryville University, n.d., para. 31). Once smartphones became a staple accessory to almost every adult (as well as teenager) and cameras were available on smartphones, social media platforms exploded in popularity. Not only were social media users able to connect via text, but also with video and images (Maryville University, n.d., paras. 32,33). Extensive networks of friends were formed, and continuous updates were received; this was meant to create a sense of community (Engler, 2019, para. 2).

But how meaningful and healthy are these connections? It may appear on social media as though a seemingly popular social media user has hundreds of friends and connections. However, it is possible that, he/she has very few meaningful friendships on which he/she can rely (Engler, 2019, paras. 3,8). In this instance, quantity outweighs quality of connection. Similarly, my teenage children have advised me that it is important to have more “followers” on Instagram than those “following.” A further example includes mutually “following” someone on social media, however, when seeing this individual face-to-face, a greeting isn’t even exchanged (Engler, 2019, para. 16).

Figure 2 - courtesy of Getty Images retrieved from verywellfamily.com

Teens are even more connected with their peers on social media. According to a study done by Pew Research Center, 92% of teens reported going online daily, with 24% stating that they go online all the time (Lenhart, 2015b, para. 2). 71% of teens reported using more than one social media site, the most popular ones being Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, and Twitter (Lenhart, 2015b, para. 6). Teens use social media to connect with friends in established friendships and to create new friendships. In many instances, users of social media display detailed information about themselves on their social media profile. Other users can then easily establish a friendship with others who share similar interests, hobbies, or a similar cultural background (Lenhart, 2015a, paras. 3-5).

In addition, teens report that they can stay in touch and better connect with friends on social media (Lenhart, 2015a, para. 5). Social media enables one to constantly view what others post online. This can be a great way to stay connected to friends when one is unable to connect in person (Lenhart, 2015a, paras. 9,10). However, many feel that too much information is shared on social media (Lenhart, 2015a, para. 11).

It can also be a continuous reminder to those who feel excluded from this interaction (Lenhart, 2015a, paras. 18,19). I have experienced this first-hand with my children; it can cause a significant blow to a child’s self-esteem and can be a contributing factor to mental health issues in teenagers and adults alike (Robinson & Smith, 2021, paras. 3,4, 6-12).

For me personally, I find social media such as Facebook, Messenger, and WhatsApp extremely important to stay connected with friends and family overseas. Although we are unable to see each other regularly because of the distance, we can feel connected through sharing pictures, videos, and messages. Nevertheless, I also feel at times as though I waste so much time scrolling through social media attempting to draw a comparison to the events in my life to the lives of my online “friends” and to ensure I am not "missing out" on anything that is happening.

I truly believe that social media can be both a positive and a negative way to connect. It is dependent upon how we choose to connect and with whom, as well as knowing when it is time to “switch off.”

Figure 3 - retrieved from 10webtips.com

References

Engler, M. (2019, May 4). Does social media make us more or less connected? Morningside Center. https://www.morningsidecenter.org/teachable-moment/lessons/does-social-media-make-us-more-or-less-connected

Lenhart, A. (2015a, August 5). Chapter 4: social media and friendships. Pew Research Center. https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2015/08/06/chapter-4-social-media-and-friendships/.

Lenhart, A. (2015b, April 9). Teens, social media & technology overview 2015. Pew Research Center. https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2015/04/09/teens-social-media-technology-2015/

Maryville University. (n.d.). The evolution of social media: how did it begin, and where could it go next? https://online.maryville.edu/blog/evolution-social-media/

Robinson, L., & Smith, M. (2021, July). Social media and mental health. Helpguide. https://www.helpguide.org/articles/mental-health/social-media-and-mental-health.htm

[thoughtfulcanuck]

And breathe.....!

When the Covid-19 Pandemic changed the world as we knew it, it was a reminder for us to slow down, enjoy life with our immediate family, and make memories! We did just that! We took advantage of our newly realized time together to play games, do lots of puzzles, go for walks and bike rides, and do some DIY projects around the house. I captured all of our moments in an album to remind us of the wonderful times we had as a family. We just didn’t realize it would carry on for such a long time. We did enjoy our time together, but everyone was craving “the good old times” of hanging out with friends, going to school, playing sports and going to work! It has taken approximately 18 months, but there is finally a sign of things getting back to some normalcy. We are now back to in-person schooling for my daughters, online university and college for my son and I, working more steady hours for the entire household, and participating in the sports they love! We now have little time for all of those fun things that we managed to do together as a family during the height of the Pandemic, but we also need the routine; to feel as though we have a purpose and are working towards our goals! It is a crazy busy household in which we now live once again, and we do not have much free time. But, we just need to remember to breathe.....! 

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Pre-hockey ritual...

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These make my heart swell!! Love watching my kids do what they enjoy!!!!