21 Days to Better Well-Being

I love learning. I was “over the moon” when the amazing Lisa Zigarmi agreed to co-author the #POSITIVITYATWORK tweet book with me. Lisa is one of the smartest and kindest humans I know. Her understanding of the science behind happiness and well-being is deep and wide! I’m grateful and inspired for all she’s taught me.

One critical understanding I have gained is that each of us is responsible for our own well-being. Others – parents, coaches, teachers, bosses, organizations, teams, etc. – cannot boost our well-being. They can choose to create an environment where our well-being activities are supported, but they are not responsible for it. We, as individuals, are.

Increased personal well-being has been proven* to generate benefits beyond happiness. People with high personal well-being:

• Deliver 31% higher productivity
• Demonstrate 3 times higher creativity on the job
• Are ten times more engaged by their jobs
• Are 40% more likely to receive a promotion within a year
• Generate 37% greater sales figures
• Are three times more satisfied with their jobs

* The Economics of Wellbeing by Tom Rath & Jim Harter and Positive Intelligence (from the Harvard Business Review‘s January/February 2012 issue by Shawn Achor

Create the Habit of Proactive Well-Being Management

The research on how many days it takes to change a habit is challenging the initial work in the 1960’s. It seems that a range of 21 to 66 days is more accurate, depending on the lousy habits being quashed, desirable habits being embraced, the complexity of the new behaviors, and the habit-resistance of the humans involved. The following “boost your well-being” suggestions are actionable and can be implemented quickly. AND, making them a habit will take you somewhere between 21-66 days.

• Intentionally apply your skills to serve team colleagues, goals, and customers, every day.
• You are not what you DO. Consciously BE your best self, daily.
• Be a source of kindness and grace to others, in every interaction.
• Experience joy and pride in your work done well.
• Don’t make your challenges anyone else’s issue. Seek help and guidance, but proactively deal with challenges.
• Attune to and express delight with things that go well in your world every day.
• Express gratitude and appreciation for others’ effort AND accomplishments daily.
• Be optimistic. It promotes positive coping, action, initiative, better moods, and sociability.
• Give of yourself – volunteer to help a colleague with a big project or volunteer to help others in your community, regularly.
• Clarify your personal mission, values, and life themes. Act on your strengths and purpose.
• Create connections. Most workplaces create isolation. Humans are social beings that thrive on connection.
• Struggles are an opportunity to learn. Find the learning and move through.
• Manage distractions effectively so you can focus for 15 minutes straight on one key task.
• Your fingerprints are on every activity, goal, and task you manage. Work so you are proud of every personal output.

I post actionable suggestions for boosting personal well-being (like those above) in my Twitter feed every day. Follow me for regular prompts to take responsibility for your own well-being.

Join in the conversation! What proactive habits or practices help you manage your well-being? Share your experiences in the comments section below.

Get your FREE EXCERPT from my new book, #POSITIVITY AT WORK tweet, written with the delightful Lisa Zigarmi. View our video on why we wrote the book, understand the research on positivity in the workplace, and more!

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