Manar Al Hinai: A positive attitude contributes to everything you do

What makes you happy, might not necessarily have the same effect on me. You may be content with a nice walk along the beach, while your friend’s definition of happiness is an afternoon tea at a five-star resort. It is hard to identify what makes others happy, unless they tell us of course. Unhappiness on the other hand, is easier to identify. You can see it in people’s faces, and their attitudes at work.

Your mood, and well-being can have a major effect on your business. Personally, when I am in a great mood, I am more productive, creative, and do not procrastinate. When I am feeling a little off though, I do not want to be involved in anything.

This matters because your mood not only affects your work, but your business, your office environment and ultimately your income at the end of the year. Unhappy business owners can, unwittingly, pass their negativity onto their team and in return they too feel frustrated and uninspired at work.

A study by Gallup found that employees who rate themselves as happy are 36 per cent more motivated, energised and productive versus those who are not feeling so content.

When it comes to creating your happiness, there is no one size fits all. You need to find out what works for you, then incorporate those elements into your daily routine. However, there are some simple daily habits that will enhance anyone’s mood and general well-being:

Get enough sleep

A rested body and mind detoxes the mind and lifts your mood, leading to a more productive day. Your concentration is instantly reduced when you do not get enough sleep. Sleep deprivation can also contribute towards stress and fatigue and, if left unresolved, can lead to long-term health and psychological issues.

Exercise daily

Exercise releases endorphins, lifting your spirits in the process. Start with a 10-minute daily walk and work up from there. If, like me, you do not like being confined to a gym then take up an activity such as rowing, running, cycling or swimming at your local health club.

Don’t stress over things you cannot control

In my mind control is an illusion. Some things are simply out of your hands, so do not waste your time and energy trying to change things if changing them is something you cannot possibly do.

Clear your space

Clutter automatically makes you feel as though everything is out of control. This is something you can control. If you don’t need those papers lying around on your desk, then recycle them or file them away, but do not let them accumulate dust. Make it a habit at the end of every day, to clear your space, and get rid of things that are not useful anymore. It’ll only take a couple of minutes – much better than letting clutter build up over weeks or months.

Always maintain a positive outlook on life

You must believe that the best is yet to come. If you don’t, this will transfer to your work, your office environment, and ultimately the service or product you offer. If you don’t think there is a bright future ahead for you or for your business, then your office and team members will also absorb that. And when your customers come in, they will sense that too. Energy is contagious and is easily felt, whether it’s negative or positive. We tend to look at past experiences or failures, and focus on those, giving them magnitude. This type of focus will prevent you from concentrating on what the present day brings. Learn from your past, but use those lessons to enhance your present and ultimately your future.

Manar Al Hinai is an award-winning Emirati writer and communications consultant based in Abu Dhabi. Twitter: @manar_alhinai.

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