Organizations have long gone trying to cater to their employees’ needs by understanding how they feel. The main problem here is, humans think, and they also feel. Therefore, it makes it crucial for a workplace to understand the happiness, well-being, and hormone issues of their employees. Ever heard of the Fantastic 4, happy hormones?
Candies For An Employee’s Mood
The 4 happy hormones, popularly known as ‘D.O.S.E’, are the hormones responsible for our daily positive moods. Discover what they are and how these hormones can improve your mood while working.
1. D – Dopamine
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The process of working on a difficult task might be challenging and stressful, but the moment you finish it, notice how relieved you feel as if you could lift a mountain? That is when dopamines are released.
When we accomplish our goals, dopamine helps us experience an internal sensation of reward. This is crucial in helping us feel like we are making progress and are headed in the right direction.
Activities that can help produce dopamine at work:
- Snack on tyrosine-rich foods (nuts or dark chocolate)
- Take up on challenges that require learning and skill development
- Seek and provide positive between colleagues
- Enjoy your favorite songs while completing a task to enhance mood
2. O – Oxytocin
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Oxytocin is often referred to as the “bonding hormone” or “love hormone”. Compared to the other 4 happy hormones, Oxytocin plays a role in building trust and connections. While it is primarily associated with personal relationships, it can also have a positive impact on the workplace in various ways such as in enhancing trust and employee well-being in said workplace.
Activities that can help produce oxytocin at work:
- Engage in team-building activities that encourage trust and cooperation among colleagues
- Foster positive relationships with co-workers by being supportive and approachable
- Constantly express gratitude to appreciate others efforts
- Enjoy lunch or coffee breaks with co-workers
3. S – Serotonin
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This hormone, Serotonin is also known as the ‘feel good’ neurotransmitter, plays a key role in that wonderful emotion we refer to as happiness. It immediately affects how we feel emotionally. Inadequate amounts of this might cause problems with metabolism, weight loss, sleep, obsessive-compulsive behavior, and anger management.
Activities that can help produce oxytocin at work:
- Incorporate simple exercises such as short walks or stretches during breaks
- Get access to natural light to regulate serotonin levels
- Practice meditation during free time
- Create an aesthetically-pleasing workplace with plants, artworks and comfortable furnitures
4. E – Endorphin
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Endorphins, on the other hand, play a role in reducing pain and enhancing feelings of pleasure and well-being. It lessens the sense of pain and elevates one’s mood. In the workplace, activities that trigger the release of endorphins can help improve mood, reduce stress, and boost overall job satisfaction.
Activities that can help produce endorphins at work:
- Share funny videos with co-workers during breaks
- Engage in casual conversations between co-workers
- Conduct meetings while walking to boost energy (plus point if it is done outdoor)
- Bring essential oils or lotions to put on work desk to enhance mood
Most of us hold the view that success and performance come after hard work and that happiness follows success. Could the equation, however, be incorrect? What if happiness is the source of success rather than the result of it?
Even if it is engraved in your nature to be more negative than positive, you can still choose to have a happier life. The same concept applies to your work life. It requires effort and the result is not promised to arrive quickly, but trust the process: You will be happy.
