happiness

At some point along the way of our professional journey, we’ve all heard some variation of the old advice about “following your passion.” It is among the most common of career-related adages. But is it really a smart strategy?

Well, maybe. Ideally, doing what you love makes work fell less like, well, work. And if you enjoy what you do, it is much easier to get motivated about going to work and doing a good job. Then of course there’s the fact that doing something you like is of course more enjoyable than doing something you hate.

In what probably won’t come as a surprise, a new survey found that many workers are stressed out. A survey released this week found that one-third of American workers face chronic work stress. The 2013 Work and Well-Being Survey conducted by the American Psychological Association cited low salaries, lack of opportunity for advancement and heavy workloads as top contributing factors.

• Six Powerful ways to Stand Out at Work [LinkedIn]
• Why Faking Enthusiasm is the Latest Job Requirement [Fast Company]
• How Many Hours Do You Work Per Week? [Lifehacker]
• Ten Things Your Boss Doesn’t Want You to Know [Forbes]
• How to Rekindle Your Love for Your Job [US News]

It seems like we’re constantly hearing about the importance of confidence and self-esteem to achieve success. And it’s true that confidence is important in helping you make the impression (both on the job and elsewhere). If you don’t believe in yourself, it will be hard for other people to have confidence in you.

At first glance, it may seem like productivity and happiness cannot co-exist. After all, the harder you work, the more stressed and miserable you will be, right? Not necessarily. The key is to remember that productivity doesn’t just mean being busy and working as fast as you can. It means working efficiently and contributing to your team and workplace in a positive way.

And so if you are truly productive, your mood should actually benefit—at least, if you’re the type of person who takes pride in doing a good job and making a positive impact.  

Let’s face it, sometimes it can be tough to think positive. This is especially true in today’s work environment, when you may be stressed out because you are overworked—or perhaps you are even worried about losing your job. And even if you have a generally good work situation, there are bound to be days when it’s tough to be upbeat.

• Lessons from the Best Bosses [HBR.org]
• Why You Never Heard Back from that Employer [MainStreet]
• How to Be Happier at Work [CBS News]
• Tools for Branding Yourself in the Job Market [US News]
• Craft an Elevator Speech That Makes a Big Impact [Forbes.com]

Working at a job you hate is no fun. Even worse is when you feel like you are trapped in that dreaded job. It can kill your morale—not to mention make it impossible for you to get motivated to do even a half-decent job.

But the reality is you aren’t really trapped and you do have a choice. Granted, you may have no choice but to work at some job—at least, if you want to keep a roof over your head. But that doesn’t mean you are stuck in the job you currently have.

You have probably heard the old saying, “If you love what you do, you’ll never work a day in your love.” Well, you may not necessarily need to be in love with your job every single day, but if you have a career that’s satisfying and fulfilling, you are more likely to feel happier about your life in general. Not to mention, you may not totally dread going to work every day.

If you're an alpha mom, you are likely to be happier than other moms, according to a recent survey.   So, what's an "alpha mom?" According to the survey, it's a working mom age 32 to 54 with children at home and an income of at least $50,000. In addition to being happier than other women, the study showed alpha moms are also organized, resourceful and ambitious.