Hack Your Job

Work can be a huge part of your life and it may be also be a huge source of stress! Maybe your job isn't quite that bad, but hey, taking a few steps to make it more enjoyable, less stressful, and more rewarding can't hurt, can it? Here are some great tips to get you onto the path of work bliss!

Don't Forget To Take A Vacation

Well, yes, this is obvious, but with such busy work schedules we often leave vacation time on the table. In order to take a vacation, it requires a bit of planning and we tend to put it off by thinking we'll use it eventually. While that may sometimes be true, you can have a much more effective and relaxing vacation by planning your time off.

Stop Being a Negative Nelly!

Perhaps you hate your job, and so does everyone else in the office. That doesn't mean you should necessarily be negative. The more you concentrate how negative it is, the worse it's going to feel. Not only that, you can easily create a hive mind mentality that breeds more negativity. Simply focusing on the positives can make a big difference. While, ultimately, you may want to quit, staying positive will make those final months easier to bear. The negative side may be inevitable, but if you give it extra (and possibly undue) attention it's only going to make things worse.

Pick The Right Tool For The Job

We have tons of devices and methods of communication, but they're all pretty useless if we don't play to their strengths. Using email for everything is a terrible idea because it encourages lengthier messages and frequent CC'ing, which is rarely good. You want to use speed-appropriate channels to communicate more effectively, like Twitter (or something like it) for quick messages and updates that don't require the length of an email. Your tablet computer and smartphone also make for a great place to offload distractions. The tools you already have are really all you need to communicate, but only if you're using them effectively.

Learn When To Ask For A Raise

LinkedIn found out that, ahrestatistically the most raises are given in January, June, and July. While other perks might be better than a raise (some of you would even be willing to take a pay cut for more job flexibility), if you're looking for higher pay you should think about asking for it during those months.

Beef Up Your Negotiation Skills

Having a good work life is a responsibility that rests mostly on your shoulders, and if you can't negotiate or even ask for the things that matter to you it will be a hard thing to achieve. Good negotiation skills are also very important when dealing with coworkers, especially if you're fighting for one of your ideas in a meeting or anything else that matters to you. Conflict isn't a bad thing if it's handled well, so if you don't know how to negotiate effectively you should make an effort to learn. We've looked at how to negotiate your way to getting paid what you're worth and negotiating your salary more effectively, which are good places to start, but you may also want to check out our top 10 negotiating tips and some tips on keeping the peace.

Make The Job You Want To Have

You may have dreams of becoming a deep sea explorer but can only get a job selling fish tacos, or you're stuck at a desk when you really want to be doing something more creative and artistic. Whatever your situation may be, you don't have to keep your dreams out of your current career just because they seem different. Think about what you like to do and how you can integrate that into your work. Don't leave your creativity and passion at home just because your job doesn't call for it. If you've got something you love that you can bring to the table, find a way to integrate it and it may become part of your daily routine.

[via Financial Post]

Bambi Blue is a freelance writer, editor, and social butterfly living in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. When she's not blogging her little heart out for HealthCareJobsite.com, she moonlights as a jazz musician and most apparently a weisenheimer. Loves to cook, hates to clean, and can easily be found on Twitter. To read more of Bambi's posts, head toHealthCareJobsite.com and see additional job postings at Nexxt.