What the Happiest People Do at Work
Of course, they're doing something they find meaningful. But what else makes them so darn positive?
By Jena Pincott
They're giving their cubicle a makeover.
They roll out bamboo mats...grow wisteria...and hang
princess wallpaper with (removable) starch paste. It turns out that a portion of workplace happiness depends on the freedom to personalize your surroundings, found a study at the U.K.'s University of Exeter. Office workers were not only more upbeat and motivated when they decorated their own workspaces, but—heads up, bosses—
32 percent more productive than in the usual grayish setting. Use the findings to
petition for more green in your workplace (leafy plants increase job satisfaction—and air quality).
Published 01/29/2014
