Every one of us gets the work blues from time to time. Maybe you’re having personal problems at home, maybe you have a disagreement with coworkers, or you’re just having a bad day. Being grumpy and irritable at work can hinder your productivity and performance, but it can also negatively affect your colleagues. The office should be a place to collaborate, communicate, and work productively. If given a bad environment, the workplace can easily turn hostile, making you and your coworkers stressed-out and unproductive. Bad mood and stress are contagious, so it’s best to defeat these feelings early. Take the time to create the most comfortable work environment for yourself, because job performance and happiness are only two of the things that suffer when your work environment is unsatisfactory. You can make some small changes to your workplace to boost your mood and productivity. Try these 7 simple changes to lower stress and increase overall happiness!

Improve Your Desk Space

Where you work has a huge impact on how you work and your ability to focus and be productive. That means that the design of your office and your desk, whether you work at home or in a company environment, is of utmost importance. First off, clear your desk to feel more organized and better able to concentrate. Then improve your desk and workspace and bring some personal items. Bring in items from home that inspire you and keep you focused. You can also decorate your office desk with a plant - potted plants add color to a workspace, improve the air quality and help lower the stress hormone cortisol. Plants are a reminder of the natural world and they can keep you calm in a stressful situation and give you a sense of general well-being. Remember that even a little adjustment can make a big difference.

Sip Coffee or Tea

Coffee is the world’s most consumed beverage that delivers plenty of health and mood-boosting benefits. Coffee keeps you alert and provides your central nervous system with a boost that keeps you productive throughout the entire day. The aroma of coffee can also reduce stress levels and make you happy. A study has shown that consuming caffeine before performing computer work results in less muscle pain. Pour yourself a cup of coffee or tea between the hours of 10 a.m. and noon, or 2-5 p.m. - that’s when the coffee will give you a huge increase in energy to inspire your creativity. However, make sure that you’re not drinking more than a couple of cups a day. A high amount of caffeine will stress your adrenal glands and make your blood sugar drop.

Read: 8 Activities That Will Improve Your Morning!

Grab Some Sunshine

A little sunshine goes a long way. If you need a quick pick-me-up, step outside the office or your home for a minute and grab some sunshine. Sunshine boost energy and mood naturally by prompting your body to make vitamin D and happiness chemicals like serotonin. Having some sunshine at your desk will also make a big difference. Lighting is an important factor in staying focused and feeling motivated and inspired to create. On the other hand, bad lighting can cause eyestrain, fatigue, headache and irritability. If you work in a company, you can use natural light bulbs or a light therapy device. However, if you work at a home office just open the windows to let natural light in.

Laugh With Your Coworkers

Laughter is known to be the best natural medicine that boosts your heart rate and makes you feel better. Share some hilarious jokes with your coworkers and brighten their day a little. A hearty laugh can trigger the release of endorphins - brain chemicals that reduce pain and make you happy. Humor releases stress, it creates bonding and helps an office to be more productive and capable. If you’re having a bad day, just take a few minutes to browse YouTube in the search for funny mood-boosting videos or some funny riddles with answers to put a smile on your face.

Bring Your Own Snacks

Hunger can affect concentration and make you feel more irritable, so it’s a good idea to bring your own snacks every day. If you don’t want to let intense hunger limit your efficiency and reduce your productivity, stock up your office desk with snacks that you enjoy eating. You can bring small packets of nuts, fresh or dried fruit, protein drinks, bananas, yogurt, dark chocolate or rice cakes - all of these snacks will give you the boost of energy you need and help you stay productive all day long.

Put On Your Headphones

Music has dramatic mood-boosting effects, so every time you’re feeling down try listening to soothing or upbeat music. Listening to music at work can reduce stress, anxiety, and worry, and make you happier and more productive. Numerous studies over the years have shown that music makes you calmer and helps you focus by increasing dopamine levels in your brain. That’s true even if your favorite songs are energetic, which will raise your heart rate and respiration.

Meditate

Making time for meditating at work can have a positive impact on your productivity and happiness. Taking a few minutes each day to close your eyes and mindfully meditate can help reduce stress and anxiety. Focus on your breathing - studies have proven that deep and even breaths can reduce stress and bring a sense of calmness and control. Every 90 minutes, close your eyes, inhale deeply and exhale slowly for a minute. Then gradually bring your attention back to the office. This is one of the best ways to relax your mind and body and you will instantly feel better.