Today is day 3 of the 20-day happiness challenge! The goal of this happiness challenge is to help all of us combat the negativity that we’re all experiencing in the country right now and take action to make ourselves and others happier at work. To do this, we’re performing one of five activities each day. These activities were especially selected due to the positive impact they will have on you and on the receiver of your kindness. For day three of the challenge, we’re asking you to brag about someone else from your department. You might be wondering how this activity will increase your happiness. I’ve got 4 reasons it’ll increase your happiness.

At this point, you probably already know that the Happiness Challenge calendar links 1 of 5 activities with 4 different positions within your agency. This gives us 20 different combinations. Each day you’ll have one activity to do with one targeted recipient that should take less than 10 minutes to complete.

Rather than the usual blog post, I wanted to talk to you a bit more personally about this challenge. Take a listen:

In summary, today’s activity is to brag about someone from within your division. You’ll be looking for someone that’s done something noteworthy. Or someone that’s gone out of their way to help you. Or someone who is admirable in some way. Then, look for an opportunity to brag about them at some point during the day. It’s kind of like looking for ways to use the ‘word of the day’ in conversation throughout the day.

If someone doesn’t immediately come to mind, that’s ok. Keep thinking.

4 reasons that you’ll be happier if you brag about a colleague:

  1. You’ve had to actively seek out something positive about people that you work with on a less frequent basis than your direct team. Part of being happier is to look for the good in others.
  2. By talking about something positive about a person, it will solidify those positive thoughts about them in your mind. As a result, you’ll likely think more positively about that person in the future. And you’ll inadvertently look for other things they’re doing that’s noteworthy.
  3. By bringing up something positive about the person in conversation, you will increase their social value. The research finds that people ‘like’ people whom their friends or trusted colleagues like. Basically, if you see something positive about the person – there must be something good about them.
  4. If you continue to find ways to brag about the good work of others, you’ll begin to be known as someone who has something good to say about other people. This makes people think of you as a positive person to be around.

Now, I’m going to admit that this activity may be the hardest so far for most people. But that’s ok, because you already have two days on the books for the 20 day Happiness Challenge. You’ve got this!

For myself, I’ve been mentally running through the people in my division to find something to brag about. My goal tomorrow is to brag on someone in my division that is always helpful in finding the answers to my questions – no matter how unusual the questions might be.

Now, the hardest part of keeping on track with a challenge is the accountability and support to keep on going. I hope you’ll follow along with me and the other Fed Fans that are participating. I also hope that you’ll share your successes with us either on twitter #happieratwork or on the Fedability facebook page. You can find me on twitter @danaesims_iopsy. Or, you can leave a comment in the space below.

I look forward to hearing how today’s challenge goes!

Ready to go on to Day 4 of the Happiness Challenge? Let’s ask for advice to get happier at work!

Did you miss Day 2 of the Happiness Challenge? Read about how giving a thank you note can make you happier!