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Client got you down? Disappointed because you’ve written what seems like one million offers and only gotten a few accepted? Here are 23 ways to be happier at work, in your job selling real estate.

Agent Tips: 23 Ways to Be Happier at Work

1. Give Yourself Some Fun Rewards. If you don’t love the things on the to-do list in front of you, try incentivizing yourself with some bribery. Think along the lines of: “If I finish this report, then I can get lunch at the place down the street,” or “I can go to happy hour with my friends tonight, but only if I finish making this presentation.” You could even create a rewards jar to stay motivated for weeks to come!
2. Play Like a Kid. Okay, don’t get too crazy with this (you do still want your team and your broker to take you seriously), but taking a few minutes to step away from your desk and play can seriously get you out of a rut. Doodling, playing with some clay, or keeping a small toy or puzzle on your desk to fiddle with for a few minutes can clear your head and spark your creativity in surprising ways. Oftentimes, at our office, we place little silly wagers about how long until the next call comes in, or who will open the next escrow.
3. Create a Playlist to Boost Your Mood. Music can immediately improve your mood (and productivity) when you’re having a bad day. Pull together some of your favorite songs and use the music to keep you going through the day.
4. Turn to the Internet. When you need a little boost, there’s no shame in turning to BuzzFeed for some laughs or cute animals. But, don’t fall into the black hole of the Internet and lose the entire day!
5. Meditate. Okay, we get it—meditation is a bit of a buzzword. You might even think it’s slightly overrated, but that doesn’t mean its effects aren’t real. A study performed by Harvard Medical School found that participants who practiced meditation experienced stronger emotional control. It might be worth checking out!
6. Walk Around the Block. Sometimes all it takes to boost your mood at work is a quick walk around the block. Doctors at Mayo Clinic state that walking is not only great for you physically, but it also lifts your mood. Grab that co-worker you’ve been meaning to talk to, and have an active outdoor meeting.
7. Eat Foods that Boost Your Mood. If you haven’t had lunch yet or are looking around for the midday desk snack, make sure to select a snack that is scientifically proven to help regulate mood on an internal level.
8. Drink Water. This might seem slightly odd, but drinking water basically helps with everything. Keep a tall glass of water on your desk—it will help keep you focused and hydrated and will fight away any nagging headache. You will feel amazing, and your office outlook will be improved.
9. Just Smile. Smiling makes you feel happier. Simple as that. Research has discovered that smiling, whether it’s natural or forced, causes your brain to interpret that physical reaction as positive and will then recognize whatever activity you’re doing as being enjoyable.
10. Skip the Coffee, and Exercise Before Work Instead. Not only will you save about $4 every day on that caffeine fix, but your body will thank you for the long-desired activity. Exercising before work has proven to help improve energy throughout the day. More energy means more productivity, so forget about bringing your extra work home with you tonight, because it’s staying right where it belongs: the office.
11. Help a Coworker or Client Out. Research continues to show that altruism—helping others—actually makes us feel happier. When you prioritize lending a hand to a coworker or client in need, you are actually creating a healthy mental reward system for yourself that promotes self-satisfaction. So, go ahead, take 10 minutes to help with that difficult project, and feel the lasting effects all week.
12. Spend Your Commute Thinking of 3 Good Things That Happened Today. Thinking about what you are grateful for—and very clearly identifying those things—has been proven to offer social, psychological, emotional, and even physical benefits (think better sleep, less sickness, and improved happiness).
13. Buy Yourself a Fun Mug. This is the most straightforward suggestion on our list: Go get yourself a mug that makes you smile.
14. Give Your Work Space Some Quality TLC. If you work in a cubicle, it’s time to redecorate! Get creative with your space and make the most of it. If you share an area with others, get them involved, too. Decluttering can lead to unlimited happiness, according to Marie Kondo.
15. Remember Your Value. A former editor-in-chief and career expert suggests: “When you’re burnt out, it’s hard to remember why you’re doing what you do. Take some time to step back and think about past projects and achievements you’re proud of and how they’ve changed the company in a positive way. Then, map out a plan to take those accomplishments to the next level by developing a new set of goals you can get excited about. You should always have a goal (or three) to keep you motivated about how you can bring more value to your employer—and your resume.”
16. Try Tracking Your Efforts Instead of Your Accomplishments. Try making a habit of focusing on quality over quantity. It’s so easy to get caught up in how many followers, dollars, and hours you rack up per month, but the size of that number doesn’t always translate into the amount of happiness you feel. Keep track of what you’ve done, focus on the tiny wins, and know that the larger accomplishments will soon follow.
17. Plan an Office Event. Get your co-workers together and organize an office event. Whether you start casual Fridays, create rival company soccer teams, or build a bar for weekly happy hour, having a designated “unwind” time will help incentivize your productivity and get everyone excited for the upcoming event! Last week, our office spent the afternoon at a rock-climbing gym. Everyone was sore afterwards, but had a blast.
18. Bring Your Pet to Work. Talk to your boss about bringing your beloved pooch to work every once in a while. Research has shown that bringing pets to work can help decrease stress, improve interoffice communication, and increase overall job satisfaction.
19. Make the Most of the Weekend. When Friday afternoon rolls around and you’re tempted to sneak that file into your bag, just say “no!” Dragging your work home with you every weekend sets you up for an obvious downfall. Do your best to leave work at work.
20. Take Advantage of Your Company Perks. Every office has its own benefits and perks program. But in the middle of the hustle and bustle of the workday, we often forget to take advantage of them! This year, plan out how you will take advantage of those big benefits.
21. Take Those Vacation Days Seriously, they exist for a reason. Not only does taking that vacation help improve your happiness, it’s also good for your career. Nearly 57% of Americans don’t take advantage of their vacation days, which means they’re missing out on deeper sleep, higher work productivity, and feeling more positive about their jobs. Start dreaming of where you want to go today, and then snatch up those plane tickets!
22. Start a Side Project. Side projects give you the opportunity to explore a new interest that you don’t have time for while at work. They can make all the difference when it comes to feeling happy and productive—or bored and disinterested. Brainstorm the side project you want to take up this weekend—and get going!
23. Get a New Job. If none of these suggestions worked and you are still unhappy, anxious, or all-consumed by work, I’m sorry, but it may be time to explore other options. One such option would be leaving your job. Another might be delegating a number of your tasks to an assistant or to a company like Transaction 911. 

If you or anyone you know is unhappy by all the work on their plate, please feel free to contact the team at Transaction 911; we might be able to help you with that work / happiness balance so that you can continue to be successful and happy.