When you’re running a business, it’s important to keep your workers happy. Not only does this lead to greater productivity, but it also leads to a better atmosphere at work. And if your workers are happy, they’re likely to stay longer with you.
Will Higher Salaries and Better Benefits Equal Happiness?
So it’s obvious that it’s important to keep your workers happy. But what is not so obvious is how you should go about doing so. Many entrepreneurs might think that their employees want more money or better benefits. And, of course, these things are always welcome. Your employees can create a better standard of living for themselves if they have these things.
Do You Need More Time to Have More Happiness?
A person’s standard of living is not only based on money but several other things, one of the most important of which is time. Think about it. What are the things that make you happier? Spending more time with your family? Working out? Reading a book while you enjoy a cup of coffee? What is it that you need more of if you want to enjoy these things? The answer, of course, is time.
Hygge, the Danish Word for Cozy Happiness
If you read Meik Viking’s Little Book of Hygge, you start to understand the Danish concept of hygge which can be loosely translated as cozy happiness. According to the Danes, happiness is not all about running around having adventures and going to parties with loud music. In fact, these things are quite antithetical to hygge. If you want to create a sense of hygge, you need more time with your family and friends, doing the things that really help you to bond together.
How Can Your Employees Have More Hygge?
So if you want your employees to be happy, give them the time they need to bring about a sense of hygge in their lives. This might mean less overtime or flexible timings. You can also have hygge in the office with dim lighting, a soothing environment, the availability of something warm to drink (think coffee or hot chocolate) or something sweet to eat (now you know why those donuts are so popular).
