Does being happy at work sound like one big, mocking oxymoron? For many of us, it’s a sad but true reality that being happy and being at work are two things that just don’t go together. And you’d be surprised to learn that being happy at work isn’t about doing what you love or making a good salary. Instead, being happy at your 9-to-5 boils down to working with friends. Here’s why.

Dan Buettner is an explorer, award-wining journalist, and author of the bestselling books, The Blue Zones and The Blue Zones of Happiness, just to name two!

Source: www.amazon.com

What are Blue Zones? 

Buettner discovered that these are places in the world where people live longer than anywhere else – but what’s most striking about the Blue Zones is how happy the people are there. 

So, once he discovered the Blue Zones, Buettner set out to understand what made people happy there. What followed was lots of global research and powerful insights for you and me.

In a recent conversation with author and life coach, Marie Forleo, Buettner let’s us in one big secret for being happy at work: 

“When it comes to your work life – this comes from more than 2 million surveys from Gala – the biggest determiner of whether or not you like your job is not how much money you make, not how much recognition you get, not what your boss tells you about yourself, it’s do you have a best friend at work.”

So, the question is: do you have a best friend at work? If not, can you take steps to start building friendships? Not only will work friendships make your life bearable, but also enjoyable and yes – even happy!