This is a good time to assess your contribution to the organization.

Ask yourself these questions to help determine how valuable you are to your workplace:

1. Do you contribute to the bottom line?

If you’re generating income, especially if you are exceeding expectations, you aren’t likely to be the first one out the door. Of course, most people are not in a sales or income-generating role. Alternatively, do your ideas generate income? Can you point to problems you’ve solved that saved money for your employer? Do you create systems or implement policies that enhance your organization’s ability to be competitive? These are probably the next best thing to actually bringing income in when it comes to a loose definition of “essential.”

2. Are you easy to get along with? 

This is subjective, but it can become a factor for organizations without rigid guidelines determining who stays in a layoff and who goes. “Plays well with others,” or having “soft skills” may as well be on every job description, as there isn’t an employer out there who doesn’t want to employ people who know how to get along with colleagues. Do you wonder why someone who is failing at the job and can’t seem to get a thing done manages to stick around while more capable people are let go? It could be that he has a great attitude, is positive in the face of adversity and doesn’t cause trouble. Bonus points if he also gets along well with the boss.

3. Are you handy? 

Roll your eyes if you will, but no one wants to let go of the person who knows how to fix the printer every time it goes down or comes to the rescue when the copier needs some TLC. Problem solvers are in demand. If you’re the one everyone calls on whenever there’s a challenge – big or small – you may have the golden ticket at work.

4. Are you well networked? 

Granted, this may be more prized at some jobs than others, but as we engage in a more global workplace, your ability to meet and get to know people who may be very different from you can help you win valuable bonus points at the office. It’s been said, “it’s all who you know,” and it’s possible, in some cases, that who you know can actually help you keep your job.

5. Does anyone know what you do? 

We all know the “strong, but silent types” who trudge along and get the important work done behind the scenes. Unfortunately, if you’re great at your job, but no one is likely to know it, you probably aren’t high on the “must keep” list at work. Think about this age-old question: “If a tree falls in a forest when no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound?”

If your skills and work ethic are akin to the falling tree – no one hears you or knows what you do, it’s time to start making some noise. You don’t need to call yourself a parade or throw streamers every time you accomplish something, but it isn’t a bad idea to send information up the management chain when you solve a problem or handle a significant situation.

More from Miriam Salpeter
How NOT to make a good impression at work
Can’t stand your job? Freelance!
How to launch a new business online

Originally appeared on AOLJobs.com.

The post How to make yourself indispensable at work appeared first on Keppie Careers.

According to a recent study of 82 young adults’ Facebook habits, spending too much time on that social media website might result in declining happiness over time. In a recent article for the New York Times, Sonja Lyubomirsky, psychology professor at the University of California at Riverside and author of “The Myths of Happiness,” is noted for saying that each of us has a unique “happiness set point” that doesn’t really change much, no matter what we do.

How much influence do we really have on our own happiness? Do we control it? How can we improve time at work? Jude Bijou, psychotherapist and award-winning author of “Attitude Reconstruction: A Blueprint for Building a Better Life,” has found that anyone can learn ways to boost their mood and be happier. “The science is interesting,” Bijou says. “But what’s even more crucial are the small behaviors over which we have control. Behavioral change is the bread and butter of happiness.”

Since most people spend a majority of their time at work, here are some of Bijou’s suggestions for how to remain upbeat and positive on the job.

1. Help a colleague or co-worker. One of the quickest and most effective ways to change a “poor me” attitude is to reach out to someone in the workplace who could use your mentoring or assistance with a project. “Give without expecting anything in return,” Bijou says. “This instantly shifts the focus from you to another person,” and changes your perspective from an attitude based on anger, fear or sadness to one that’s positive, helping and generous.

2. Improve your personal brand. “There’s always one person in the workplace whom everyone is happy to see,” Bijou says. That’s the person who smiles when she sees you, takes bad news lightly and gives genuine compliments or support frequently. Bijou says changing how others perceive you will also change how you feel about yourself. “People will love to work with you because you’re happy. What they don’t know is that you’re making yourself happier in the process.”

3. Become conscious of time-based thinking. Bad moods, worry, frustration and general unhappiness occur when we fixate on the past (what you did wrong in the meeting or why you got passed up for the promotion) or the future (worrying about making a deadline or wondering if the team will like your presentation). If you’re feeling depressed or stressed out, “Take a happiness break with an activity that brings you back to the present moment,” Bijou says, suggesting that you take a quick, brisk walk outdoors or do deep breathing while trying to empty your mind of all thoughts.

4. Replace the negative chatter. According to Bijou, one way to neutralize unhappy thoughts is to find a statement about yourself that is 100 percent true and can’t possibly be refuted – then keep repeating it until you feel better. This creates a new, positive thought pattern that replaces the negative one. “The negative chatter that goes on inside our head is untrue and based on false assumptions derived from anger, sadness and fear,” Bijou says. For example, instead of “I’ll never get all of this done in time,” you might say “I’ll do what I can.” If you can find a contradictory statement to repeat that’s 100 percent true, it will quickly change your mood.

5. Say “no” to the negativity. You don’t have to put up with a bad mood or negative thinking, according to Bijou. You can say no to it, just as you might to a bully or an unreasonable request. The first step is to become aware of when we’re thinking mean thoughts about a co-worker, client or employee, or when we’re being hypercritical about ourselves. The second step is to literally say no to that way of thinking. Bijou recommends you find a private place, such as your car, and say “no” out loud, at a good volume, while stomping your feet. “Pretty soon you’ll be smiling again. This exercise usually ends up making people laugh and feel mirthful.”

The takeaway is that there are some very simple ways to change one’s mood – quickly and effectively, Bijou says. Happiness studies are fun to read, but small, deliberate behavioral change is the real key to feeling upbeat on the job.

This post originally appeared on U.S. News & World Report

The post How to improve your time at work appeared first on Keppie Careers.