It seems all too common for people to feel stressed out, complain about, and be generally unhappy at and about their jobs. It's a rare thing to be totally excited that it's Monday morning and time to go to work, isn't it? That's so sad! But there are things you can do, as an employer or as an employee, to help make your workplace a happier place.

I came across an article entitled "The Happiness Project," and although it's focused mainly on things employers can do, I think many of the ideas can be beneficial for the average working person also. If you happen to be in a position of management or power, then you really should look at how you can be making things better for those under you. And if you're not, still don't be discouraged. Understanding and knowledge are powerful things, and if you have a clear picture of what a healthy, happy work environment looks like, you might be surprised at how much easier it becomes to create or find one.

One of the biggest things that affects happiness and satisfaction on the job is control. We all like to be in control of our lives, be it in the big picture or just a daily snapshot. Do you have choices at work? Freedom to do tasks in your own way or to make schedule changes when you need to can do a lot for job satisfaction. And when it comes to your schedule having a tolerable commute is also a major player. Whether it's dealing with rush hour traffic, or just a long drive that takes time out of your personal life, a bad commute can make for a bad job experience.Feelings of wasted time, like getting stuck in slow meetings that you don't really feel useful at, can be the worst! All too often I've been sitting around a table while people get off the subject talking about their weekend plans and all I can think about is "some of us have other things we could be doing..." If you feel this way often then it probably wouldn't hurt to talk to your supervisor about it. Either they'll see your point and let you skip it, or they'll better explain what exactly your purpose is in the meeting. All too often frustration stems from lack of communication.

Other issues that I think people think of more often are a lack of opportunities for growth (if there are none, how can you be happy? "Dead end job" has its negative reputation for a reason) and feeling appreciated (little gestures and thank you's go a long way -- if they're sincere). And of course there's the issue of workplace wellness. Jobs that are making an effort to reduce stress and improve the overall health of employees generally have happier workers and better production and profit levels.

This is a short list of a seemingly endless supply of work issues that affect our everyday happiness. What's missing? What makes or breaks a job for you?