Five Lessons ‘The Office’ Taught Me About Working

When you think of the show, ‘The Office’, a catchy piano theme song or ‘Dunder Mifflin’ may come to mind. However, have you ever thought about the endless messages that the popular series presents? Within each episode, entertainment is intertwined with numerous lessons that can be transferred into everyday life.

Here are five lessons that the office taught me about handling the workplace:

Arriving at your desk and being met with a tasteless, bland day is no way to live life. The jokes of your co-workers may not be funny, but laughter can help get through the day. According to a survey by Robert Half International, 91% of executives believe a sense of humor is important for career advancement. The study further shows that having a sense of humor is one of the most desirable traits in a leader and is a key to success.

A study by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, claims the average American works 44 hours a week. Though relationships will form wherever one spends most of their time, it’s not smart to have close friends at work. Of course you should be professional and friendly, but boundaries are necessary. Having work colleagues grant the benefits of helping increase one’s productivity, performance, and job satisfaction. However, over sharing about your personal life can lead to gossip, jealousy, and competitiveness. Be friendly, not their friend.

The workplace is often an environment where we feel like we need to have our guard up. With rude co-workers or impostor syndrome, it’s easy to fall into the trap of reducing ourselves. Regardless, you can and should always strive to be yourself, just set boundaries. While dressing for success and presenting yourself with professionalism is important, it will only work if you are comfortable and stay true to yourself.

Just like every aspect in life, distractions are bound to happen. Managing what you get distracted by and how often, are the keys to staying productive. While at work, it’s important to recognize that most distractions are not contributing to your goals nor money. We commonly allow distractions to reduce being burnt out, so instead take small mental health breaks that can revive your mind, says Forbes.

When finding the motivation to get up and go to work turns into a chore of its own, consider leaving. If you are a fan of ‘The Office’, you know how much Michael Scott loved his job and the people he worked with. At the end of the day, he craved a family and moved away to create one with the woman he loved. Loyalty should never be the reason you aim to stay at your job because the truth is they wouldn’t choose loyalty over you. No job should determine your worth and if you feel disrespected or find a better opportunity, go where your value is met.