Natalia Lusinski

At some point, you may feel that you and a friend don't connect anymore, whether you find you have less in common or feel they're treating you differently lately and are subtracting from your life more than adding to it.

Like a <a id="e9ea5de6-97d8-3f51-ac41-126743e12979" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/9-terms-that-define-modern-dating-2018-5?utm_source=intl&amp;utm_medium=ingest"> romantic relationship </a> , you may know it's not working out, but when it comes time to breaking up with them, it's easier said than done. However, sometimes, there are signs it's time to dump a friend.

"We crave connection and to build a pack around us," Kailee Place, licensed professional counselor (LPC) at her private practice, <a id="28deeaa0-d284-3762-a53f-4fd2de21c6be" href="https://www.shiftingtidestherapy.com/"> Shifting Tides Therapeutic Solutions, </a> in Charleston, South Carolina, told Business Insider in an email. "We may have different groups of friends that serve different purposes — from friends who enjoy going on adventures to ones who may indulge our homebody side — and <a id="f33bacdb-10fc-3b5a-a97f-6bbaf53144fb" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/lasting-relationships-rely-on-friendship-2018-2?utm_source=intl&amp;utm_medium=ingest"> healthy friendships </a> allow us to be authentic, comfortable, and loved."

Place said the common theme in working friendships is having a friend who leaves you feeling supported and cared for. "Occasionally, friendships go sour, and it's incredibly hard to cut off a friend, but keeping a <a id="ccd9bf80-c7c9-3058-a336-8f3735884516" href="https://www.bustle.com/p/13-signs-youre-the-toxic-one-in-a-friendship-according-to-experts-10018784"> toxic friend </a> around is draining," she said. "In the long run, it's better to cut ties, and find people who appreciate and support you."

To Place's point, if you're not sure whether or not to cut someone out of your life, here are 9 signs it's time to end a friendship, according to therapists.

<a id="ff3d0d69-d81c-35b2-a5aa-5af9dc490859" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/signs-you-should-end-friendship-therapists-2018-12?utm_source=intl&amp;utm_medium=ingest#/#1-the-friendship-is-consistently-one-sided-1"> See the rest of the story at Business Insider </a>

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1. The friendship is consistently one-sided

9 signs it's time to end a friendship, according to therapists

If you work 40 hours out of a 168-hour week, that's nearly a quarter of your week spent at work. Of course, you probably want to make sure those hours are more enjoyable than not. But not everyone is <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/4-day-week-could-make-people-happier-more-productive-oxford-study-2018-10?utm_source=intl&amp;utm_medium=ingest" id="f2752401-6867-3c44-a3bf-b59edf294fb2"> happy at work </a> .

In fact, <a href="https://www.teem.com/" id="eecc9f90-151f-399c-acdb-c880dada5de8"> Teem </a> — a software and workplace analytics company that WeWork recently <a href="https://www.wired.com/story/wework-teem-software-acquisition/" id="8df2dd0d-c6d3-3fb3-a830-c6099984da3e"> acquired </a> — did some research on the subject. According to the <a href="https://www.teem.com/blog/2017-employee-happiness-survey-results/" id="b21c1ba5-12e8-31a6-a7be-92e4820f7ff6"> 2017 Teem Employee Happiness Survey </a> of over 1,300 US workers, 48% of those surveyed reported being unhappy or "somewhat happy" at work, which was up 8% from their 2016 report.

Among the factors contributing to this were poor work-life balance (48%), workers feeling underappreciated in their positions (46%), and people feeling obligated to respond to colleagues at all times, due to communication apps (49%).

"Work can be stressful, but that doesn't mean happiness can't be achieved," Zach Holmquist, cofounder and chief of workplace experience at Teem, told Business Insider in an email. "While it may seem difficult to attain, it's crucial for both employees and employers. To avoid burnout and ultimately maximize creativity and productivity, ensure you are truly working in an environment where you can thrive."

Here, Holmquist and 12 other <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/best-career-advice-from-experts-2018-10?utm_source=intl&amp;utm_medium=ingest" id="d0746cd2-8b90-322f-a630-9efac59798c2"> career experts share their advice </a> on how to be happier at work. (Responses have been condensed and edited for clarity.)

<h1> 1. Put your professional development first </h1>

Strelka Institute for Media, Architecture and Design/Flickr

Like many experiences in life, being happy at work all starts with how you mentally view your job and the people you work with. Put your professional development first — happiness at work is knowing you can grow and learn in your company. Professional development can be anything from taking classes to knowing how to become a good manager.

— Jillian Seijo, HR manager at <a href="http://www.developintelligence.com/" id="f82d74b8-9aad-352e-a372-ee675fba06fe"> Develop Intelligence </a>

<h1> 2. Figure out what truly motivates you </h1>

Many individuals are unhappy at work because they haven't tapped into what fundamentally motivates them — they lack a sense of meaningfulness in their job or connectedness with their team.

So, think deeply about how you define enjoyment, success, and fulfillment, and see how that relates to what you do at work. Perhaps there's a disconnect between what really motivates you and how you relate to either the projects you engage in or the teams you're involved with.

— Kira Nurieli, founder and director of <a href="http://harmonystrategies.com/" id="c69d460c-f781-38ba-ab10-f30820901078"> Harmony Strategies Group </a>

<h1> 3. Conduct an energy audit and make changes accordingly </h1>

For the next three days, write down all your tasks at work and beyond, and note whether each one drains you or fills your cup. Include both intentional activities and unintentional diversions (i.e., procrastination or getting caught up in emails).

After three days, review your balance sheet. Ask yourself if there are any changes you can make to do less of what drains you and more of what enlivens you.

— <a href="https://www.betterup.co/author/sarah-greenberg/" id="c4441f99-2765-36f0-a240-ca86acbdc4b1"> Sarah Greenberg </a> , licensed psychotherapist and lead coach at <a href="https://www.betterup.co/" id="e5dbec4c-630f-3492-af54-a8a83eb7c9dd"> BetterUp </a>

<h1> 4. Take 10-to-15-minute breaks </h1>

Take 10-15 minutes for yourself — whether it's meditation, taking a walk, stretching, listening to music, or tuning into <a href="https://brain.fm/" id="06fee359-0e6e-3f7e-abd0-15498ddd1773"> Brain FM </a> . Allowing yourself more "you" time can help you feel more grounded and excited about work, as well as less stressed.

— <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/penelopebrackett" id="353f1fd0-dffb-3e6a-a9b6-849a6b8ebe99"> Penelope Brackett </a> , practice development manager at <a href="https://www.risesmart.com/" id="e66c6840-d43e-36a6-a77b-ae6dcdfaca0b"> RiseSmart </a> , a career services and transition management company

Mikhail Goldenkov/Strelka Institute/Flickr

Stop comparing yourself to strangers on the Internet and keep a running list of your accomplishments, compliments, and thank-yous from real people.

— Lauren McGoodwin, CEO and founder of <a href="https://www.careercontessa.com/" id="296e2070-85fe-3e3d-afff-68a4bd02430b"> Career Contessa </a> and creator of <a href="https://www.careercontessa.com/resources/salary-project/" id="99aa55cd-d0db-389d-a041-5133124ed23f"> The Salary Project </a>

<h1> 6. Remind yourself of why you like working there </h1>

Remind yourself of why you looked forward to working at your job in the first place. Most of the time, we are super excited to get started at a new job, but over time, as stress piles up, we lose sight of what was exciting about it in the first place.

— <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/esthergonzalezfreeman/" id="343bb3c2-fd4f-376e-a464-71a1f0c4d370"> Esther Gonzalez Freeman </a> , board-certified career coach and founder of E Powered Media

<h1> 7. Be disciplined about rest and balance </h1>

We cannot pour from an empty cup. To stay high-energy, productive, engaged, and happier at work, it is important to prioritize balance and time-outs. Taking care of ourselves and prioritizing sleep, hydration, nutrition, and exercise are important parts of being able to be happy at work.

— <a href="https://www.shefaliraina.com/" id="642e8212-57b4-39e7-a225-3a4c9913d240"> Shefali Raina </a> , a NYC-based executive coach

Unless it's an emergency or some sort of unique circumstance, employees should never be — or feel forced to be — plugged in 24/7. Organizations don't need to, and quite frankly, shouldn't implement an environment that encourages an "always-on" team. What they do need is a happy workforce.

—Zach Holmquist, cofounder and chief of workplace experience at <a href="http://teem.com/" id="abbc8cab-e208-38b6-a59e-481585e2566c"> Teem </a> , a WeWork company

Some of the deepest relationships in our lives are formed at work. We need <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/happier-at-work-best-friend-dan-buettner-blue-zone-of-happiness-2017-10?utm_source=intl&amp;utm_medium=ingest" id="ee22fd5a-4b2b-3bc7-acef-ec0ff49cb6b6"> friends </a> , mentors, advisors, and advocates to bounce ideas off of, to ask for expert advice, to brainstorm, to cheer us up, help us find solutions, and to vent and/or celebrate with at the end of the week.

By building your network, I mean develop meaningful relationships with people you admire and respect, who support you in your career growth and care about your happiness, and who you will support equally in return.

— Deena Baikowitz, chief networking officer and cofounder of <a href="https://fireballnetwork.com/" id="cd0ad9cf-e007-3452-a620-8b465df9f0c3"> Fireball Network </a>

<h1> 10. Connect your work to your intrinsic values </h1>

To be happier at work, it helps to connect your work to your intrinsic values — even if your job does not have a grand purpose, you can live your values. These may include treating others well, teaching others, doing your job with positive intention, doing your best, working hard, and doing well to be a model for your children or provide for your family. Keeping these ideals in mind adds up and gives meaning to your work.

— Diane Rosen, attorney and cofounder of <a href="http://iperformancesolutions.net/" id="b4486619-c72a-38ee-abd3-87a4dc5dfa5f"> Compass Consultants </a> , a practice that helps organizations better motivate and mobilize their employees

<h1> 11. Limit time with negative coworkers </h1>

Some people will complain about work and gossip at the office, but never leave. So, limit time with negative coworkers. Spend time with the people who are positive and moving up. Those are the relationships to cultivate, because they will benefit you in the future.

— Rebecca Gebhardt, founder and consultant at <a href="https://www.risewithrebecca.com/" id="49e3fc57-957b-34d5-a89e-a486da9cd7cf"> Rise Up Consulting </a>

<h1> 12. Talk to your boss more often </h1>

The best way to be happier at work is to <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/lessons-from-the-best-bosses-i-ever-had-2018-8?utm_source=intl&amp;utm_medium=ingest" id="fcd953bb-d689-3772-a27e-6cdd42ef1108"> talk to your boss </a> more regularly. While it can be uncomfortable at first, speaking to your boss will help you discover opportunities to have a more positive impact — find out what they care about, what they wish was possible, and what you can do to help them.

Taking a more collaborative approach to your work will increase the visibility of your achievements and give you a deeper sense of purpose in your everyday work.

— Dave Lane, CEO of <a href="https://inventiv.io/" id="86ed7f12-25fa-3a8e-a74b-29b85d8a0e36"> Inventiv </a>

<h1> 13. Discard the idea of 'right' versus 'wrong' </h1>

Your opinions and emotions are valid, and, therefore, the same is true of your opponent. Let go of your ego — civility means showing patience and respect towards people who think differently from you.

Breathe and take time to think before you speak. Then, try to be thoughtful instead of trying to prove you own the whole truth (because no one really does).

—Steven Dinkin, president of the <a href="http://www.ncrconline.com/" id="39d7678d-ce8c-3b20-a7b2-34494f63b4cc"> National Conflict Resolution Center </a>

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13 ways you can be happier at work, according to career experts

Although every <a id="f1945bda-253b-3cbf-a202-b82ffb8893e7" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/best-way-to-argue-partner-significant-other-2017-6?utm_source=intl&amp;utm_medium=ingest"> couple </a> argues to some degree, whether they're married or not, what they argue about in their <a id="f5659581-747c-3c87-ad4d-63db159a2f12" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/category/relationships?utm_source=intl&amp;utm_medium=ingest"> relationships </a> can vary greatly.

<a id="97e0f58f-1efd-3563-a9a4-245fd9b7612d" href="https://www.novadivorcemediation.com/about.htm"> Toni Coleman </a> , a psychotherapist, relationship coach, and divorce mediator, told Business Insider that it's common for couples to come into counseling with the primary underlying complaint being a problem with communication.

"This often takes the form of <a id="c8dacd9e-aac4-36e5-a73b-3c66b4e4dea4" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/relationship-experts-how-to-resolve-a-fight-2018-7?utm_source=intl&amp;utm_medium=ingest"> recurring fights </a> that repeat the same dysfunctional dynamics in a seemingly endless loop," she said. "The first thing I emphasize is the need to approach their communication in a different way."

Coleman said that she emphasizes "a need for compromise, which means that no one wins unless both win."

Her solution is for couples to practice reflective listening, where each person is allowed to share their thoughts and feelings uninterrupted, and the other then reflects back what they've heard. "This leads to a much greater understanding of one another — without defensiveness — and an increased willingness to work together and be supportive of one another's needs," Coleman said.

On the topic of recurring fights, here 10 people share <a id="5ddff3fc-3c1d-3d81-a36c-6cb26e38d5b1" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/relationship-experts-how-to-resolve-a-fight-2018-7?utm_source=intl&amp;utm_medium=ingest"> what they argue about most with their significant others </a> .

<a id="3c947c31-a4f7-3100-a942-93b442ca5c0a" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/relationships-most-common-arguments-partners-2018-11?utm_source=intl&amp;utm_medium=ingest#/#amy-35-1"> See the rest of the story at Business Insider </a>

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10 people share what they argue about most in their relationships

APO Importer

She enjoys decorating and undertakes every personal or professional project with strength and hope. A fast learner and well-famed interior designer in the Basque Country, one can easily gauge her expertise while turning the pages EL MUEBLE magazine, the most read decor magazine in Spain, and CASA VIVA. She appeared on the cover of these popular magazines during the second year of her entrepreneurial stint.

Per Natalia Zubizarreta, it was perhaps her rough childhood that led her to dream of building a more beautiful world, with more light and harmony for those surrounding her. “That’s why I started wanting to repair homes, so families could be happier in them,” recounts Natalie on asking about her career decision as an interior decorator. Natalia is an only child of a widowed mother. Having lost her father to brain cancer when she was only 8 years old, she quickly matured to become the father of her family. An extremely passionate and hard-working working, Natalia has deep-dived into work to such an extent and it has almost become her second nature. “If something has characterized my life, it is hard work, says Natalia Zubizarreta.

Giving back happiness through her expertise

She finds her profession enthusing and often wonders the amount of trust people place in her expertise and aesthetic sense. They surrender their entire homes to decorate them in any way she wants. Most of her clients are known to abide by her knowledge and skills and appreciate after they see their reformed, decorated, furnished, and re-dressed homes. Most of them have even confirmed that they do not feel like changing even a single pot and strive hard to upkeep and keep things as is after Natalia’s touch. Blessed with a keen aptitude to understand people’s personas. Natalia ensures that her interior designing and re-designing closely resonate with those personas so that they can connect with their homes instantly. If anything is to be highlighted of her professional life is the overwhelming recognition in the media from specialized magazines, press, radio. One could say that Natalia is the millennium’s trending interior designer, at least, in the Basque Country. She is renowned in several other communities as well. She spearheads the emerging design thinking in the Basque interior design with her simple aesthetics with a blend of styles, that is modern, yet has h a classic touch and is based on ethics and trust.

&nbsp;Inspiration during childhood

Natalia Zubizarreta lived 27 years with her mother and her grandmother. Her grandmother was an Argentinian, advertisement genius, someone who was way ahead of her time, hard and complicated, and transgressive. It was her influence that pushed Natalia to be second to none. She always demanded a lot from her grand-daughter and taught her the importance of aesthetics in everything that surrounded her and introduced her to a world of constant creativity. Natalia is also an advocate of therapy. She conducts therapy workshops, coaching, and personal growth seminars. She uses the fundamentals of psychology to lead her team members and the overall company.She feels that it is only when people feel cared for and are truly happy can they be productive.

A qualified fine arts graduate with a specialty in artwork restoration from the Universidad del País Vasco, Natalia Zubizarreta is a passionate interior designer.

Natalia Zubizarreta shares the importance of happiness both at home and at work

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Natalia Lusinski

Articles written by the author

9 signs it's time to end a friendship, according to therapists

13 ways you can be happier at work, according to career experts

10 people share what they argue about most in their relationships

Natalia Zubizarreta shares the importance of happiness both at home and at work