Boost your workday motivation
Are you stuck in an office rut and tired of dragging yourself to work only to go through the same motions day after day – only to travel home and face the family wiped out? Beware! You might be traveling the road to burnout.
Tips to Battle Workday Slump
•Take a timeout. Break away from your desk every hour or so to de-stress, refocus your eyes and stretch your legs. Consider using your lunch break to run an errand or go out to lunch to break up a monotonous workday. Even a quick chat with a coworker or stroll around the block can be enough to help you feel re-energized.
•Stretch or exercise. Your body can ache after an entire day slouched at your desk. Stretch your body throughout the workday to improve your circulation – and comfort. Lift your arms above your head and reach toward the ceiling. Rotate your neck slowly from one shoulder to the other. Move your fingers around and rotate your wrists. You might also consider taking advantage of a neighborhood gym or your company’s workout area during lunchtime to refresh your muscles and body.
•Take initiative. If work isn’t going your way, evaluate what you can do to take your job in a direction that engages and challenges you. Volunteer on a work project. Offer solutions to problems. Ask for a one-on-one weekly review with your manager.
•Change your attitude. Many workers like to play “victim” to their unhappiness at work by blaming the boss’ unrealistic expectations or rude coworkers for their lack of motivation. Instead, take a positive approach in the workplace and strive to do your job better than anyone else.
• Eat the right foods. What you eat – or don’t eat – can play a role in how much energy you have to tackle the workday. Eat an energy breakfast of fruits, whole grains and low-fat proteins, such as low-fat yogurt or oatmeal. Snack on healthy foods like celery with peanut butter, fruit cocktail, applesauce or trail mix filled with nuts, dates and pretzel sticks. Be sure to drink plenty water, vegetable juice or unsweetened fruit juice. Don’t skip lunch.
•Get a good night’s sleep. Try to get an average of seven to nine hours of sleep a night so you won’t feel listless at work the next day. Sleep-deprived workers tend to be more irritable, depressed, struggle with recall and make more mistakes. Don’t leave the most tedious or boring tasks to the end of your shift when you are likely to feel the most tired.
•Find inspiration. Spice up your work space with photos of your friends and family. Also consider tuning in some upbeat music on your radio or streaming your favorites to your iPod. Consider posting some inspirational messages on your desk, too.