5 ways to make your work day a little bit easier
Even those who really love their jobs can have days where getting out of the bed and heading into the office feels like a huge trial.
Follow these steps and adjust your working lifestyle so that, even on those days when you really can’t be bothered, there are just enough incentives, tricks and tips to get you into the office looking and feeling your best.
Make lunch in advance
Avoid the 20-minute trek to a Tesco express at lunchtime, and actually go on a nice walk or meet up with a friend by preparing your lunch the night before.
From a nice tuna salad to the humble sandwich, almost everything can be put together in advance. It’ll also give you something to look forward to eating in the middle of your work day if you actually put some effort into making it.
While you’re at it why not make some overnight oats? These are a tasty breakfast treat and super easy to make the night before.
Have something to look forward to
Planning your evenings ahead of schedule will mean the friends you really want to see are more likely to be available, and will give you a motivator to get through the work day if you’re having a particularly long or arduous shift.
Catching a movie with mates, planning to visit a new cocktail bar, or even just knowing that you’re going for a long walk with your dog will take the mental pressure off you at work and is likely to lighten your mood.
Get your emails done early
The dreaded Monday morning emails are a part of every working week, and often end up being left far longer than is really appropriate.
After making a coffee, sit down at your computer and power through these first thing on a Monday morning. It may seem like a gargantuan task, but you’ll feel ten times better for having got it done. Who doesn’t want to feel highly productive before they’ve even finished their morning coffee?
Dress professionally
Whether you’re following a dress code or choosing your clothing purely because of personal preference, a slightly smarter mode of attire is likely to have a significant impact on the way you work and feel.
Whilst you don’t have to wear a full blown suit every day, it’s proven that making more of an effort to dress professionally will increase productivity and improve your overall mindset.
Find a drink to wake you up and invigorate you
Whilst caffeine will ever be the fallback option when you’re in dire need of a pick-me-up, it’s not great to consume in copious quantities on a daily basis.
Instead, try to substitute your lattes and cappuccinos with green, mint, or other herbal tea. Green tea, in particular, is proven to have health benefits; this also means that when you do need a real energy boost once in a while, you’ll feel greater effects when you do have a coffee.
Alexandra Jane writes graduate careers advice for Inspiring Interns, a graduate recruitment agency. Check out their website to see which internships and graduate marketing jobs are currently available, as well as their graduate jobs Manchester page for further opportunities.