If you’re reading this, you’re likely already at work, and you might not be having the best day. Why have a bad day at work when you could have a great day at work? We can help. Here are a few tricks to help you have a good day at work.
Ways to have a great day at work right now
-
Take breaks
That’s right – to do better work and be happier at work, you need to take breaks from work. I know it may seem counterintuitive, but studies have shown that taking regular breaks (or even long lunch breaks) is beneficial to both employee happiness and productivity. So, if as you’re reading this you feel overwhelmed, take a break. Your mental and physical wellness will thank you.
-
Listen to music
Science is always awesome, but it’s especially awesome when it supports claims like ‘listening to music at work increases happiness and productivity.’ A true statement, according to Business Insider. So, if you need a quick workplace pick-me-up, plug in your headphones, load up Spotify, and turn on your best, happiest playlist. If anyone tries to give you grief, hit ‘em with science.
-
Have a snack
Food universally brings joy. It’s impossible not to feel at least a littlebetter when you’re treating yourself to a snack, and many foods like blueberries, nuts, avocado, and kale chips are proven to be memory-boosting and brain-power-enhancing. But if every now and then you decide on a Rice Krispy Treat instead of a handful of kale chips… We won’t tell. Treat yo’self.
-
Move
If you work in an office, chances are your job is a primarily sedentary one. We’ve already dug into how to reduce office chair-related back painand the benefits of a standing desk, but what’s just as important is motion. Our director of marketing, Shannon, recently installed an app called Time Outon her computer that reminds her to take a stretch and shift break every twenty minutes to reduce neck stress and increase circulation.
You may not realize it but sitting in the same position for hours on end can lead to aches and pains, which in turn can affect your mood. Incorporate some movement into your day, whether it’s getting a standing desk, taking walking breaks, or just stretching at your desk.
-
Go outside
On average, Americans spend 93% of their time indoors. I know – we were shocked, too. That’s a lot of time spent indoors when, as people, we need roughly half an hour of midday sun exposureto get enough vitamin D.
Boost your happiness by taking a walk out in the sun and collecting your thoughts. Leave your work behind when you do; unplugging for a brief while, around a lunch break or a walking break, is good for your focus and mental health.
We don’t run on batteries; no one can be productive for eight hours straight and if you try, you risk burning out. Improve your mood by soaking up a little sun or, if it’s overcast, inhaling some clean air switching up your surroundings.
-
Giggle with your work friends
Yes, it’s true – socializing with your colleagues is proven to improve your mood and, when done responsibly, improve productivity. Humans are intrinsically social creatures and being isolated all day, whether in a cubicle or self-imposed solitude, can take a serious toll on our mental state. Socializing with your colleagues can be an instant endorphin hit.
If you don’t have anyone in your office you feel comfortable laughing with, consider reaching out and making some workplace friendships. Camaraderie can make your days much, much brighter.
Activities to Boost Morale at Work
-
Take a tea break
Need a breather without the jolt from caffeine? Take a tea break. If you’re a tea drinker already, you know green and white teas are your caffeine-free friends. If you’re new to tea, try an earl grey or an English breakfast with a pinch of sugar and a splash of cream. Then, inhale the scent of steeping tea and feel the anxiety and sour mood seep out of your body. ... I’m more relaxed just writing about it.
-
Draw or color
With the recent popularity of adult coloring books, it’s more acceptable than ever for people of all ages to de-stress by coloring. There are all sorts of coloring books out there (including my personal favorite collection, this Harry Potter-themed one), but if you’re unable to break out a full-sized coloring book and mess of pencils at your desk, try this pocket-sized adult coloring bookfor when you need a moment to yourself.
-
Clean out your drawers
This one may not seemlike the route to a great day, but research shows that cleaning and organizing has adirect positive impact on our moods. Start with something small and non-stressful, like a drawer, and feel the clutter of your mind clear out as the clutter of your desk clears out, too. Plus, you didn’t really need17 random paper clips anyway.
-
Play with Larry
Alright, so this one is pretty Blue Summit Supplies-specific. But just because you don’t have Larry in your office doesn’t mean you can’t get your own morale-boosting, four-legged workplace friend. Not sure how to ask your boss? We’ve got you covered.
If you want to be a little proactive and take some steps to making tomorrow a great day at work, we’ve got that covered, too.
We know some of these steps might seem like a drag – who wants to wake up earlier than you have to?! – but trust us, putting them into motion is a sure way to set yourself up for a great day at work.
Ways to set yourself up for a great day at work
-
Get enough sleep
I know, I know, it’s become a broken record. Whenever you search for any sort of wellness or positivity solution, ‘get enough sleep’ inevitably makes an appearance. And it’s not exactly easy to get enough sleep when you lead a busy life, or if you’re suffering from anxiety or insomnia. That being said, giving your body the chance to rest and reset is key to feeling your best the following days.
-
Wake up early
In a similar vein, a big part of feeling great all day long is waking up right. Usually this means waking up ‘early,’ though early means different things to different people. If you’re an early riser already, you might already do this. But for those of us who snooze our alarms and roll out of bed at the very last possible second (guilty), waking up an hour earlier to prepare for the day at a leisurely, non-stressful pace can make all the difference. Having more time means you won’t feel rushed and you might even have time to add in an activity you enjoy before work, like watching your favorite Netflix show or stopping at your favorite coffee shop.
-
Prepare the night before
If you’re not ready to commit to early morning wakeups justyet, there’s another route you can take: getting ready the night before. Things like choosing clothes, preparing your lunch, packing your work bag and even showering will all reduce start-of-day stress and set you up for a smooth, manageable day.
-
Do what’s important first
Once you’re in-office, a smart way to reduce stress and ensure you have a great day at work is the ‘rocks in a jar’ method. This method states that you put the biggest, heaviest rocks in the jar first, and fill in the little pebbles and sand around them. To translate, tackle your hardest, heaviest tax early in the day to reduce anxiety as your day goes on. Your smaller, less dire tasks are the pebbles in sand you fill the remainder of your day with once you’ve completed your daunting projects.
What other methods do you use to have a great day at work? We want to know! Drop a comment below or follow us onTwitter, Instagram, and Facebook. And, as always, feel free to send us an emailwith any questions or concerns – Larry loves to hear from you!
For more informative articles about office supplies, subscribe to our email newsletter!
Never fear, you won't begin receiving daily sales emails that belong in a spam folder. Instead, we promise a fun weekly roundup of our latest blog posts and great finds from across the web. And if you lose interest, it's always easy to unsubscribe with a single click.
