There are times when you might arrive at work looking bedraggled and ready to strangle anyone who bothers you before your first cup of coffee. The way you start your day can somewhat dictate the rest of it, so there are some things you should do to make sure that your day starts fabulously.
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Here are some ways to start your work day right (and the best part is that they are easy to do):
1. Avoid being the office scatterbrain.
Make sure to get your to-do lists in order, along with your documents. This will give you a clear picture of what you need to accomplish that day, preventing you from feeling frazzled and all over the place. Trim your emails without falling prey to the inbox vacuum.
2. Breaks are something that everyone needs.
If you push yourself to get down to work all morning, you will find yourself exhausted by lunch. Have a second cup of coffee an hour or two after getting to work and use that time as a breather. This will allow you to get your thoughts in order. And if there’s something you might have missed earlier, the time you take for yourself might prompt you to remember.
3. Don’t forget to eat something after you wake up.
You’ll be breaking a fast from the night before, so don’t shock your system with something too heavy or greasy. Have some toast and juice. Make sure you eat something.
4. Get to the office some 15-20 minutes before you have to be there.
Are you the type of employee who always runs to the elevator because you’ve only got a minute and a half to spare before you’re considered late?
Rushing every morning will only make you feel stressed, and stress equates to a lousy work day. Wake up or leave a little earlier so that you have enough time to get to the office, situate yourself, and be composed.
4. If you have voice mail, it would be best to listen to your messages first thing in the morning.
Someone might have called the night before. The sooner you get them out of the way, the better.
5. Leave your bad mood at the door.
The workplace is not the best spot to be cranky. If you have something bothering you, try your best to still be polite, and don’t drag others down into your pit of misery. This will make them pleasant to you and perhaps, improve your overall mood.
6. Try not to get stuck in a rut.
There are those who thrive on routine, but if you aren’t one of them, you will soon get bored with the same old regimen each and every day. Once you start getting less than inspired, change your routine up. They don’t have to be major changes. Even the smallest things that are out of order may give you the feeling of doing something different, avoiding habitual burnout.
7. When starting your day, prioritize making important business phone calls and work emails.
This will give you a head start especially when you are waiting for a reply. You don’t waste an entire day waiting for a response and might just make you a little more productive that day.
Conclusion
We’ve all been told that work isn’t supposed to be fun, but there’s no reason for us to be miserable each day. By implementing a few small changes to our routines, we can help ourselves have the best work week we can possibly have.
Edward Morrison
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