How To Fight The Work Day Blues

By: Rachel Raupp

Life has a tendency of becoming redundant. We find ourselves following the same routine day after day and eventually we slip into a funk. Even if you love your job and enjoy what you do, the blues can still catch up to you. Your motivation may decline, as well as your productivity, your attitude becomes fairly poor, and nothing seems to help. We spend most of our times at work, we shouldn’t be blue! Here are a few ideas to keep you alert and dazzling through the work day.

Create a vision board for the year and hang it up by your desk. This will be a constant source of motivation. You’ll be more likely to reach your goals if they’re a constant reminder. It can include work goals, personal goals, relationship goals - whatever you’re setting out to achieve.

Change up the pictures and knick-knacks around your area. If you’re surrounded by the same decorations every day, they eventually become invisible since you’re so used to them. Switch it up every month. Keep your desk area up-to-date with your life. Find new quotes to inspire you. Swap out photos for new ones or favorites. Move around the things on your desk for a new setting that is unfamiliar.

Buy new work clothes. Looking good means feeling good. Ditch the black for some bright colors. Wear a patterned shirt. 

Say hello and goodbye. Interaction with your co-workers can lead to a more positive attitude. Isolation can hurt your attitude, therefore your productivity. Some simple conversation can lead to a lighter feeling.

Reward yourself. Buy yourself that overpriced fancy espresso drink for making it to Friday. Walk in Monday morning with a sprinkle donut. Take yourself out to lunch after a big meeting. Whatever it may be - make it out of the ordinary. It’s not special if it’s a regular thing.

The key to beating the blues is never getting too comfortable. Once things become predictable, we lose our interest. It’s human nature. Change can be scary, but it’s the best way to make you feel alive again.