10 Ways to Make Your Job More Tolerable

It’s Just One of Those Days

Do you ever have one of those “I friggin’ hate work” days? One of those days where nothing seems to be going right? You spilled coffee on your favorite shirt or your manager waited until precisely 3:59 pm to give you an urgent assignment?

Trust me, it’s completely normal to hate your job sometimes. WE ALL DO! (And if you don’t then you just might be a psychopath – just kidding). And I’ll be the first one to admit that I am a BIG complainer, my work wife (see point #1 below) can attest to this. This is a terrible habit and I am trying to change it, but it was one of the things that inspired me to write this blog post.

Even though I’m not always a happy camper at work, there are 10 little things I do that keeps me sane at work. Here are 10 ways to make your job more tolerable so YOU can survive the workweek.

1. Work Wife (or Husband)

A work wife or work husband is basically an upgraded version of the work BFF. Your work spouse is your ride-or-die co-worker who will be on your side in any situation.

Check-in with your partner-in-crime every day to chit-chat and exchange the latest news (the tea) in the office and your personal lives. Aside from work, you can also lean on them for emotional support. I swear having a work spouse is basically like having your own therapist.

2. Office Morning Routine

Who doesn’t love a good morning routine? I love morning routines because I get to kick start my day by doing the things that I love first thing in the morning. Let’s take the same concept and apply it to an office setting. Whether it is grabbing your morning cinnamon dolce latte or a pink bedazzled cake pop (we don’t judge), make sure you have something you can look forward to every morning.

3. Meditation

From the never-ending emails to the annoying IMs, work can get overwhelming sometimes, so meditation is the perfect solution. Some people are opposed to the idea of meditation because it may seem too out-there, but honestly, meditation is whatever you want it to be.

There are no rules when it comes to meditation. As long as you can momentarily empty your mind and focus on the present moment, you are meditating. The spiritual stuff is just a bonus.

I like to think of meditation as a relaxing massage but for the brain, and who doesn’t love a good massage?

4. Caffeine & Carbohydrates

Caffeine and carbs are the 1-2-punch that you need to turn that frown upside down. I like to space these two out at different times of the day. I start my day with a cup of coffee to power through those unread emails and mundane meetings. Then I usually buy something sweet and indulgent like a blueberry muffin from Starbucks for my afternoon pick-me-up.

Not feeling the calories? Here are 10 delicious but healthy snacks for the office.

5. Marie Kondo Your Desk

Another way to make your job more tolerable is to keep your desk organized. I always thought that going to work is like being stuck in a long-haul flight. But would you rather spend an 8-hour flight in coach or first-class? Keeping your desk tidy not only makes the environment more enjoyable, but it can also even boost productivity.

I love this 5-minute video on how to tidy your office desk brought to you by the international decluttering sensation, Marie Kondo.

6. Pomodoro for Productivity

The Pomodoro Technique is certainly one of the buzzwords of 2019, but what is it exactly? The Pomodoro Technique is a time management method developed by Francesco Cirillo in the late 1980s. The technique uses a timer to break down work into intervals, traditionally 25 minutes in length, separated by short breaks.

I love the concept of Pomodoro! I believe that working in bursts and taking short breaks is the key to high productivity. So if you want to boost your productivity in the office, then try using the Pomodoro Technique.

7. Treat Yo’ Self

Make a wish list of items you want to buy and treat yo’ self every month (or whenever that paycheck gets deposited into your bank account). This doesn’t necessarily mean you have to splurge on expensive purchases; it can simply be things or experiences that you love. For example, setting a spa date with a friend at the end of every month is the perfect treat yo’ self moment. Having a wish list gives you something to look forward to, which gives you the motivation to power through the workweek.

8. Set Career Goals

It’s not all fun and games, so let’s get serious for a minute. Where do you want to see yourself in the next five years? Asking these tough questions can be crucial in defining career goals for yourself. These goals are great because they allow us to see the importance of some of the mundane tasks we do. For example, that presentation you’re dreading can get you great exposure with senior management!

Set some short-term and long-term career goals that you want to achieve. A short-term goal can be closing out your current project. A long-term goal can be making your way into management.

Career goals help you remember your “why” which we will get into more detail in a second.

9. Gratitude

The best solution to being a compulsive complainer is to cultivate gratitude. Gratitude is one of the five key habits that make people happy. The human brain is conditioned to focus on the negatives or the bad things in our lives which can cause some people to become a habitual complainer. Luckily, we can proactively mitigate this by expressing gratitude for the things we DO have in our lives. This can be applied to your job as well.

Gratitude seriously changed my life. As I mentioned earlier, I am still a big complainer, but it has greatly reduced since I started practicing gratitude. Here are some of the things I am grateful for when it comes to my job.

I am grateful for my paycheck.
I am grateful to have a good work environment.
I am grateful for having flexible work hours.
I am grateful for having the option to telework.
I am grateful that I even have a job.

10. Remember Your “Why”

The hamster-wheel of work can get so repetitive that we lose focus on our “why” – the reason why you do what you go to work. Knowing your “why” can help you snap out of a funk and give you the motivation to power through tough times.

Now, this doesn’t necessarily have to be something cliché like “it’s my passion” or something along those lines. News flash – most peoples’ jobs do not align with their passion.

What’s About You?

Do you have any special tips and tricks you use to make your job more tolerable so you get through the workweek? Let me know down in the comments below, I would love to hear them.