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Working 9 to 5 It’s the stuff country songs and Sunday blues are made of, but it doesn’t have to be that way. Here are 10 tips for enjoying your job again. 
You’ve seen the bumper stickers: “A bad day of golf (or fishing, or shopping) beats a good day of work.” According to the New York-based Families and Work Institute, one-third of Americans are chronically overworked. That means you probably spend more time at work than you do with your kids or your spouse or your five-iron. “The Overworked American” (Basic Books, $16.50) by Juliet Schor found that Americans spent 163 hours more each year on the job in 1991 than they did in 1969. And being overworked leads to feeling angry with your employer (39 percent of those surveyed by the Families and Work Institute reported that) and feeling resentment toward your co-workers (34 percent). Here are 10 ways you can start enjoying work again (or for the first time), without quitting, getting a raise or changing your personality. 1. Punch out Sure, there are days (or weeks) when a big project demands you put extra hours on the clock. But working 50 or 60 hours a week on a regular basis isn’t healthy. And it might not be helping your productivity either. Twenty percent of overworked employees report making more mistakes as a result. That means you just have to spend time going back to fix your mistakes. JillXan Donnelly, president of CareerWomen.com, makes it a practice to leave work on time at least three days a week. Look for ways to work more efficiently to make this possible. 2. Find good company In your personal life, you don’t go to coffee with people who complain or are untrustworthy. So, don’t do it at the office. Instead, Joanne Gordon, author of “Be Happy at Work: 100 Women Who Love their Jobs and Why” (Ballantine Books, $24.95), recommends seeking out co-workers who you respect, and build a coalition of happy peers, even in a hectic workplace. 3. Eat lunch It sounds so simple, but taking a lunch break, with something other than food from the vending machine, is crucial for both your mental and physical health. Whole foods — fruits, vegetables and grains — will give you more energy for the afternoon than a a sugar-laden candy bar or soda. 4. Speak up If you’re in a meeting, it is because someone thinks you have something to contribute. So, if have something to say, say it, suggests Susan Morem, author of “How to Gain the Professional Edge” (Ferguson Publishing, $16.95). Say it professionally and articulately. If you feel like you are going to cry or scream, head to the bathroom (one on another floor, if possible), the elevator or your car. Get the emotions out of your system, then have your say. 5. Form a positive intention Before you lay your head to sleep, think of one thing you like about your job. If you can’t think of anything, Noelle Nelson, author of “The Power of Appreciation” (MindLab Publishing, $14.95), recommends making a promise to find one thing you like about your job the next day. Over time, she says, you’ll be surprised at how much you can really like about your job. 6. Get ready Nelson suggests taking the last 15 minutes of your day to organize your workspace for tomorrow. Jot down a to-do list and tidy your desk. The task will give you closure for the day and help you start tomorrow on the right foot. You can also look over the day’s to-do list and feel a sense of accomplishment about what you completed. 7. Make it fun No, your office is not your favorite playground. And certain social conventions must be followed. But that doesn’t mean you can’t try to up the fun factor for you and your team. Ordering in pizza helps make menial tasks go faster. Anne Miller, author of “Metaphorically Selling” (Chiron Associates, $14.95), is a fan of contests as motivational tools and celebrations for meeting staff goals. 8. Seek challenges If boredom is one of the factors that makes you dread the 9 to 5, ask for more. Instead of waiting for your boss to give you that plum assignment, tell her you’d like to give it a crack. Or volunteer for a task no one else wants to do and push yourself to do it differently.
9. Use the calendar You know, that thing that’s filled with meeting after meeting after deadline? CareerWomen.com’s Donnelly schedules in blocks of time where she won’t be interrupted. This is your opportunity to write that memo or double-check your math without co-workers coming in and out of your workspace. Don’t check e-mail or answer the phone during this time. Donnelly also schedules her downtime, both her time with friends and family and time for herself. 10. Redefine happy Gordon reminds us that those who are happy at work aren’t happy every second of every day. Some days are frustrating. Some co-workers are jerks. Strive for balance, not perfection. If the majority of your days are good and your projects challenging, then don’t sweat the small stuff. |
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