6 Ways to Take the Work Out of Work

The work week can feel like a total drag if you don't have habits to make your job feel a little less like work. We have a break coming up with Labor Day falling in less than a week, but we can't let national holidays be the only solace from the daily grind. Make work less laborious with my six ideas.

• Make Your Calendar Work For You - There are at least five days in your workweek, so why pile all of your to-dos into one day? When someone sends a meeting request and you already have obligations away from your desk that day, respond with a suggestion to meet at a more favorable time. Spreading out your obligations will help keep your schedule balanced.
• Personalize Your Desk - Add your personal touch to your basic workspace to make it a more pleasant place to spend your time. Photos of family or friends, scenic vacation pics, and plants are all good options.
• Keep a Learning Journal - Go in to the office every day with the goal of learning at least one new thing. Write down what you learned in a designated notebook so you have something to show for the time you put in, besides your paycheck.
• Eat Lunch Away From Your Desk - It's probably not reasonable to get away from your desk for lunch every day, but at least once or twice a week make it a point to dine away from your computer. Bring your lunch and eat in the office kitchen or take it outside on a sunny day.
• Set Realistic Goals and Reward Yourself - Make work less monotonous by challenging yourself with goals; you want them to be realistic to make the probability of reaching them high. Go the extra mile and make up rewards for achieving your goals no matter how small or large. A reward could be dipping into that chocolate in your drawer, taking a walk, or taking time-out to call a friend.
• Reach Out to Your Co-Workers - Work always seems a little less like a job when you have at least one person you can go to that will take your mind off the long day. Visiting a work friend's desk for a few minutes is refreshing and can give you the boost you need to get through the rest of the day.