I’d wager that there aren’t too many of you out there that skip to work every day with a song in your heart. Even if you’re lucky enough to have the job of your dreams, chances are there will still be days that make you want to cry and rend your clothing. And if you’re one of the many peeps who has a job that falls somewhat short of your dream career, then you probably have quite a few of those hair-ripping days.
As someone who has worked at a number of less-than-fabulous jobs in her time, I’m here to tell you that there are a few things you can do each day to make even the yuckiest job bearable.
1. Pack a lunch
If your lunch break is the shimmering oasis in a desolate workday, it definitely pays to make sure that that time is as awesome as possible. You don’t want to waste a second of it standing in line waiting to buy a sub-par sandwich and weak coffee.
What if you knew for sure that you had a delicious lunch to tuck into the moment you set foot in the break room? Wouldn’t that make the morning a little bit more bearable? Sure it would! So take the time each morning to pack a lunch for yourself. It doesn’t have to be a gourmet meal, even a delicious sandwich and a piece of fruit would be great. I love to package up my leftovers from the night before for my lunch. Not only is it economical, but my co-workers are always jealous of my lunches.
In addition to giving you something yummy to nosh on, a well-planned lunch will revive your energy levels and give you the stamina you need to get through the afternoon. You’ll be much brighter after a lunch of leftover spaghetti and a banana than you would be after wolfing down a chocolate bar from the nearest shop.
2. Take something to do in your lunch break
Following on from my previous point, it pays to think ahead and plan what you’re going to do during your lunch break. Take a brilliant book or your favourite magazine to flick through. It sure beats re-reading the copy of Women’s Weekly that’s been sitting on the break-room table for six months.
If reading isn’t really your thing, there are loads of other things that can make your lunch break special. Bring a journal and begin working on that story you’d been meaning to get down. Listen to music, email your friends, paint your nails, walk to the park. Just do whatever you need to do to make that little chunk of mid-day time a bit more blissful.
3. Wear something fabulous
I always feel so much better when I’m wearing something that makes me feel happy. Even if you have to wear a uniform, there are plenty of ways to inject a little of your own style into the mix. Pop your hair into a delicious beehive. Experiment with braids. Add a beautiful pair of earrings or a stunning brooch. Even a slick of delightfully lush lippy can give you a pick-me-up and make you feel more like yourself.
4. Plan something to do after work
Give yourself something to focus on and look forward to by planning something special to do after work. You might make a reservation at your favourite restaurant or buy yourself movie tickets to get you through the drudgery of the work day.
Your plans needn’t be so elaborate. You can simply set aside an hour to take a bath, do some yoga or read your book on the couch. You might like to make a Skype date with your bestie or plan to catch up on your favourite T.V show in bed. Whatever you decide, knowing that you’ve got something special to look forward to makes the hassles of the day so much easier to take.
5. Look on the bright side
Your attitude can make all the difference when it comes to facing the work day. If I can, I like to try to approach each shift with a positive attitude. I find that if I try to smile, relax and just enjoy myself, the work day doesn’t seem so bad. Constantly telling yourself, “I hate working here, all these customers are bastards, I just wish everyone would leave me alone” makes it so much more difficult to cope at work. If you can, try to maintain a positive approach and just go with it.
What do you do to make your workday better? I’d love to hear your tips.
Nessbow 
If I’m having a bad day, I text my husband and ask him if we can have a treat for dinner, like go get ramen or order pizza. I also find that taking a long hot shower when I get home helps… it feels like the stress and negativity are getting washed away.
I always have tea. Always, always. Tea makes everything at least a little bit better.
When I was working rotations in the hospital that I didn’t like, I just kind of grit my teeth and bore it. I did a lot of counting down the hours until shifts were over!
Now I’m really lucky in that the clinic where I work is a really friendly supportive place, and if I’m having a bad day or have had a bad consultation with a patient, there is always someone to ask me if I’m ok, tell me a joke, let me vent, vent with me, or offer me a cup of tea.
A cup of tea definitely makes the day a little bit more bearable. I keep a couple of different flavoured tea bags in my locker for when I need a pick-me-up. It’s wonderful that you work in such a supportive environment. It’s so much easier when you know that you can talk to your co-workers and seek support if you need it.