It's one thing to need a new job. It's another thing to have garden variety the work blahs. You know what we're talking about: You feel uninspired, bored and unproductive. You can't stop staring at the clock. And you can't muster up even the most basic energy to answer that lingering email.
Don't succumb to this everyday malady -- try out one of these easy tips below. (Missing any? Let us know by leaving a comment on @busyhappyhealthy!)
Take a new route to the office
It may sound silly, but adjusting your morning commute to the office can have positive, stimulating impacts on the brain. Not only are exercising your analytical and problem-solving skills (how will you get there?), you are stimulating other, more creative parts of your brain by exposing yourself to new environments and new stimuli. Added bonus: You may encounter a cute coffee shop en route!
Bring flowers for your desk
Sprucing up your desk with some natural beauty may help boost your mood in the short term. Moreover, it may give your space a sense of serenity that could be somewhat lacking with your current assortment of office supplies...
Listen to new music
As someone who loves jamming out while she works, sometimes all it takes for me to get reinvigorated is to put some new tunes on the shuffle. I'm not alone in this observation, as the act of listening to music literally lights up our brains. In particular, I find exploring old and/or "forgotten" music to be particularly helpful when I'm feeling in a rut: Try revisiting songs from your childhood or throw on some classical music.
Spend some time in the break room or kitchen
Back when I worked for an ad agency, one of my favorite ways to break up work monotony and get reinvigorated was to plop down in the kitchen and have a chat with whoever happened to be eating lunch there. Oftentimes, this would be a person that I never worked with, so it was a nice opportunity to get to know someone new, take a break from the usual colleague gossip and discuss ideas I would have otherwise not been exposed to.
Take a true lunch break
When's the last time you actually took a full hour and went out of the office for lunch? If you're like most Americans, it was a long time ago; in fact, only 1 in 5 of us actually take a lunch break. Unfortunately, research has shown this can be detrimental to creative thinking, which is why it's important to make an effort to do so -- even if it only happens once every couple of weeks. When you do step out, be sure to use your time in a fulfilling, uplifting way: Maybe it's meeting up with an old friend for a bite; perhaps it's reading in the park or going for a long (cellphone-free) walk. We'll meet you on the park bench!