9 Ways To Battle Your Workplace ‘Senioritis’

Okay, so you’re officially graduated and in the real world, so the old ‘senioritis’ excuse, (aka. I’m just lazy AF and not trying to do anything) isn’t going to cut it.

The honest truth: Sometimes we all struggle to find the energy to work hard at our jobs.

Whether we love work, hate it, or are just going through the motions, we all need that little spark to get us going again. And here are some ideas to motivate your lazy butt:

1. Start your day with a little energy boost.

Maybe you’re going to be stuck in a cubicle all day like a lifeless lump. Well instead of waking up, dragging yourself out of bed, and ho-humming all the way to your desk, start with a pick-me-up! Wake up a little earlier and go to the gym. Even if it’s just a thirty minute workout, it will energize your entire body (and thus entire day). Plus, you’ll feel productive, so even if you’re sitting around from 9 to 5, you won’t feel as couch-potatoey.

Struggling to wake up and workout? Not a morning person? Give yourself a little time to make (or prepare the night before) a healthy and full breakfast. (PSA: Coffee isn’t a breakfast.) Giving your body some solid nutrition at the start is the best way to get yourself up and going on the right foot.

2. Make a daily to-do list.

There’s no greater satisfaction than crossing items off a list. At the start of every morning, take a few minutes to create a list. This will not only organize your entire day, but keep you productive and motivated to cross as many things off of that list as possible.

3. Don’t underestimate the value of a power snack.

Just getting a good breakfast isn’t going to cut it. If you find yourself starving by lunchtime, and thus stuffing your face and being in a sleepy food coma for the rest of the afternoon, you most definitely need to invest in a snack. Keep some nuts, fruit, or other healthy item in your desk drawer. It’s better to continually snack all day (especially on healthy stuff) than starve and get cranky by noon. (Trust me, nobody wants to deal with your sass-a$$.)

4. Get up and walk around during your lunchbreak.

There’s no reason to sit in your desk all hours of the day. Just a simple walk, or even getting up and eating outside or in another part of the office does wonders to your body. It gets the blood flowing again, changes your perspective, and even though it’s such a small thing, it totally refreshes you.

5. Create a positivity board.

If you’re feeling crappy, try thinking of one thing you’re excited about, happy about, or thankful for and post it somewhere on your desk when you can see it. Try to add to this as often as possible. Positive thoughts lead to positive results, so the more you can remind yourself of the good, the less you’ll focus on the bad.

6. Listen to some encouraging music.

A good song can be a total pick-me-up, so if possible, make a positive playlist and play it during the day. Can’t listen to music at the office? Well then invest in some headphones (or play it out loud) and make at least a few minutes of your lunch break dedicated to music time.

7. Get a good night’s sleep.

This is so true it’s unbelievable. Getting more sleep can change literally your entire day. If you find yourself not getting enough hours, or constantly yawning by 10AM, you might need to snuggle up a little earlier. Honestly, sleep is so restorative. And it might be a super small thing, but it can completely change how you feel during the workday.

8. Create a rewards system.

Remember the days of sticker charts? Yes, even as adults we sometimes need a rewards system. Find a few things, in the future, that you’re pumped about. Maybe it’s a mini-vacation, a weekend trip with your friends, or even a weeknight concert at the local bar. Whatever it is, get excited about it! Work towards it! Tell yourself that going to that thing is a reward for working hard, and then work hard until that memorable milestone.

9. Stop freaking complaining!

Seriously. Here’s a complete ‘duh’ moment for you—the more you bitch about your job, the more you’re going to hate it. Negativity breeds negativity. So first of all, leave work at work, no matter how much you want to whine about your coworker’s wheezy voice. Second of all, there is a HUGE difference between social time and bitching time. Social time is so good for you (especially during the work day, in moderation of course) but it actually drains the heck out of you if the only thing you’re socializing about is how much you hate your job.

So quit it already. Being a chronic complainer—not cute.