There are a lot of personal finance posts that give us encouragement to quit the 9-5 job and start a business, but for most people, this is unrealistic, at least in the short term. Starting a side business is possible, but it takes time, so while that is happening on evenings and weekends, what can we do to solve the problem of being unmotivated by our jobs?
Here are three simple solutions that can help us through the day:
1. Get Away
Sitting in your cube having lunch can be depressing, and staying in your seat for 8 hours straight only makes the problem worse. Take a walk, or even better, find a spot where you can truly get away from work. I found a nice little park near my work, where I sit, listen to music, and eat my lunch in peace. There are no distractions, and I completely forget about work for at least a few minutes every day. Instead of a long 8-9 hour day, that break makes the day feel like two short, 4-hour days.
2. Have Fun During Breaks
If you can’t stand the thought of doing any more work, do something you enjoy during your breaks. Bring a book to work or find a few blogs you enjoy and spend a few minutes reading something you care about. It will motivate you and get you excited, and this will carry over to your work when you go back.
3. Multi-Task
If you think that working on your side project is only for nights and weekends, you’re wrong. Always have it in the back of your mind and take notes so you’ll remember them later. There’s nothing more frustrating than having a great idea but forgetting it by the time you get home! Plus, having a great idea will pump you up and help you get through those next few hours.
You’re not ready to quit your job, but using these steps, you can still improve your life right now and help the day go by just a little bit faster.
