How to Have a Good Day at Work

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Are you finding that you’re stuck in a routine of stressful, less-than-ideal workdays? Having a good day can increase your productivity and make your day go by much faster. With a few simple tricks you can use before, during, and after work, you can ensure that you have a better workday than usual. Read through this article for a complete list of tips to help you have a good day at work.

1

Gather everything you need the night before.

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    Give yourself 10 to 15 minutes before going to bed to pack up everything you’ll need in the morning: your work laptop, your purse or briefcase, and your lunch. If planning your outfit tends to make you feel frazzled, set out some clothes to wear so you don’t have to think about it tomorrow. [1]
    • Put everything you need right by the front door. That way, you won’t miss anything on your way out!
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2

Start out your day with some deep breathing.

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    [2] Take a deep breath in through your nose and let it out through your mouth. Focus on the day ahead of you, and think good thoughts—the more positivity you start out with, the better. [3]
    • If you have time, you could also do a few minutes of meditation first thing in the morning.
3

Consume positive media.

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    Before you head to work, throw on an inspirational video or audio book that you can listen to while you get ready. [4] Not only will it start you out on the right foot, but studies show that consuming positive media actually makes us happier over time. [5]
    • Try throwing something on while you shower or get dressed in the morning.
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4

Squeeze in some exercise, if you can.

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    If you think you can fit in a 20-minute jog or some quick weight-lifting, go for it! Exercise helps wake you up and make you feel more alert throughout the day. [6]
    • Bonus points if you can take your workout outside. Getting sunlight first thing tells your brain and your body that it’s time to start the day and be productive.
5

Listen to music on your commute.

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    Pick something that makes you happy, like an oldie’s playlist or your favorite pick-me-up songs. Try to avoid the news or true crime podcasts, since these can put a damper on your day before it even starts. [7]
    • Don’t have a commute? Listen to music while you’re in the shower or while you’re making breakfast instead.
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6

Do your most important task first thing.

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    When you get to work, start out with the task you’re least looking forward to. Then, for the rest of the day, you’ll be happy that you got it over with (and the rest of your tasks will seem easier by comparison). [8]
    • This phenomenon is called “eating the frog.” If you start your day out with eating a frog, you can rest assured that you got your least desirable task out of the way.
7

Look on the bright side of things.

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    [9] As you go throughout the day, try to be optimistic. Write down a couple of things that you’re grateful for in a gratitude journal to keep them at the forefront of your mind. [10] Say hi to your coworkers, wave to your boss, and don’t forget to smile. [11]
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8

Talk to your coworkers.

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    Chatting with a friendly cubicle neighbor is a great way to brighten up your day and make work go by a lot faster. If you’re struggling or going through a tough time and you trust some of your coworkers, you could even tell them about what’s going on to get their advice or comfort. [13]
    • If you’re going to open up to coworkers, make sure they’re people you can trust. Unfortunately, some people will use your problems against you to climb higher up the career ladder.
9

Connect work to your overall goals.

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    It’s easy to get lost in the minute details that happen every single day. Put it into perspective for yourself: how will your tasks today help you achieve your goals in 5 years? [14] How about 10 years? [15]
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10

Make a to-do list for tomorrow.

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    As you wrap up your day at work, give your future self a present by listing out everything you need to do tomorrow. Put the most important thing first and leave your list somewhere prominent where you can’t miss it. [18]
    • To give your future self an even bigger treat, tidy up your work area before you head home.
11

Get a good night’s sleep.

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    Sleep is your body’s chance to take a load off and recover from the day. As you relax and wind down from work, keep the time in mind. Go to bed at a decent time so that you wake up in the morning feeling refreshed. [19]
    • If you have trouble falling asleep, try to put your phone away at least 1 hour before bed.
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Expert Q&A

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  • Question
    How do I get the most out of my workday?
    Lindsay Gordon
    Career Coach
    Lindsay Gordon is a Career Coach and the Owner of a Life of Options, a career coaching service for analytically minded people. With more than seven years of experience, she specializes in helping individuals who feel aimless or dissatisfied with work make the right choices for themselves. Lindsay has also been featured in many media publications like Business Insider, Thrive Global, and the How to Be Awesome at Your Job podcast. Lindsay holds a BS in Bioengineering from The Franklin W. Olin College of Engineering and a Core Strengths Coaching Certificate from San Francisco State University.
    Lindsay Gordon
    Career Coach
    Expert Answer
    Ask yourself 3 questions: "What did I learn?" "What did I initiate?" and "Who did I help?" Feel free to reflect on those questions at the end of the day, or mull over them at the beginning of the day.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
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    Not Helpful 0 Helpful 2
  • Question
    What should you do first at the beginning of a workday?
    Lindsay Gordon
    Career Coach
    Lindsay Gordon is a Career Coach and the Owner of a Life of Options, a career coaching service for analytically minded people. With more than seven years of experience, she specializes in helping individuals who feel aimless or dissatisfied with work make the right choices for themselves. Lindsay has also been featured in many media publications like Business Insider, Thrive Global, and the How to Be Awesome at Your Job podcast. Lindsay holds a BS in Bioengineering from The Franklin W. Olin College of Engineering and a Core Strengths Coaching Certificate from San Francisco State University.
    Lindsay Gordon
    Career Coach
    Expert Answer
    Create a goal that revolves around your values. For instance, if growth is important to you, you can start off your goal with "Today I will have prioritized growth by..." Then, you can take a look at each day in your calendar and ask yourself "What meetings do I have? What projects will I be working on? How can I really build growth into the day that I have ahead of me?"
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
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    Not Helpful 0 Helpful 1
  • Question
    How can I have more good days?
    Lindsay Gordon
    Career Coach
    Lindsay Gordon is a Career Coach and the Owner of a Life of Options, a career coaching service for analytically minded people. With more than seven years of experience, she specializes in helping individuals who feel aimless or dissatisfied with work make the right choices for themselves. Lindsay has also been featured in many media publications like Business Insider, Thrive Global, and the How to Be Awesome at Your Job podcast. Lindsay holds a BS in Bioengineering from The Franklin W. Olin College of Engineering and a Core Strengths Coaching Certificate from San Francisco State University.
    Lindsay Gordon
    Career Coach
    Expert Answer
    Get in the habit of reflecting on your day—you can do this on a daily or weekly basis. Think about what days felt the best to you and why. As you reflect more and more, you can be really intentional about adding in those good, positive elements to your future workday.
    Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
    Thank you for your feedback.
    If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
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      References

      1. ↑ https://money.usnews.com/money/careers/articles/2014/11/19/10-ways-to-ace-your-workday-before-it-begins
      2. ↑ Susan Pazak, PhD. Licensed Clinical Psychologist & Professional Life Coach. Expert Interview. 22 February 2022.
      3. ↑ https://money.usnews.com/money/careers/articles/2014/11/19/10-ways-to-ace-your-workday-before-it-begins
      4. ↑ Susan Pazak, PhD. Licensed Clinical Psychologist & Professional Life Coach. Expert Interview. 22 February 2022.
      5. ↑ https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/how_positive_media_can_make_us_better_people
      6. ↑ https://money.usnews.com/money/careers/articles/2014/11/19/10-ways-to-ace-your-workday-before-it-begins
      7. ↑ https://www.sclhealth.org/blog/2019/04/how-listening-to-certain-songs-can-impact-our-brain-and-affect-our-mood/
      8. ↑ https://www.wsj.com/articles/how-to-be-more-productive-at-work-and-manage-your-time-effectively-11610743524
      9. ↑ Susan Pazak, PhD. Licensed Clinical Psychologist & Professional Life Coach. Expert Interview. 22 February 2022.
      1. ↑ Susan Pazak, PhD. Licensed Clinical Psychologist & Professional Life Coach. Expert Interview. 22 February 2022.
      2. ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/body-talk/202102/4-insights-why-you-dont-want-go-work
      3. ↑ Susan Pazak, PhD. Licensed Clinical Psychologist & Professional Life Coach. Expert Interview. 22 February 2022.
      4. ↑ https://hbr.org/2020/11/feeling-overwhelmed-heres-how-to-get-through-the-workday
      5. ↑ Susan Pazak, PhD. Licensed Clinical Psychologist & Professional Life Coach. Expert Interview. 22 February 2022.
      6. ↑ https://www.wsj.com/articles/how-to-be-more-productive-at-work-and-manage-your-time-effectively-11610743524
      7. ↑ Susan Pazak, PhD. Licensed Clinical Psychologist & Professional Life Coach. Expert Interview. 22 February 2022.
      8. ↑ Meredith Walters, MBA. Certified Career Coach. Expert Interview. 22 November 2019.
      9. ↑ https://www.nbcnews.com/better/pop-culture/9-things-do-morning-make-your-whole-day-more-productive-ncna772446
      10. ↑ https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/body-talk/202102/4-insights-why-you-dont-want-go-work
      11. ↑ Lindsay Gordon. Career Coach. Expert Interview. 21 September 2021.

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