Life & Work Skills

The desk essentials a woman keeps on hand during her workday are truly a window into her soul. If you take a peek at the mess that is my desk, you might find a rotation of three different lip balms because chapped lips are the bane of my existence, four Pilot G2 10 pens because I absolutely refuse to write with anything else, and one mini diffuser because I’m vain and want to look glowy AF during my Zoom meetings.
While we all have our own desk quirks, there are some tried-and-true desk essentials that successful women swear by—and we’re not gatekeeping. We polled our team and the results are in—here are 7 items every successful woman has on her desk:

1. CBD to boost mood and focus
If there’s one common denominator that adorns the desk of our entire team, it’s some form of CBD from Equilibria Women. Using CBD regularly can help you achieve a more balanced endocannabinoid system, which is responsible for regulating a number of bodily systems and functions, such as memory, mood, immune response, temperature regulation, and more. Finding a CBD routine that works for you can help improve stress, mood, and energy levels, lead to more restful sleep, and relieve soreness or discomfort. TL;DR: It’ll be sure to solve at least one of your workday woes.
Equilibria has a ton of different products that fit perfectly on our desks and serve as a helpful hand in times of stress and overflowing email inboxes. Looking to reset, soothe, and relax? Reach for one of the CBD rollers of the Dynamic Roller Duo. Sore neck from hunching over your laptop all day? Say hello to your new bestie, the Equilibria Relief Balm. Looking to feel more focused and less stressed as work projects pile up? Their fast-acting Daily Drops have your back. If there’s one unsung hero of our workday, CBD is 100% it. Use code THEEVERYGIRL for 20% off of your first order at Equilibria!

Equilibria
CBD Roller Duo
This roller duo relieves pressure points, regulates mood, and eases topical discomfort. Whether you’re looking to find energy or calm, these rollers are perfect for overcoming that mid-afternoon slump.
Use code THEEVERYGIRL for 20% off your first order at Equilibria!

Equilibria
Daily Drops
If you’re looking for fast-acting relief in times of stress, look no further than these CBD oil drops that are as convenient as they are effective. Pro tip: Add them in your coffee to channel a little extra zen and focus on even the busiest day.
Use code THEEVERYGIRL for 20% off your first order at Equilibria!

Equilibria
Relief Balm
Aches and pains, be gone! This Relief Balm is an editor and fan-favorite for good reason. Whether you have muscle soreness from your last pilates workout, are feeling the woes of hunching over a computer all day, or are feeling a migraine come on, this balm is perfect for as-needed pain relief.
Use code THEEVERYGIRL for 20% off your first order at Equilibria!

2. A notebook for keeping track of thoughts and jotting down your next big idea
Having a go-to notebook on hand is a must for the dreamers and doers alike. Whether you are a list person (guilty as charged), like to do brain dumps to calm a hectic mind, find yourself needing to jot down your next big idea, or need to take notes during back-to-back meetings, having a notebook is the solution for getting thoughts and ideas out of your mind and into the physical world.

3. An “emotional support” water bottle to stay hydrated
If there’s one thing on our desk that’s as comforting as it is functional, it’s our go-to emotional support water bottle. Scientifically speaking, drinking water is 10 times more fun when it’s housed in a cute bottle—bonus points if it has a straw and keeps your water cool all day.

Travel Tumbler
There’s a reason our editors can’t stop talking about this Stanley tumbler. This thing is oversized yet still fits in a cup holder, keeps drinks ice cold for hours on end, and comes in colors that make our junior graphic designer swoon.

FreeSip Insulated Water Bottle
I hold this Owala water bottle in the highest regard for many reasons but my favorites being that 1) it has a handle which makes on-the-go hydration a breeze and 2) it has an unexposed straw on the inside that makes sipping both satisfying AND sanitary.

Source: Social Squares

4. Blue light-blocking glasses to reduce eye strain and end-of-day headaches
If you work in front of a computer for multiple hours a day, you already know the struggle. From our take-a-break TikTok scrolls to taking a peek at the morning news to hopping into eight hours of work in front of a laptop and beyond, our eyes are exposed to a ton of blue light and, after a while, it can take a toll on our eye health. Wearing blue light-blocking glasses can help promote better sleep, decrease eye strain, and reduce headache occurrence, which makes this accessory an absolute necessity for the working woman.

5. A daily meditation or affirmation book to set the tone of the day
There’s no worse way to start your day than waking up at 8:29 a.m., making a beeline for your computer for your 8:30 a.m. sign-on, and being bombarded by 1,543 unread Slack messages consisting of follow-up questions, new projects, and STAT tasks that send you into a tizzy. A lot of our team members swear by starting their day off on the right foot by getting up just a few minutes earlier to engage in a morning meditation or mantra. Having some sort of tool with prompts on hand is the perfect way to set the tone of your day and is one of our favorite things to keep easily accessible during our busiest days.

Ryan Holiday
The Daily Stoic
If you’re looking for a low-hassle way to get into adding intention to your morning, this book (and its 366 meditations) will help you to streamline finding your center.

Intelligent Change
Mindful Affirmations Cards
These mindful affirmation cards serve as a weekly dose of self-love, self-care, and mindfulness. Put a new card on display each week and watch the magic happen.

6. A desk lipgloss or lipstick to swipe on before meetings
If there’s one thing our beauty editor swears by, it’s keeping a desk lipgloss or lipstick on hand to throw on before Zoom meetings. A red lip or a glossy finish is the perfect way to elevate your look and leave you glowing, even if you’re wearing pajama bottoms and haven’t washed your hair in a few days (been there, done that). It’s the perfect low-maintenance confidence boost, and it’s going to be your new go-to desk essential.

Source: ColorJoy Stock
 
7. Something that reminds you of your “why”
Every successful woman lacks motivation and inspiration every now and then, and if there’s one tried-and-true way to rediscover your passion when you’re in a slump, it’s remembering why you started in the first place. As cheesy as it sounds, having some sort of physical symbol of why you started and why you do what you do can help you take that step back to gain some perspective. Whether it’s being reminded by a post card, a photograph of someone who inspires you, or the first dollar you ever made, having some sort of cue can serve as a light on even the most hectic of days.

How To Manifest Career Success This Year

This post contains a sponsored inclusion of Equilibria but all of the opinions within are those of The Everygirl editorial board. More

You’ve heard this familiar career advice: Network your butt off and volunteer for new projects. As helpful as both actions can be, whether you’re looking for a new job or to level up at your current company, identifying and developing in-demand career skills can be the extra push you need to get there.
Since we shared in-demand skills in 2020, the workforce has changed, and with it, we’re seeing new skill trends valued by employers—and we’re glad about it. Even better: The job market is red hot. So based on labor trend reports and an expert interview with Mikal C. Harden, talent acquisition executive and cofounder of Juno Search Partners in Philadelphia, we’ve found the top skills to consider as you develop your career this year.

Digital Fluency
In a recent pulse survey conducted by HFS, companies identified the need to improve digital fluency as the #1 change required. It’s also increasingly becoming a measure of performance. This includes everything from understanding how to use Microsoft Office Suite to advanced artificial intelligence. So what should you do? Show off. Find out the technology skills required to level up, like how to create an enhanced meeting experience in your next team meeting. If your company uses Microsoft Teams, learn how breakout rooms function or about different presentation sharing options. If you’re job searching, try to find out what technology the position works with and begin to learn how to effectively use it.

Data Analytics
You’ve seen this one before, but we’re breaking it down for any type of career goal—so no business intelligence or data analyst title required. Data literacy has become the current language of business, but only 21% of employees are confident in their data skills. Another quick stat: In the last year, Udemy has seen consumption of courses related to data visualization software increase significantly. Here’s your chance to get ahead of the curve.
Think of it as an opportunity to tell a story. “Data drives growth, and there’s no shortage of it in today’s digital world, so understanding the best data to analyze based on your role and breaking it down into an easily digestible story is an extremely valuable skill,” Harden said. Where in your role can you measure your work? What’s your data story? Consider these questions for your role specifically. When you’re ready, here are our top three free tools to get started:

Datawrapper: Known to be useful for journalists and communications professionals to bring campaigns to life, the site hosts their blog titled CHARTABLE, where they regularly write about the best practices in data visualization.
Canva Graph Maker: This versatile tool lets you create beautiful data visualizations instantly and hassle-free. Unlike other online graph makers, Canva isn’t complicated or time consuming. There’s no learning curve—you’ll get a beautiful graph or diagram in minutes, turning raw data into something that’s both visual and easy to understand.
RAWGraphs: RAWGraphs is more advanced, but it’s a free site for your data needs. It works with tabular data (spreadsheets and comma-separated values) as well as with copied-and-pasted texts from other applications (e.g. Microsoft Excel) to break down data into more digestible graphs.

Source: George Milton | Pexels

UX Design
Do you go back to a website just for its awesome look and feel? You can thank the company’s UX design team. UX focuses on customer interaction with products to ensure apps, websites, etc. are designed for the best user experience. This includes accessibility as well. It’s worth noting that web accessibility saw the biggest surge in consumption over the last four years.
User experience designers are in demand, but if you’re not interested in being a designer, don’t worry. UX is versatile and the skills required are highly transferable. For example, for any writers out there, UX requires copywriting. Other soft skills include communication and empathy. Think about all of the departments that could use an effective and empathetic communicator! If you are interested in becoming a designer, skills get more technical, including information architecture, wireframing, and prototyping. Career Foundry offers a course on UX Design.

Problem Solving
Problem solving is both a leadership skill and a required part of effective communication. Needless to say, this skill is simply timeless. Plus, problem solving in a virtual work environment where communication and collaboration can feel fragmented has become essential. It’s easy to feel frustrated with clients or internal teams. It’s easy to complain when things aren’t getting done. But being a problem solver shows your leadership capability. “Not only is it vital to have a solid decision-making process for solving complex business problems, but it’s also a great skill for making important life decisions—for example, making a career switch or moving to a new city,” Harden said. And her pro tip: Break the situation down. Here’s an example:

Define the situation: Differentiate fact from opinion and assess the situation in your own words. Feel free to write it down to get your thoughts together.
Generate solutions: This is a great opportunity to use a flowchart to tell yourself, “If this happens … this will be the result.” Take your time on this step and really think about what would serve you, your team, and the company involved. Also consider who you need to talk to to gain buy-in for your idea and minimize resistance to change.
Consider alternatives: Even if you are the final decision maker (YGG), this is the step to ask for feedback. Depending on the situation, can you talk to your manager about your solution? How about a colleague? Receiving feedback can help you decide what to do next. It’s always helpful to prepare a “backup plan.” Skilled problem solvers use a series of considerations when selecting the best alternative.
Implement: We know, this step probably requires approval from “higher-ups,” so we’ll need patience. Once you are able to implement, celebrate your accomplishments and don’t forget to ask for feedback along the way.

Source: Christina Morillo | Pexels

Active Listening
Active listening is another timeless skill, but it’s being seen as increasingly more important. It’s the act of keeping engaged while talking with someone so you truly absorb what they have to say. More recently, studies find active listening is a driver for an inclusive work environment and a requirement for success. “Active listening supports employees in letting them bring their own brand of thought to the table,” Harden said. Practice before your next team meeting or, better yet, company event. Here’s how to start:

Maintain eye contact
Don’t multitask on your phone
No interrupting
Consider your non-verbal cues like posture and facial expressions—show interest
Restate and clarify the speaker’s points

How To Manifest Career Success This Year More

I dipped my toes into working for myself seven years ago when I started freelancing in college, but I didn’t take the leap into full-time self-employment until the spring of 2018. Fast forward to 2022, and I now service upwards of 35 clients a year as a freelance writer and content consultant. To stay on top of everything, I rely on a very key set of productivity tools to get the job done.
I’m going to walk you through the apps, tech, and wellness tools I use daily (or nearly daily) to run my own business!

Tech

iMac 24”
Let’s start with the most expensive tool that completely transformed how I work and was so worth the investment. As a freelance writer, I used to be a fan of the “I can work from anywhere with my laptop” narrative. That was true pre-pandemic, but nowadays, I only work from home. Laptops are so convenient that I never dreamed of getting a desktop computer until I went into the Mac store looking for a new laptop and left with an iMac 24.” Having a larger screen, being required to actually sit at my desk, and not straining my neck by looking down at my laptop has been a work and wellness game changer. My productivity increased, my workdays are shorter, and my focus is stronger now that I have a large desktop computer instead of a small laptop.

Surface Headphones
Another pricey but so-worth-it tech tool I use on a daily basis is the Microsoft Surface Headphones. My husband and I both work from home in a one-bedroom apartment, so being able to block each other out while on calls is so important—especially since I can’t drag my desktop into the bedroom when he’s on a call. These headphones really excel in the noise-cancelation department, and when combined with focus music (more on that in a hot minute), you can really get in the zone.

iPad
As much as I love having a desktop computer, the idea of adding a second monitor to my desk is unbearable (again, one-bedroom apartment where our office is also our living room). When I need a second screen, I prop up my iPad on a stand. I also use my iPad to download books I need to read for work and to store files that are easier to maneuver on an iPad than a computer. I spend a lot of time zooming in on tiny photos of clothing so I can catch important details to write about for my fashion brand clients.

Apps

Todoist

I recently shared my love for Todoist and other apps I use frequently. This to-do list app is an integral part of how I keep all of the many assignments I have for different clients organized. I love that the app syncs on my desktop, laptop, iPad, and iPhone (overkill, I know) so I can access my to-do list on whatever device I’m working on. This app allows you to create different “projects” and you can organize tasks under each project and assign deadlines and reminders.

Toggl Track

A not-so-fun part of working for yourself is trying to figure out how to price projects and how to bill for them. Using Toggl Track serves two purposes for me: If I’m working on a project where I need to bill by the hour, I can use this time-tracking tool as a timesheet of sorts to track exactly how much time I spent on a project so I can invoice accordingly. If I’m working on a project with a set rate, I can track how long I spent on it to make sure I proposed a proper price for the project and can adjust pricing as needed for future projects.

Brain.fm

I can’t write while listening to music with lyrics or even too exciting of a classical score. When I need help focusing or drowning out background noise, Brain.fm comes to the rescue. This app provides “focus music” that really does make it easier to focus. You can pick timed sessions, so I like to set it for 30 or 60 minutes and see how much work I can get done during that time.

Genius Scan

Because you will encounter the occasional old schooler who wants you to sign an actual piece of paper, use Genius Scan to take the place of a bulky scanner. All you do is take a photograph of your signed document and Genius Scan transforms it to look like you actually scanned a piece of paper. They’ll never be the wiser.

Wellness

An Organized Life
2022 Daily Planner
I’m a writer, so it can’t come as a surprise that I have an affinity for good old-fashioned pen and paper! A small, but very impactful, change I made to my routine in 2022 is journaling each morning and night in my An Organised Life Daily Planner (which is more like a journal). Each morning, I set intentions for the day, and I find that writing them down really helps me commit to them. At the end of the workday, I reflect on what I learned or what bothered me and how I can move forward the next day. Since starting this routine, I find it easier to stay focused throughout the day and to let things go at night.

Harney & Sons
Citron Green Tea
Don’t tell the other writers or I might get kicked out of the club, but I don’t drink coffee. I, however, love tea. This love for tea is one of the reasons I didn’t enjoy working in an office. For some reason, office tea always tastes horrible. Since I started working for myself, I splurge on Harney & Sons Tea and it has ruined all grocery store tea for me. It’s the best way to start my day and makes me feel majorly grateful that instead of commuting in the dark every morning to go sit in a cold office, I now get to stay warm and cozy at home and enjoy my tea each morning. I splurge as a reminder of how far I’ve come and to stay motivated to keep building my business.

Native Atlas
Movement Oil
I always keep a Native Atlas Movement Oil roller on my desk for moments when I need to reset and regroup. The combination of mentha, holy basil, and lavender is super relaxing and I love to apply it to my pulse points in the afternoon when I need a little boost.

The Good Patch
Awake Patch with B12
Speaking of pick-me-ups, when it’s too late in the day to make yet another cup of tea, I turn to the Good Patch Plant Based Awake Patch with B12 for a boost that won’t leave me tossing and turning at bedtime. The effects usually wear off about half an hour after removing the patch, so it’s the perfect way to perk up for that last chunk of the workday. More

Spring is such an invigorating season: The sun is shining, the days are longer, and it’s not as tempting to hide under the duvet to binge the latest Netflix hit—which is why spring is the perfect time to revisit your career goals and actually make them happen.
If you’re diligently doing the work during your 9-5, then you may feel like there is nothing else you can do to push your career forward. While putting in the work on a day-to-day basis is super important, it’s also easy to fall into a work rut where you just get the bare minimum done and don’t focus on checking your next goal off your list.
Manifesting your career success will help keep your career goals top of mind and will make it easier to both consciously and subconsciously work toward those goals. Let’s look at how you can manifest career success this year. That way, by the time the clock strikes midnight on Dec. 31, you will have something exciting to toast to.

Create a vision board
Let’s start with the really fun part. Creating a vision board allows you to spend some concentrated time thinking about what you want. If you don’t know what you want out of your career this year, the practice of giving yourself space to find what images and words you’re attracted to can help bring new goals into focus.
We’re all so busy these days and it’s hard to carve out time to properly think about what we want and how we can achieve it. Spending a few relaxed hours (don’t rush here) on discovery and manifestation can be both inspiring and a very practical step to take toward identifying and reaching your goals, not to mention you’ll be able to circle back to your vision board when you need to be reminded of what you’re working toward.
If you can, keep your vision board in your workspace so you can see it throughout the workday. If you work in a public office and want to keep your vision board private, consider making your vision board in a journal or in your planner so you can discreetly reference it during the workday.

Make manifestation a daily practice
Manifestation only works if you regularly embrace it. Make manifestation a part of your daily practice in whatever way suits you best. You can write down your goals in your diary on a daily basis and track your progress, you can repeat manifestation phrases in front of the mirror each day, or you can make it a point to reflect on your vision board before you start your workday. Whatever manifestation path you choose, make sure you incorporate it into your daily routine. Doing so will help keep your goals front and center, and it will be easier to identify ways you can make career progress every single day. Here are a few other ideas for how you can kickstart a daily manifestation practice!

Embrace public accountability
Tweet about it, start a blog, or make your intentions super clear on LinkedIn. There’s something to be said about manifesting publicly. When you put your goals out there in the world, your accountability to yourself increases greatly. If you want to keep your goals more private (which may be necessary if you want to find a new job or switch industries), you can always make it a point to share your goals with a friend, family member, or romantic partner. Repeating your goals, talking about them, and setting expectations for yourself can help you meet them.

Add manifestation into your meditation routine
Take a break from time to time and incorporate manifestation into your meditation routine. Visualization meditation is a type of meditation practice that involves concentrating on imagery during a meditation session in order to cultivate mindfulness. Many people struggle with meditation because they feel an immense pressure to clear their mind, which is really hard for most of us to do. Visualization can be an easier technique to master, as you can choose to focus your mind on visual representations of your goals. For some, that may be picturing an MBA graduation ceremony, for others, it could be a corner office, and for you, it could be finally convincing your boss to let you work remotely.

Find your tribe of goal getters
There’s something to be said about spending time with others who share your goals. When you’re trying to reach key career goals, try to spend some extra time with friends, family, or colleagues who are also working toward career goals and who want to talk about the progress you’re making. For example, if your goal is to turn your side hustle into your full-time hustle, try to connect with other like-minded entrepreneurs. Not only will you be able to learn and grow together, but being able to talk about your career aspirations with someone who both supports your journey and understands it can also be immensely helpful.
Manifestation doesn’t have to happen quietly and privately, so don’t be afraid to tell people exactly what you want for your career this year.

The Everygirl’s Guide to Manifestation and Achieving Your Best Life More

Picture this: You’re interviewing for an amazing position at your dream company. You’re absolutely nailing the interview and have the recruiter in your pocket after your engaging conversation and intelligent questions when you hear that one highly anticipated and typically dreaded question: “What are your salary expectations?”
Despite the increase in informational resources and societal conversation around pay equity, many of us still shy away from open discussions about money: rent, child care, spending habits, etc. The job hunt is no different, and applicants (especially women) often feel uncomfortable broaching the topic of compensation. While interviewing, we want to convey that we’re interested in the role at hand for reasons beyond a paycheck, but in reality, our bills still need to be paid.
That “how much can we pay you” moment is one that used to make me panic. I never knew what was appropriate to answer, if I was asking for enough, or if asking for too much would knock me out of contention for the open position. Then, a few years ago, one of my mentors gave me one of the best pieces of interview advice: It’s less about the questions they ask and more about the one I ask. Now, whenever I apply for a position and get to the salary part of the process, I no longer shy away. Instead, I ask something along the lines of “What is the budgeted salary range for this position?”

The Risk
Asking the company what salary range they have budgeted flips the script while giving me good insight into the company and interviewer—it no longer puts it on me to give a hard number, especially in regards to my current salary (Note that in some cities and states, it’s actually illegal to even ask what someone is currently making during the interview process). While current compensation is a good springboard for a desired pay range, the cost of living is constantly rising, as should your salary.
In my first few roles, I didn’t ask the companies about their budgeted salary range. I didn’t negotiate at all before accepting the offer for my first job out of college, though looking back, I wish that I would have. By not asking how much each company had to work with, I put myself in a position to leave money on the table. If I go into an interview and tell a hiring manager I’m searching for a role that pays $50,000 to $60,000 but the organization’s budget is $75,000, I just cost myself $15,000 at minimum. On the flip side, if I’m asking for a six-figure salary but the company is offering a maximum of $75,000, I need to have an open and honest conversation with myself about my worth, my personal budget, a potential pay cut, and other benefits that might make up for that gap between my expectations and the budgeted reality.

Source: Julia M Cameron | Pexels

Once you’ve asked a hiring manager what they’re working with, there are two ways they might answer: They can tell you or they can throw it back your way. The first situation is obviously ideal and can be a good indicator that the company is open, honest, and operating in good faith. If an interviewer doesn’t answer directly or says something vague like, “It depends on the candidate,” then you have a choice to make. You can delay answering with a response like, “I’d love to learn more about the position before determining an appropriate salary,” or you can deliver a range that truly works for you, which requires a bit more preparation on your end.
As with every stage of every interview, you should go in knowing your worth and what you’re comfortable giving up. A dream job with good benefits and a clear path to your career goals might be worth a pay cut and reworking your current budget. But if you’re reaching for certain savings goals or simply need to make your rent, you might have to walk away from an opportunity that can’t match what you’re looking for. Wherever your final salary range lands is a question for you and you alone to determine, though I’m personally a firm advocate for negotiating more. The only risk is the money you have to lose—the worst they can say is no.

Source: Karolina Grabowska | Pexels

The Reward
While it might take some getting used to, inquiring about the salary budget during an interview is easily worth the reward. If a hiring manager is open with you and provides the salary range they’re working with, you then have everything you need to make an informed decision on whether or not you’d like to proceed with the given range, negotiate your offer, or end the interview process if a company can’t match what you’re looking for.
I asked about the salary budget early on in one particular interview process, and the interviewer gave me a range of numbers that was overall a bit lower than anticipated, but I could make the upper end work. I decided to proceed with the hiring process and ended up with an offer that fell at the very bottom of the range I knew the organization had to work with. Armed with this information and my worth, I seized the opportunity to push for more and successfully negotiated a higher salary.
Having the complete picture means you don’t run the risk of leaving money out there. We’ve all heard, “ask and you shall receive,” but if you don’t know what you’re working with, how can you ask the right questions about the job or yourself? I don’t really want to think about the thousands of dollars I might have left on the table at previous roles, but it’s been helpful to learn from previous mistakes.
The next time you prep for an interview, don’t be afraid to flip the questions about salary and beyond. Sure, they’re assessing you to see if you would be a good fit for a given team and company culture. But the job hunt is a two-way street, and you deserve a role that suits your needs, financial or otherwise.

17 Interview Red Flags That Should Make You Think Twice About a Job More

Have you been feeling unmotivated at work lately? Because I know I have. The tasks that you used to fly through feel like they take three times as long. Your previously undivided attention is now pulled in five different directions. You’re feeling burned out and checked out.
It’s common to hit slumps like this throughout your career. Sometimes they last a day, sometimes a week, and sometimes even longer. No matter why or how long you’ve felt unmotivated, one thing is for sure: You eventually have to find a way to get your job done. So the next time you find yourself struggling to cross anything off your to-do list, try these quick wins.

Send That Email
You know the email I’m talking about—the one you’ve been putting off for days. Often, tasks tend to feel bigger and more difficult the longer we put them off. But chances are, if you dedicate the time to focus and craft a reply, it’ll be easier than you think. I promise you’ll feel like a huge weight has been lifted off of your shoulders once you hit send, and it’ll probably take less time than you think. You might even feel motivated to knock out a few more emails while you’re at it.
To get started, set a timer for five minutes. Commit to no distractions and 100% focus on the email at hand for those five minutes. If you don’t complete the email when your timer goes off, feel free to move on—no need to be hard on yourself. But if you are able to hit send, take a moment to celebrate! Get up and grab a cup of coffee, text a friend, or hit “add to cart” on that item you’ve been eyeing. After all, you sent that email. You deserve it!

Set a Bite-Sized Goal
When you’re working on a big project that’s scheduled to take weeks or months to complete, it might feel like you’re barely making progress. But you don’t execute on a big, lofty goal all at once. You take small baby steps to get there. Instead of focusing on the large task at hand, pick one task you can complete today that will move the project forward.
Take a moment to write down all the tasks you need to complete for your current project. By getting everything out of your head and onto paper, you can then decide which bite-sized task you want to tackle first. Once you check that item off your list, give yourself a five-minute break, then come back and pick another item to knock out next. Before you know it, you’ll have worked your way through your to-do list.

Move Your Body
Feeling unmotivated can drag you down both mentally and physically. So in order to shake up your routine and add some motivation back into your day, sometimes you literally have to shake it up. Get up and move your body. Go for a walk without any distractions like your phone or a podcast. Let your mind wander and see what it finds. If you only have a few minutes in between meetings, stand up and do a few squats. Movement helps get your blood and creativity flowing, so you can reignite your motivation.

Treat Yourself
Some work tasks simply suck. Since they’re not fun on their own, you need to find a way to make it fun. That’s when it’s time to treat yourself. Tell yourself that if you work on a presentation for an hour, you can take a break to check social media or that once you get through a meeting, you’ll reward yourself with your favorite coffee. Because sometimes work is just that: work. And you have to find the light at the end of the tunnel to keep you going.

Get Ready
If you’re working from home, this tip is especially for you. If you find yourself rolling out of bed and getting straight to work, it’s understandable that you don’t feel motivated for the day. You haven’t taken the time to get ready, whatever that means to you. Take five minutes at the start of your day to get yourself ready to work. Do your makeup, make yourself a cup of coffee, write in your journal, or change out of your sweatpants. When you feel the part, you perform the part.

I’m Getting Dressed to Work From Home This Year—Here’s Why

Catch Up with a Coworker or a Friend
We’re social creatures. Even if we enjoy being alone, we still need human interaction to thrive. Take five minutes and schedule a time to catch up with a coworker, give your work bestie a quick call, or make plans for after work. Spending a few minutes to connect with a colleague gives you a much-needed brain break. Even if you’re not talking to the person now, you’ll have something to look forward to later.

Create a “Done” List
We all have to-do lists, but do you have a “done” list? When you’re feeling unmotivated, it could be because you don’t feel like you’re accomplishing anything. But if you take stock of all of the things you did that day, I bet you’d be surprised. Start a “done” list of all the work you complete to help you visualize where your efforts and time are spent. It can help give you the boost of motivation you need to tackle your to-do list tomorrow.

Quick wins at work, no matter how small, lead to big wins later. So the next time you’re feeling stuck in a motivation rut, remember that you’re armed with these tips to help you go from unmotivated to inspired.

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