Darling,

“How am I supposed to feel turned on and in love with my life, when I spend so much time at a job I hate?” I received this question from a reader recently, and wanted to address it today because I know this sister is not alone in her frustration.

Who amongst us hasn’t felt overworked, uninspired, or underpaid at our jobs, at some point in our career? Even if you love your job, there are those weeks when you just get stuck at your desk for far too long.

For me and my team, we love the work we do, adore each other, and have so much to be grateful for — but we get stuck, too.

During those times, it is so easy (and yet, agonizing) to just push through, nose to the grindstone, and charge towards the weekend when you can squeeze in your dose of fun, pleasure, and joy.

But, but, but! This is exactly the time you need to turn UP the volume on your turn ON.

The key to landing a job you love (or transforming the job you have), a job that truly reflects your worth, a job that makes you ecstatic, is not to sit at your desk and hate the job you have, it’s not to settle for crumbs on the weekend, and it’s not to work yourself into the ground until you crash and burn out.

The key is to party with the job you’ve got. Today, I’ve created my short list of 7 Tips to Turn On your Work Life.

Most of these take less than 10 minutes. Some take 30 seconds. All are game-changing actions.

I should tell you, everything on this list is the last thing you’ll want to do when you’re feeling depleted (and need them most). You’ll want to run in the other direction. I get it. But try it anyway. And report back.

1. Dress how you wish you felt.
When you’re feeling pressed for time, stressed, resentful, and/or exhausted — it’s so tempting to roll into the office in your mumu. If you work at home, it’s even more disastrously tempting to stay in pj’s all day. Don’t do it. Especially on your long days. Especially if you’re feeling uninspired. Especially if you need a vacation. Dress your hot self up as the woman you want to be, going to the job of her dreams. Go panty-free! Guaranteed, a better day lies ahead.

2. Pack snacks and a delicious lunch.
Nourish your gorgeous body and plan for some built-in pleasure breaks for your taste buds. If you’re short on time, spring for delivery from your favorite restaurant, or team up with a friend to cook healthful meals for the week. You can’t expect to put out your best work if you’re not putting in the nourishment you need to produce it. And whatever you are eating, please no plastic utensils. (Plastic utensils are so un-pussy.) You deserve sterling, if not stainless.

3. Get out your egg timer (or smartphone). Dance, on the hour, every hour.
Seriously, set that puppy for 55 minutes, on repeat. Every time it goes off, pull up your playlist and get down with a hot dance break. Be kinda militant with your dance breaks, ok? You are the hottest, most demanding drill sergeant I know. Oh yes you are.

4. Dress up your desk.
Make your workspace fit for your best work. Bling your stapler and phone. Put flowers on your desk. Update your desktop picture with something that inspires you. Post your desire list next to your screen. Print out pictures of the people you love the most. Buy a plant, and take care of it. Candle? Light it. Working in a beautiful space is so important!

5. Upride a coworker.
Without a doubt, by day’s end, take someone else in your office higher. That means: put your pleasurable attention on someone; give them a compliment; make them feel beautiful; tell them they are brilliant. Really praise them for their contribution to your workplace. When you take someone higher, you take yourself higher, every time.

6. Do a victory lap.
Brag your accomplishments, no matter how small, and remind yourself of the value you’re bringing. Especially when you’re staring down a to-do list eighty miles tall, it’s so critical to take pause and celebrate what you’ve done well. Bragging is like fuel for your fire. This one is hard, especially when you are the kind of girl to drive yourself like a mad dog towards a finish line. Brag right now.

7. When all else fails, play hooky.
Sometimes the best way to feel more turned on at work is to just spend less time there. Every once in awhile, the best strategy is just to bail, play hooky, tell a white lie and do something outrageous with your day! The world won’t end, I promise. : )

xo,

Regena Thomashauer, aka “Mama Gena”
The School of Womanly Arts

Regena is a feminist icon, a teacher, a speaker, a mother, a best-selling author, and creatrix and CEO of The School of Womanly Arts.