Does this sound familiar to you? You find yourself scrolling on X or Instagram, and you come across some flashy entrepreneur posting videos about how he or she avoided working a typical office job. They typically flash their stock portfolio stats and tell you about how easy it is to start an online business. They will you that their new job frees them from working a “boring, soul-sucking” 9-5 job.
Now, I would be lying to you if I claimed that I never thought about the possibility of breaking out from the daily routine. Many of us wish we could pursue careers that are constantly exciting and motivating. And for the record, there is nothing wrong with being a businessman or an entrepreneur. But here’s a news flash: most of us will work a typical 9-5 desk job at some point in our lives. There is nothing wrong with that. In fact, each of us should find value in the work that we do even when it feels like our tasks are monotonous or repetitive. Finding meaning in your job can take many forms, and there are distinct habits that you can cultivate each day to improve your mood and bring more peace to your life. Here are 5 daily practices that I recommend incorporating each day:
1. Get up early and workout for an hour before work
If you live next to a gym or have one at your workplace, become a morning gym-goer. You will not regret it! I have personally tried working out during all times of the day. Without a doubt, I have found this simple practice to be the best way to start my morning. It energizes me. It boosts my mood. And most importantly, it brings me a sense of accomplishment before I even begin my work.
2. Pray or meditate for 10 minutes each day
Humans are inherently moral and spiritual beings- I am firmly convinced of this. Almost every religion and philosophical tradition claims that human beings have this inherent desire for the divine. The caveat being that there is significant disagreement about what this means. Regardless of your religious or philosophical beliefs, every man should set aside time each day to meditate or pray.
“The path to finding the divine in your daily life is an exciting journey and one worth embarking on. “
This should be intentional time for reflection that pulls you out of your daily routine and inclines your mind towards something higher. If you are a Christian, this can take the form of reading Sacred Scripture in the morning or praying the rosary. If you are a Buddhist, this means meditating in order to refocus your mind and improve your mood. But perhaps you are non-religious entirely: engaging with the spiritual could mean you take a walk in nature or read the writings of the stoics. There are endless opportunities to engage in this habit. Push beyond your immediate impulses and desires. The path to finding the divine in your daily life is an exciting journey and one worth embarking on.
3. Read an actual book
It is possible that your work is a living nightmare, and you barely have time to eat lunch each day, let alone breathe. But for most of us, we have spare time each day that could be put to better use than watching mindless reels or checking the news. One habit that I really enjoy is reading, and all it takes is a few minutes each day. Reading has been proven as an essential habit for building focus, memory, and mental clarity. Plus, you give your brain a break from looking at a soul-sucking monitor for at least 5-10 minutes.
Go find a book genre that you find interesting or captivating. It could truly be anything. (history, finance, self-development, adventure, mystery, etc.) Read at least five pages each day and let the benefits sink in.
4. Engage and chat with your co-workers
One of the worst consequences of the Covid-era was the increase in Americans who now work from home. Remote work can have distinct benefits: more flexibility for travel and more time to explore new hobbies. The downside to remote work is that Americans are physically less connected than they have ever been with other people. Socializing with co-workers may seem unimportant, but the research suggests otherwise. Even if your job does not involve a significant amount of human contact, simply going to a different location where you encounter other people is extremely beneficial for your mental and physical health.
Co-workers may be a source of stress and frustration for you, but they can also be a source of profound creativity, friendship, and mentorship. Two recommendations for engaging better with your co-worker. Firstly, whenever you have the opportunity, talk about an idea or a project with your co-worker or manager rather than sending yet another email. (Obviously, emails should encompass the vast majority of your communication). Taking the time to flush an idea out in person will help you better communicate nuance than an email can.
Secondly, try expressing an actual interest in the lives of your co-workers. Generic questions like “how are you?” or “any big weekend plans?” don’t forge real connections with people and are often a cop-out to just appear polite. When you take a greater interest in other people, you are instantly ten times more likable, but more importantly, you make others feel seen. We need more of this in today’s disconnected world.
5. Go for a long walk once a day
Health experts all agree on one thing: sitting down for prolonged periods of time is just terrible for your health. When you sit down for a long period of time, your circulation reduces, your metabolism decreases, and your risk of eventually developing cardiac issues grows substantially. If you are like me, you might also have the daily back pain of a man in his mid-80s. I still need to find time to go to physical therapy for this…
Health research in the past decade has been raving about this one type of physical exercise. Spoiler alert, it’s not yoga or pilates. It’s walking. This simple practice of getting up and moving once an hour improves your health in more ways than you can imagine. Walking improves your mood, gets your blood flowing, and most importantly, enables you to leave that corner cubicle of death for a few minutes. It might seem pointless at first. You might feel like it is having no effect on you. I can guarantee it will have an impact on your daily mood if you start doing it each day.