Man, August 2022. I remember it like it was yesterday, and not in a good way at first. My job felt like it was just… swallowing me whole. Every single day, I’d wake up with this dull ache in my gut, dreading logging on. It wasn’t that the work itself was bad, or the people, but I just felt completely drained, totally stuck in a rut. I was putting in the hours, sure, but the spark? Completely gone. I was just going through the motions, and honestly, it felt like I was doing a pretty poor job of even that.
I distinctly remember one Tuesday in August, staring at my computer screen. A big project was looming, and I just couldn’t bring myself to even open the files. It hit me then, like a ton of bricks: something had to give. I knew I couldn’t just keep showing up, feeling like a ghost. I needed to figure out how to, you know, actually thrive at work again, or at least feel human while doing it. The idea of just quitting felt too scary, too reckless, especially with bills and all that jazz.
So, I started with what I always do when I feel completely lost: I grabbed a cheap notebook and a pen. No fancy apps, no expensive planners. Just paper and ink. I called it my “work survival log.” Pretty dramatic, I know, but that’s how it felt. My first entry was literally just a list of things I hated about my workday. It was a messy, whiny list, full of stuff like “too many useless meetings,” “always feeling behind,” “no time for actual thinking,” and “emails never stop.” It felt good just to get it out, honestly.
After that initial purge, I kept going. Every morning, before I even opened my work laptop, I’d jot down three things I needed to accomplish that day. Not a huge list, just three crucial items. And here’s the kicker: I’d prioritize them. First thing I wanted to tackle, second, third. Then, the moment I finished one, I’d literally cross it out with a big, satisfying ‘X’. It sounds simple, right? But for someone who used to bounce between tasks like a pinball, it was revolutionary. It gave me a tiny bit of control in a day that felt totally out of control.
Then came the meeting problem. Oh, the meetings! I realized I was just saying ‘yes’ to everything. So, I started being selective. If an invite popped up and I couldn’t immediately see how my presence would directly contribute, I’d politely decline or ask for a summary. Sounds bold, maybe even rude, but guess what? Most people didn’t even bat an eye. And for the ones who did, a quick email like, “Hey, just swamped with X, Y, Z, but happy to catch up on the key takeaways later!” usually did the trick. This freed up chunks of time I didn’t even know I had.
Rethinking My Schedule and My Space
My next big change was my actual schedule. I noticed I was always most productive in the mornings, before the afternoon slump hit. So, I tried to front-load my most complex tasks then. And after lunch? That’s when I’d tackle emails, less demanding follow-ups, and those meetings I couldn’t escape. It was a complete flip from my old habit of just reacting to whatever came in first.
I also started experimenting with micro-breaks. Instead of just powering through for hours, I’d set a timer for 25 minutes, focus hard, and then force myself to step away for 5 minutes. No checking social media. Just standing up, stretching, getting a glass of water, looking out the window. It really helped clear my head and prevent that feeling of my brain turning to mush.
My workspace also got a bit of an overhaul. Nothing major, just decluttering. I realized my desk was always a mess of papers, mugs, and random notes. So, I spent an hour on a Saturday just cleaning it all up. Everything had a place. It felt like I was cleaning out my brain at the same time. I even added a small plant, just something green to look at besides the screen.
Here’s a quick run-down of the little things I recorded working for me:
- The “Three Most Important” Rule: No more than three big tasks a day. Focus on crushing those.
- Strategic Meeting Declines: If it’s not essential for me, I’m out.
- Morning Power Hours: Tough stuff before noon.
- Micro-Breaks: 5 minutes every half hour to reset.
- Desk Declutter: A clean space, a clearer mind.
- Walking at Lunch: Get away from the screen, even for 20 minutes.
It didn’t happen overnight, of course. Some days I slipped back into old habits, felt overwhelmed, and wanted to toss the whole notebook out the window. But I kept at it, consistently recording what I tried, how I felt, and what seemed to make even a tiny difference. Slowly but surely, that August feeling of dread started to fade. I wasn’t suddenly loving every single aspect of my job, let’s be real, but I wasn’t hating it either. I was more effective, less stressed, and actually felt like I was back in the driver’s seat. That’s what thriving looked like for me back then, just taking back control of my workday, one small, recorded step at a time.
