No matter what you do for a living, sometimes it’s hard to make it through the work day. Here are ten ways to make your work life more peaceful. In between these tips, cram as much stress and pressure into your day as you’d like to cram in. But sticking to these 10 tips will make it bearable and maybe even pleasant.

1. Give yourself plenty of time to get up and get ready without being rushed.
2. Set your alarm clock 10 minutes early. When it goes off, sit up (so that you don’t fall back asleep) and spend 10 minutes allowing your brain and body to wake up before going about your morning routine. Stretch and take a few deep breaths. Allow your mind to get free of the ‘I just woke up and so I’m panicking about everything I have to do today’ phase.
3. Leave your house 10 minutes before you HAVE to. This will take some of the stress out of your drive. If you get to work early, take a few moments in your car to breathe and relax before walking in or take a few moments to clean, organize or cleanse your work area.
4. Throughout your day (breakfast and lunch), eat light foods (as opposed to heavy). Red meat and heavy starches will make you more tired and lethargic.
5. Take advantage of your breaks to get away from your office, even if only to step outside the building. Stretch and move your body even if it’s only to walk up and down a flight of stairs once.
6. Stay in tune with your natural rhythms. Keep a plant with ample foliage at your desk. If possible, include a natural light source – either encourage light from a window or use a lamp with a ‘natural light’ bulb.
7. During mind numbing periods of time at your desk, use music to keep your mind moving forward through your day. Something enjoyable will lift your spirits and you’ll be less likely to ‘get stuck’ on a task if you have the sense of time moving forward, which music gives.
8. Steer clear of Monday-Thursday happy hours. It will make it more difficult to function the next day.
9. Near the end of your day, reflect for a few minutes. It doesn’t have to be in depth. Just 2-3 minutes of thought. Allow your mind to bring to your conscious awareness any struggles, difficulties, failures, successes, victories or other senses of accomplishment. Give yourself credit for doing the best you could do.
10. Set a bed time that will allow you at least 8 hours of sleep and stick to it. This is your responsibility to yourself to keep yourself rested. Start to wind down a half hour before your bed time. After a particularly stressful day, try a calming tea or supplement.