Getting Over the Hump of “Hump Day”

camel

Wednesdays — the grumpy “middle child” of the work week.

If only Wednesday could magically turn into a Friday, or dare I say transform into Saturday.

While you might have breezed through Monday and Tuesday — somehow Wednesday just seems to “snag”. Our refreshed feeling from the weekend has definitely faded. You may find that you struggle through meetings and “zone out” while others are speaking.

If you aren’t having a particularly exciting week or already feel overwhelmed, you may wonder if you’ll get through to Friday.

I’ve actually held a grudge against Wednesdays for years — and I don’t think I’m alone. It’s really a bit unfair. So, it’s time to change our tune.

Wednesday’s don’t need to be the day that we just “get through”.

In this vein, here are a few strategies that might help make Wednesdays your favorite day of the work week:

Save the best for Wednesdays. Hoard something you enjoy work-wise for mid-week. For example, a project that really interests you. Even if the time increment is modest (say 20 minutes) — you’ll feel more energized.
Get out of the building. Anoint Wednesdays as the day you make plans to leave the office (and yes, your computer) for lunch. Invite someone new to join you each week — someone that has an interesting role or personality.
Start the day with a boost. Do you have a favorite colleague or business contact? Allow yourself time to reach out to them first thing on a Wednesday — a great way to boost both perspective and mood.
Laugh a little. Start out Wednesdays with a workplace humor. Read a few New Yorker cartoons or listen to a clip from your favorite workplace inspired movie. (I love clips from Office Space.)
Improve you. Make Wednesdays, the day of change. Disallow a workplace behavior that probably isn’t doing you any favors — and revise the “status quo”. For example, aim to go the entire day without contradicting someone. Listen without interrupting. Refrain from sending e-mails that could replaced by a walk down the hall. You get the idea.
Be nice. Show a little gratitude. Make Wednesdays the day that you thank as many people as possible for adding something positive to your work life. Bring your “stars” a coffee or a danish and vow to stop taking people for granted.
Build on a success. Review the events of last week and tease out at least one success. Write down 2 or 3 actions that would build on that progress — and keep the forward momentum going. Now follow through.