Get All Access for $5/mo

Transform Your Day With This 10-Minute Routine When You First Arrive at the Office Here's how focusing on the present before moving into the day's goals can change your outlook.

By Hayden Field

Hero Images | Getty Images

The phrase "daily grind" -- meaning a repetitive, tiresome work routine -- may have originated in the mid-1800s, but it's just as relevant today. Just 33 percent of U.S. workers are engaged in their jobs, according to a 2017 Gallup report -- and just four in 10 employees strongly agree that they've had opportunities to learn and grow in the past year.

If your days feel monotonous and this hits home, one key to turning things around might lie in the first 10 minutes of your work day. As soon as you sit down at your desk, you can practice mindfulness -- or focusing on the present -- and then move into your goals for the day.

Before you even open your inbox, close your eyes and check in with yourself, says Lodro Rinzler, co-founder of MNDFL meditation studios. Focus on the weight of your body in your chair and your feet on the ground, then take three slow, deep breaths -- in through the nose and out through the mouth.

Once you feel calm and centered, think about your big-picture goals for the day. "Ask yourself: What qualities do I want to cultivate today? Who do I want to be? How do I want to show up for my workplace today?" Rinzler says. "Whatever we place our attention on ultimately grows throughout the course of the day."

Next, try moving onto more concrete task goals. Write down what you'd like to accomplish today, but try not to overload yourself -- and list your tasks in order of urgency. If a traditional list feels too run-of-the-mill -- or you feel overwhelmed with work -- try drawing a grid and designating your to-dos via the "Eisenhower Matrix," a task organizer inspired by President Dwight D. Eisenhower.

While you're at it, set a quiet timer or calendar alert for every 30 or 60 minutes. Whenever you're pinged during the day, turn your eyes away from your screen for at least a minute. That can look like taking a quick walk around the room or simply focusing on your surroundings -- just give your eyes a break. Doing this can help you make your energy last and avoid feeling drained at day's end.

Related: Low on Motivation? 7 Psychological Hacks to Get Going

Hayden Field

Entrepreneur Staff

Associate Editor

Hayden Field is an associate editor at Entrepreneur. She covers technology, business and science. Her work has also appeared in Fortune Magazine, Mashable, Refinery29 and others. 

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Editor's Pick

Social Media

How To Start a Youtube Channel: Step-by-Step Guide

YouTube can be a valuable way to grow your audience. If you're ready to create content, read more about starting a business YouTube Channel.

Business Ideas

63 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2024

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2024.

Growing a Business

How This Software Company Is Simplifying Complex But Critical Processes for Small Businesses

Gusto CEO Josh Reeves shares his commitment to small businesses and growth lessons that any business can use.

Business News

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang Says Nuclear Energy 'Is a Wonderful Way Forward' to Keep AI Data Centers Running

AI could use as much electricity as a small country within the next three years.