Summer days are usually synonymous with lazy days. It’s important to be aware that you may not be on your A-game. Perhaps you’re daydreaming about the weekend’s outside activities or feel it’s simply too hot to work. Here are some tips that will help you fight the summer work blues and get you back into the mindset of your career.

Get Organized
Keeping a clean desk and workspace will help you get things done efficiently and effectively.

Budget Your Time
Budgeting your time means budgeting your work, too. Prioritize and decide which tasks are more urgent, what can wait, and how much time each will take. Then go down the list and cross each one off as it is accomplished.

Set Goals
By creating small goals for yourself throughout the week will push you to accomplish them. Start with little goals that can be done easily each day. These goals should lead toward a larger goal for yourself. It will also prevent procrastination.

Enjoy Downtime
When you’ve worked hard you will appreciate your off-hour times with your family and friends more. You deserve to feel rested and relaxed when you head back to work!

We’ve all had rough days at the office and it’s no fun going home with the burden of an unsuccessful workweek. Moreover, men and women are working longer hours at the office than ever before. During these unpredictable times, companies may be demanding more from their employees, but it is possible to leave work stress at the office. Here’s how.

Prioritize: First start by making a list of your responsibilities. Ask yourself which elements of your life are your priorities. Then, rank them. Use this tool for your tasks at work as well. Knowing what comes first is half the battle. The rest is simply following through with what is important to you.

Be Realistic: Being realistic means knowing what you can handle. We all want to do it all, but few can actually pull it off. Being realistic means that you know what can be accomplished in a day. It might result in scaling back a few hours at work or offering duties to junior employees. You’ll be much happier and your work will not suffer.

Organize: Give yourself time to organize. Declare one hour of everyday for yourself—close your office door for uninterrupted time. If it’s first thing in the morning, make a list of what you will accomplish that day: listen to voicemails and respond to emails. Don’t let things pile up until they are out of control. Accomplishing organization will shave off a couple hours out of your workday.

Respect Technology: With the convenient technology we have available to us these days, it’s so easy to bring work home with us. PDA devices, cell phones, and laptops make it possible for anyone to reach you at any time. So it must be up to you to turn off these devices when you are not at work. Define your work hours and adhere to them.

Just because the economy is in a slump doesn’t mean that you have to be. Things are looking up everyday and the job you’ve been waiting for may be just around the corner. So you better be prepared. When you do interview, remember these tips and you’ll surely be a success!

Don’t forget the basics: As always, do your homework and research a new company before you interview. Then review your past work experience and accomplishments. Be ready to ask any questions you may have about the position and the company.

Be present: Maintain eye contact with your interviewer. Listen to the style of the interviewer and adapt and adjust to be coherent.

Share and Relate: Encourage the interviewer to share information about the company with you. Find a point that particularly interests you, ask for the interviewer to expand and follow with a commonality experience.

Be Positive: Avoid negative comments. Let your positive personality shine through!

First impressions are important—especially when you are in a new work position. It is an essential time to make a positive impact on your department and to set the tone for your future. If you are starting a job—or looking for ways to refresh you attitude in your current position—practice these tips. You will be sure to excel in your new job.

Know Your New Employer: It may sounds simple, but knowing the ins and outs of your employer goes a long way. Take the time to research the dress code, hours of operation, and other expectations. This will assure your boss and your colleagues that you’re a great fit.

Roles and Responsibilities: You should be clear on your job and responsibilities from Day One. If you are not, set some time aside with your supervisor to define your role in the company. Demonstrate that you on top of priorities by knowing what is expected of you. This will help you be prepared for challenges as they come.

Communication and Correspondence: Companies have different styles of communications—some are more formal and some are more relaxed. Keep this in mind during your first few weeks on the job. If you are uncertain of when sending casual correspondence is appropriate ask a colleague.

Above and Beyond: Demonstrate to your new boss your enthusiastic attitude by offering to take on extra responsibilities. If a task falls outside of your regular expectations, don’t be afraid to volunteer for the assignment. Your initiative to succeed will not go unnoticed.

Your Performance: It is not uncommon for employees to ask for informal job performance appraisals. Once you’ve settled into your new job request a meeting with your boss to discuss feedback on your day-to-day responsibilities. Ask if you are fulfilling expectations and then evaluate how you can exceed them.

Do you find yourself making too many trips to the coffee pot for a refill throughout the day? Or perhaps your eyelids settle at half-mast while staring at your computer? For various reasons, staying awake-and alert-at work can sometimes be easier than it sounds. 

The key to staying alert is to keep your brain stimulated. Try these tips to help you get through a day after little hours of sleep.

Ration caffeine: There is no doubt that caffeine can give you a boost. But overloading on coffee, tea, or soda can result in an inevitable crash. Try pacing your caffeine intake throughout the day to avoid counterproductive effects.

Don’t overindulge: Snacking on healthy food throughout the day can keep your energy level on full. Heavy foods that make you full will drain your energy and induce sleep.

Stay sunny: Bright light energizes you. If you don’t work near a window, take a walk outside for a dose of natural sunlight. If the weather is dreary, add another lamp to your workspace.

Get moving: If your schedule allows, move away from your desk to stretch and walk. Get your blood flowing to beat feeling sluggish. While walking outside, quicken your pace to invigorate and awaken your senses.

It’s no secret that we’ve hit some difficult financial times. But remaining positive will help us recover quicker and with less stress. So when you are feeling down, follow these pick-me-ups to provide a more positive work environment. And, remember: positivism produces productivity!

Relax: Stress is the opposite of relaxation. Too much stress can lead to health problems such as high blood pressure and heart disease. When you feel overly stressed at work, slow down and breath deeply for a few minutes. This will relax your body, clear your mind, and allow you tackle complicated issues as they come.

Good Work Skills: Focus on your work skills. When tasks seem minimal or repetitive, be aware of this, and continue to work hard. When doing something skillful—no matter how small the task—you’ll find pride in yourself and in the work you do.

Be Open to Change: As your company faces new challenges, be open to trying new and different ways of doing things in order to achieve new goals and targets. Being flexible and willing to accept new responsibilities for tasks outside your normal scope of work will enable you to learn new skills and result in job enrichment and personal satisfaction.

Change Your Attitude: We’ve all heard of the term, “Fake it till you make it!”. This is true for your attitude as well. Forcing yourself to “act” positively will eventually be contagious. The mood of your co-workers will improve and you may just pick up some of your own enthusiasm!