What to do when you’ve taken that job outside of your comfort zone and are facing the fallout.

I mean, sure, it doesn’t pay as well as the manual labor you usually do. And it’s frustrating like nothing you’ve ever experienced to sit at a desk all day feeling like a chicken with its head cut off. There’s no sense of accomplishment, it feels like someone’s always breathing down your neck, your butt’s literally getting sore from so much sitting…

Wait. Why did I take this job again? Something about that resume I’m trying to build, or life experience and different skill sets, but that hardly seems relevant as July comes to a close.

It’s tedious and a huge bummer most of the time, but that’s the way every well-meaning decision feels at one point or another.

Hopefully you've got at least one thing to look forward to this summer. A concert, a mini/actual vacation, a visit from some family, just something fun. I’m in the middle of mine right now, a short little road trip with my mom to see Panic! at the Disco. This is the only Friday I get off until I go back to school at the end of August. After this, it’s all downhill.

Ideally, you can set up a series of things to look forward to, but that’s easier said than done. I’ve started going for walks with my little brother on Monday mornings, down to eat breakfast in town and Pokemon hunt on the way there. It doesn’t have to be an actual vacation as long as it’s something you look forward to. I know you’re all probably tired of hearing about it, but Pokemon GO is one of my boons this summer. It takes a bit of strategy and planning to get together with friends and go out, but it ultimately doesn’t matter where you go as long as it’s somewhere. It’s also completely virtual, no pressure, and pretty landscapes with calming colors. It’s easygoing, social, physical, and focused all at the same time.

My childhood obsession aside, there are three things that seem to help me: clothes, music, and coffee.

Depending on what kind of a day I’m having, I have two distinct work wardrobes. The first is for days I would rather just stay in my pajamas, which is about half the time. It’s made of sandals, tank tops just tight enough to let me get away with not wearing a bra, and anything soft and flowy. The second wardrobe is for the days I dread going to work, which accounts for at least the other half of the time. It’s pretty and sharp, and basically a cloth-based confidence boost. Especially as a woman, if you look competent, people will treat you with more respect. Even if I don’t have all the answers (and I don’t), it’s easier to get them when people can talk to me like I’m a human being.

The music is just another confidence trick. You shouldn’t underestimate the power of a good playlist. My top three songs right now are “Non-Stop” from the Hamilton soundtrack, “Bury It” by Chvrches and Hailey Williams, and “Hakuna Matata” from The Lion King. I’m not entirely sure why, but those are the ones that rev me up. A good mix of happy and determined.

Coffee is good, but this summer I’ve found myself indulging just about every day. My parents’ Keurig is broken, so I’ve been going through a cafe drive-thru almost every day before work for lattes. It fits with the competent image I’ve been playing with, makes me feel more awake, and reminds me that I get to buy coffees if I have money, which I get by going to work. It’s admittedly roundabout and silly, but that’s part of what works for me on any given day.

Lastly, just talk to yourself. Remind yourself why you took this job, make a list of skills you’re learning, or update your resume. The refresher won’t make work suck any less, but it’ll keep your eye on the ball even when it feels useless, especially for those people who are used to task-based work. Office work feels like you never quite get anything done or yield results, but that’s just how office jobs work. They require a lot of day-to-day upkeep that never moves forward, and a lot of maintenance that feels like banging your head against a wall. It’s not. Without someone at the front desk, or making coffee runs, or writing thank-you notes, nobody else would have the time or energy to do their jobs. Maybe it’s not the most fulfilling job you’ve ever had, but it’s building connections and expanding your horizons. That’s not always fun, but it’s almost always good in the long run.