10 Easy Ways to Turn Off Your Job

I found this post in my drafts more than a year ago when I lived the corporate life and decided to post it. Life was very different back then:

Back then

Dress: suit and tie everyday

Waking up: 6:30am

Conversations: bitching about the job, sales budgets, production errors and nasty clients

Now

Dress: sneakers all the time

Waking up: 8:30am-10:00am depending on how later I working the night before

Conversations: strategy, motivating people, mountain biking,arts

Anyway these are my top 10 ways on how to unplug from corporate grinding machine.

It’s Monday and you are already tired. The weekend felt like it was just a time to catch up on your projects. You’ve started to get really close to your co-workers; I mean you  know their entire wardrobe and what coffee they drink.   Newsflash: You work too much and you are stressed!  Now you have heard it all and tried to combat it: exercising, having a hobby, or even volunteering. Too hard, right?

Here are the 10 things that I use to shut down the corporate grinder, just because they are easy for me:

Buy a pair of Converse: If your job is anything like mine that means you spend too much time making sure you have an ironed shirt, fresh tie and clean pair of elegant shoes for tomorrow. You spend most of your life in these “professional clothes” and even have a change in your car for corporate events in the evening. Wearing rock star sneakers is just so anti-corporate that no matter what, wearing them will put smile on your face. Every time I wear mine I get more compliments than the number of compliments I get for my most expensive and stylish work shoes.

Buy a video console: Don’t have time to play games? Trust me, if you take just 30 minutes to completely waste on beating that next level — you will totally shut off the voices in your head. I mean the voices about sales deadlines. Treat it as a therapeutic and needed chore! Bonus: Play Guitar Hero or Rock Band while wearing the Converse you just bought. I like to play “School’s Out for Summer” and have a total rock star experience.

Visit Wonderland, Six Flags, Wisconsin Dells ,etc.: Is the inability to read your Blackberry while on the rides preventing you from visiting an amusement park? Choose one Sunday and take it actually OFF by going to the amusement park. Trust me there is nothing better than a really scary ride to make you feel like a hero and fill your body with endorphins. Last summer I tried “A Point of No Return” ride on Noah’s Arc at Wisconsin Dells — it was so scary that when I came back to work on Monday not only could I handle all the craziness of a marketing business with a smile, but I was also completely fearless (for a couple of days).

Read Fiction: I, and  most of my friends, don’t read anything if the text is not displayed on iPhones or Blackberries. When it comes to reading something on real paper it is usually the most boring case study, statistics or information for the next course. I know that time is limited and the last thing you want to do at the end of the day is read something. However, try this: allocate 30 minutes, create a really cool environment to read (backyard, cozy blanket, and fresh brewed tea – something along these lines) and choose a very interesting fiction book. The change of atmosphere will help you tune out any thoughts about how hard tomorrow will be.

Watch live stand-up comedy: I always wondered why would people pay and go for the live stand-up comedy. It’s not like you going to get a better quality sound or a better view of the comedian’s face when you sit in the audience. However, I have figured out what changes is the atmosphere and the energy. You put yourself in a great mood when you watch a live comedy. Also, if the comedian is any good, you will feel the physical vibe while you are in the audience. Needless to say being in a great mood and laughing is the best treatment for your sanity at work.

Prank someone: Have a good friend? Prank him or her. Be creative and clever though. There is nothing better in this world than the misery of your closest friend. The experience will allow you to get in touch with your creative side, try yourself as an actor and you WILL laugh really hard.

Have lunch at a nearby College or University – I don’t mean it in a freaky way, but going to college will remind you about how you were a couple (or many) years ago when the reality of the corporate job hadn’t hit you. When you are surrounded by bunch of young people with bright ideas and a positive outlook on life it empowers you and it’s a nice change from being surrounded by closed minded “professionals” who “know the real life.” I actually went with my friend, who is still a student, for lunch this week and everyone thought I was a new professor. Bonus: Prank someone in college by pretending to be a professor.

Have a party at your place: Hopefully, if you work for ridiculously long hours, are appreciated by your clients more than your boss, and wake up in the middle of the night thinking about how you are going to meet the deliverables, you are at least earning enough money to get yourself a decent place. When was the last time you had party at your place? I found out that with time, crazy parties (because they are too much work afterward) become going out for dinner at a nice restaurant or going for the grand opening of a trendy, new club. Instead try having a party at your place and invite friends from back in college and high school. Don’t invite people from work – c’mon you already spend TOO much time with those guys.

Listen to the music: We usually listen to music while multi-tasking (going to the gym or driving). Did you ever try to just listen to the music? Try downloading classic music or maybe Enigma or Secret Garden or whatever fits your taste, find yourself a comfortable spot (cozy blanket, comfortable love-seat, yoga mat, etc.) and for 30 minutes just listen to the music. Free your mind, don’t think about anything, put your brain to sleep and arouse your inner senses. Bonus: Soak in a warm bathtub while listening to the music for 30 minutes before going to bed.

Organize Photos: And I don’t mean put them on a Facebook. Look through your old photos, organize them, and actually print the good ones. If you are adventurous enough try making a custom frame and put them on the wall. Diving back into the memories will totally turn your attention to your inner self and making a frame will give you a sense of ownership and pride from decorating your own place.

The bottom line is remind yourself how to have fun and let loose.